Best Golf Competition Ideas for a Group of Friends

You don't need an official club competition to make a round of golf competitive.

Whether there are four of you playing on Saturday morning or a larger group heading away for a golf weekend, adding a simple competition can make the round much more interesting.

Here are some of our favourite options.

Stableford

Stableford is ideal for groups containing golfers of different abilities.

Players earn points on each hole based on their score relative to par and their handicap strokes. A bad hole doesn't necessarily ruin the entire round, which makes Stableford perfect for friendly competition.

Better Ball

Better Ball works brilliantly with four golfers.

Split into two teams of two, with both golfers playing their own ball. The best score from each team counts on each hole.

It adds a team element while still allowing everyone to play their own round.

Match Play

For something competitive between two golfers or two teams, try Match Play.

Rather than concentrating on the total score, each hole becomes its own contest. Win more holes than your opponent and you win the match.

Texas Scramble

If you want something more relaxed, a Texas Scramble is a great choice.

Everyone hits a shot, the team chooses the best one and everyone plays again from that position. The process continues until the ball is holed.

It's particularly good for mixed-ability groups.

Season-Long Competition

If you play with the same people regularly, why not turn your weekly rounds into a season?

Award points based on finishing positions throughout the year and keep an overall leaderboard.

Suddenly an ordinary Saturday round can contribute towards something much bigger.

Add Some Side Games

Competitions don't always need to involve the entire round.

Try adding:

• Nearest the Pin

• Longest Drive

• Birdie challenges

• Front Nine vs Back Nine

• Team challenges

A small prize or simply bragging rights can be enough to make things interesting.

Keep Your Competitions Together

If your group regularly runs competitions, TrackPar can give everyone one place to keep track of them.

Create a private Circle, invite the golfers you play with and organise Events and competitions for your group. You can keep track of results, handicaps, recent rounds and even share comments and photos afterwards.

Whether it's four friends playing every Saturday, a golf society or an annual golf trip, the idea is simple:

Your golf group. Your competitions. Your memories. All in one place.