Choosing the format is one of the first decisions when planning a tournament, and it shapes the whole day: how long rounds take, who has a chance of winning, and how much fun everyone has. Here are the formats you will meet most often in the Philippines.
Stroke Play
Every shot counts, and the lowest total wins. It is the format of championships and the purest test of golf. Played with handicaps, the lowest net score wins. The downside: one disastrous hole can end a player's chances, and slow players hold up the field.
Stableford
Players earn points on each hole based on their score against par, and the highest total wins. A bad hole simply scores zero, so rounds move faster and everyone stays in it. It is the most popular format for club events; see Stableford scoring explained for the points table and a worked example.
Scramble
A team format: every player tees off, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays their next shot from there, repeating until the ball is holed. Scrambles are fast, social and great for mixed abilities. Two-person scrambles are popular too; in Davao, the 2.0 2 Man Scramble of Arkiquest Golf was played on October 3, 2026.
Best Ball (Four-Ball)
Each player in a team plays their own ball, and the best score on each hole counts for the team. It rewards consistency across the team. With handicaps, an allowance is usually applied; the World Handicap System recommends 85% for four-ball stroke play (see golf handicaps explained).
Match Play
Players or teams compete hole by hole: win a hole, go one up. The winner is whoever wins more holes, not whoever has the lowest total. It is exciting head-to-head golf, but it needs a bracket and more rounds, so it suits championships more than one-day outings.
How to Choose
- Social outings, corporate and charity events: scramble or Stableford.
- Club tournaments with mixed handicaps: net Stableford.
- Championships: stroke play, gross and net.
- Team events: best ball or scramble.
Whatever you choose, announce the format, handicap allowance and tie-break rules before the day. Our guide on how to organize a golf tournament covers the rest.
Scoring It on the Day
The VCD Golf App scores stroke play and Stableford, with standard, Molave or custom points tables, gross and net results, and a live leaderboard for everyone.
