Stroke play
Players or sides compete using their total strokes, including penalties.
Every stroke and penalty contributes to the total. In regular stroke play, a good hole can offset a poor one, but a large score stays on the card. The lowest total wins.
The same three holes, counted as strokes
| Player | Hole 1 | Hole 2 | Hole 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casey | 4 | 7 | 4 | 15 |
| Jordan | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
Jordan has the lower total. Casey’s two better holes do not erase the three-stroke difference on the second hole.
Gross and net results
Gross is the full stroke total. Net applies the player’s handicap strokes. A gross score of 90 with a Playing Handicap of 18 gives a net 72 in a handicap stroke-play competition.
Finish the hole and check the card
In regular stroke play, players must hole out; an opponent cannot concede the next putt. Confirm the hole scores with the marker before returning the scorecard. Stableford and Maximum Score are other forms with different scoring rules.
See how four rounds and a halfway cut shape a championship.
Additional information
2023 Rules of Golf, with current clarifications