How golf actually works

Clear answers to how golf actually works: Stableford, match play, scrambles, handicaps, and golf betting games like skins, Nassau, Wolf, Vegas, Bingo Bango Bongo and junk. On BirdieConnect.

• What is Stableford scoring? — Stableford scores each hole in points rather than strokes, so one blow-up hole cannot wreck a round. Here is the points table, the maths, and when to use it.
• How does golf match play work? — Match play is decided hole by hole rather than by total strokes. Here is how holes are won, how the score is spoken, and when a match ends.
• What does 4 & 2 mean in golf? — A match play result like "4 & 2" means four holes ahead with two left to play. Here is how to read any match play score.
• What is the difference between four-ball and foursomes? — Four-ball and foursomes are both two-against-two formats, and they are constantly confused. One uses four balls, the other uses one.
• How does a scramble work? — A scramble is the friendliest team format in golf and the standard for charity events. Everyone tees off, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays again from there.
• How do golf handicaps work? — A handicap index measures your demonstrated ability so players of any standard can compete fairly. Here is how the index is calculated and how it becomes strokes on the card.
• How many strokes do I get in match play? — In handicap match play the lower handicap plays off scratch and everyone else receives the difference. Here is how to work out your strokes and which holes they fall on.
• How do tournament handicaps work? — Tournaments apply a handicap allowance — a percentage of your course handicap that varies by format — to keep large mixed fields fair.
• What golf games can you play with your group? — A plain-English guide to the most popular golf betting games — Skins, Nassau, Wolf, Vegas, Bingo Bango Bongo and Junk — with how many players each needs and when to pick it.
• How do skins work in golf? — In skins, every hole is a prize. Win the hole outright and you take the skin; tie and it carries to the next hole. Here are the rules, the carryover, net skins and how payouts are worked out.
• How does a Nassau work in golf? — A Nassau is three match-play bets in one round: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18. Here is how each bet is scored, how presses work, and how a 2 v 2 Nassau is played.
• How do you play Wolf in golf? — In Wolf, one player each hole is the Wolf and chooses a partner after watching the tee shots — or goes it alone for double. Here are the rules, the rotation, Lone Wolf, Blind Wolf and scoring.
• How does Vegas work in golf? — Vegas is a 2 v 2 game where each team's two scores are joined into a two-digit number, and the difference between the numbers is the points on the hole. Here is the scoring, birdie flips and why swings get big.
• What is Bingo Bango Bongo in golf? — Bingo Bango Bongo awards three points on every hole — first on the green, closest to the pin once everyone is on, and first in the hole. Here is how it works and why it suits mixed-ability groups.
• What are greenies, sandies and barkies in golf? — Junk — also called dots — are small side bets for good things that happen during a round: birdies, eagles, greenies, sandies, barkies and chip-ins. Here is what each one means and how dots are paid.