Stroke Play (Medal)
Also called Medal
The original and the strictest. Every shot counts and you must hole out on every hole — there's nowhere to hide a bad one.
- Players
- 1+
- Scoring
- Strokes
- Allowance
- 95% of course handicap
- Winner
- Lowest net score
How it works
- 1Play all 18 holes, holing out on each one.
- 2Add up every stroke, penalties included, for your gross score.
- 3Take off your playing handicap for your net score.
- 4Lowest net score wins. Many competitions also give a prize for the best gross.
Worked example
Gross 92, playing handicap 19 → net 73. On a par 72, that's one over net par.
Ties
Level at the top? Compare the back nine, then the last six, then the last three, then the 18th. In stroke play, half, a third, a sixth and an eighteenth of the handicap come off each in turn.
Good to know
A medal round counts for your handicap when the competition is set up as an acceptable score for handicap.
Your marker records your score hole by hole — check it before you sign, not on the 18th.
Close relations
Play it on PinPals. Live scoring works out the handicaps and keeps the leaderboard on everyone’s phone.
Get the appAllowances follow the World Handicap System recommendations used by Golf Ireland. Your club or society may set its own — the entry sheet wins.