The counting game is played according to the rules of golf, with full handicap. The aim of the counting game is to play all holes with as few strokes as possible. The number of strokes made is entered after each hole. At the end, this gives the gross score. The net score is calculated from the gross score minus the player's handicap. For example: With a total score of 100 and a handicap of 36, the gross score is 100 and the net score is 74.
Winner of the counting game
The winner is the golfer with the lowest result, i.e. the lowest number of strokes or the lowest score. Depending on the tournament, there can be both gross and net winners. In English, the counting game is called "Stroke Play" or "Medal Play".
History of stroke play
The counting game was first mentioned in writing in St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1759. A round of stroke play consists of 18 holes to be played. Each hole must be played to the end, so the golf ball cannot be canceled as in the counting game according to Stableford. This is the reason why almost all amateur tournaments in Germany are scored according to Stableford. Amateurs usually only play one round per tournament. For professionals, a tournament usually runs from Thursday to Sunday over four rounds of counting play. The overall winner is the player with the fewest total strokes after 4 rounds.