Golf formats
Best Golf Formats for a Buddy Trip
Planning a golf trip with your crew? The format you pick makes or breaks the weekend. Choose wrong and half your group checks out by the back nine. Choose right and every hole matters, every match gets loud, and nobody stops talking about it for months.
Here are the formats that work best for group golf trips, what makes each one fun, and when to use them.
Best Ball
2v2
ChillAlt. Shot
2v2
IntenseSingles
1v1
ClutchShamble
2v2
Team effortScramble
2v2
FunSkins
Any
Side gameBest Ball (Fourball)
Two players per side. Everyone plays their own ball, and the best score on each hole counts for the team. Simple as that.
This is the most popular format for a reason. It keeps everyone involved without slowing the round down. Even if you blow up on a hole, your partner might save it. And if you both play well, the team score can get very low.
When to use it
- Mixed skill levels. Higher handicaps still contribute without pressure.
- Day one of a multi-day trip when everyone is warming up.
- Groups of 8 or more where you need four or more two-person teams.
Alternate Shot (Foursomes)
Partners take turns hitting the same ball. One player tees off on odd holes, the other on evens. After the tee shot, you alternate every stroke until the ball is holed.
This is the most intense team format. Every shot matters because your partner has to play whatever you leave them. It forces communication, strategy, and a lot of trust. Rounds also move fast since each team only plays one ball.
When to use it
- Day two of a Ryder Cup style event when the stakes go up.
- Groups that want something different from normal golf.
- Pairs that know each other well. This format rewards chemistry.
Singles Match Play
One on one. You play against your opponent hole by hole. Win a hole, go 1 up. Lose it, go 1 down. The match ends when one player is up by more holes than remain.
Singles is where the drama happens. It comes down to individual matchups, and with handicap strokes applied, anyone can beat anyone. This is why the Ryder Cup saves singles for the final day.
When to use it
- The final round of your trip. Put every point on the line.
- When the overall team score is close and individual matchups decide it.
- Any group size. Everyone plays, every match counts.
Shamble
Both players tee off, the team picks the best drive, and then each player plays their own ball from that spot. The best individual score from there counts as the team score.
Think of it as best ball with a safety net off the tee. Neither player has to stress about a bad drive because the team always starts from a good position. It keeps the pace up and the scores low.
When to use it
- Groups with a big handicap spread. Everyone gets to play from a decent spot.
- A fun warm-up round before switching to more competitive formats.
- When you want low scores and a relaxed vibe.
Scramble
Both players tee off, the team picks the best shot, and both play their next shot from that spot. Repeat until the ball is holed. One team score per hole.
Scramble is the most forgiving format. It takes the pressure off individual shots because the team always plays from the best position. Scores get low, the pace stays fast, and neither player feels like they dragged the team down.
When to use it
- Groups with a wide range of skill levels. Everyone contributes something.
- Charity or corporate outings where fun matters more than competition.
- A great icebreaker round if players in the group haven't played together before.
Skins
Each hole is worth a “skin.” The player (or team) with the lowest score on a hole wins that skin.
Skins work great as a side game running alongside your main format. Even if a match is out of reach, a skin on every hole keeps everyone locked in.
When to use it
- As an overlay on any round. Run skins alongside best ball or singles.
- When you want every hole to matter, regardless of the overall match status.
- Groups that like a little friendly competition for side prizes.
How to Combine Formats Over a Weekend
The best buddy trips don't stick to one format. Mix them across rounds to keep things fresh.
Two-day trip
Three-day trip
Each round awards team points. Roll everything into a single leaderboard so the whole trip builds toward one final score. That structure is exactly what makes a Ryder Cup style tournament so much fun.
Pick a Format and Go
You do not need to overthink it. Start with best ball and singles, add skins if your group likes side action, and go from there. The important thing is giving everyone a reason to care about every hole.
CupTracker handles all of these formats, calculates handicap strokes automatically, and keeps a live leaderboard so your whole group can follow along. No spreadsheets, no math between shots.