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Your event may run with the traditional stroke play or match play formats. Here we have also listed a number of alternatives to spice things up. Add a bunch of these to your event to make it unique, memorable and add lots of new strategic thinking.

Greensome (or Canadian Foursomes)
A variationof Foursome, each team consists of two players in partnership playing one ball hit alternately. Each player tees off and the team decides which shot to use. The player whose shot was not used hits the second and all future even number shots on this hole; the other teammate plays all odd number shots.

On par 5 holes the one lowest net score of the four man team.

On par 4 holes the two lowest net scores of the four man team.

On par 3 holes the three lowest net scores of the four man team.

The team score is the total number of strokes calculated on the par 5, 4, and 3 holes.
 

1-2-3 Best Ball
A competition format for 4-person teams. Each player on the team plays his own ball throughout the round. On each hole, a predetermined number of the lower scores are used

On the first hole (cha), the one low ball counts as the team score. On the second hole (cha cha), the two low balls count as the team score. On the third hole (cha cha cha), the three low balls count as the team score. The rotation starts over on the fourth hole.

Best 2 Scores (also called Bow Maker)
A variation of Stroke play.This is a four player team event and all players play in same foursome. Each player is allowed two shots off the first tee only and chooses the best shot to continue playing. Each player plays his own ball for the entire 18 holes. Team score is calculated by using the best 2 scores from the team with handicaps applied.
 

Devil Ball (also Money Ball, Lone Ranger, Yellow Ball, Pink Ball or Pink Lady)
In Devil Ball, groups of four tee off in a competition. On each hole, two scores are combined to create one team score. One of those scores is from the person playing the "devil ball." So when it's your turn to play the Devil Ball, the onus is on you to come through for the team because your score is going to count.

The second score used is usually the low ball of the other three players on the team (however, the other three players might be required to play a scramble or best ball or any other format to produce the second score).

The two scores are added together for the team score. Before teeing off in Devil Ball, players are designated A, B, C and D, and the devil ball rotates among players throughout the round (A on the first hole, B on the second, and so on).

But there's an optional exception. If the low ball for the team is a birdie or better, then the team gets to use its two low balls on that hole.

Eliminator (or In the Bucket)
A tournament format for 4-person teams, or a betting game for several groups of four. Eliminator, is a best ball format with a twist: as a player's score is used for the team score, he is "eliminated" from counting as the team score on ensuing holes, until only one player is left whose score is eligible to be used (then the process starts over).

Here's an example: Players A, B, C and D tee off on Hole 1. Player A is the low-ball on the first hole. All players move on to Hole 2, but Player A's score can't be used; Players B, C and D are eligible. On the second hole, Player B is the low-ball. All players move on to Hole 3, but the scores of A and B are now ineligible; only C and D have a chance to provide the team score. On No. 3, Player C is the low score. And that leaves Player D as the lone survivor - his or her score must be used on the fourth hole. On Hole 5, the rotation starts over, with all four team members eligible to have their score counted.

A variation of Eliminator is that all players who tie for low score are eliminated for the next hole. For example, two members of the team score 5s, while two score 6s. On the next hole, the two who tied for low score can't provide the low score again; the other two players must provide the team score. But all players are eligible again the next hole. If the low score comes via a birdie, however, or all four players tie, then all four players remain eligible on the following hole.

5 under par = 6

Negative points begin at -39 for scratch golfers. A 1-handicapper starts with -38, a 2-handicapper with -37, and so on up to a 36-handicapper who starts with -3 points.

During the round, positive points are added on this basis:

• Bogeys are worth l point
• Pars are worth 2 points
• Birdies are worth 4 points
• Eagles are worth 8 points

Not everyone will be able to clear their hurdle, so the highest point total - whether that is 15 or -15 - wins.

Chicago can be a tournament format for individual stroke play, or a betting game among buddies. The winner might get a set amount agreed upon before the round, or the differential in final points can be used, with each point worth a set amount.

Nassau (Also known as Best Nines or 2-2-2 or 5-5-5)
It's essentially three tournaments (or bets) in one: the front nine, back nine and 18-hole scores all count as separate tournaments or bets. The player (or team) winning the front nine wins a prize, the player (or team) winning the back nine gets a prize, and the player or team with the low 18-hole total wins a prize.

Scramble  (Ambrose or Texas Scramble)
Each player of a team (of two, three or four players) tees off on each hole and decides which shot was best. Each player then plays the next shot from that spot and the procedure is repeated until the hole is finished. The Ambrose version applies each players handicap. The Texas version requires that a set number of drives be used by each player of the team during the course of the round.

Shamble  (or Bramble or Two man No Scotch)
Combines elements of Scramble with elements of Stroke play. All members of a team (two or four) tee off and the best ball of the team tee shots is selected. All team players move their balls to the spot of the best ball. From this point, the hole is played out at stroke play, with all members of the team playing their own ball into the hole.

Florida Scramble (or Dropout Scramble or Step Aside)
A variation on the typical scramble in which one player on each team sits out each shot.

In a Florida Scramble, the twist is that the player whose shot is selected doesn't get to play the next shot. So in a Florida Scramble with teams of four, all four players tee off, the best shot is selected, then only three players hit their second shots. The best of the second shots is selected - and the player who hit it sits out the third shots; and so on until the ball is holed.

Hole-In-One

A money prize can be allocated in the event a player scores a hole-in-one

A money prize can be allocated to various par three holes. The player hits his drive and if it lands on the green the ball position is marked. After all the players hit there drive the player with the closest drive to the pin wins the prize.

Longest Drive

A money prize can be allocated to various holes. Each player hits his drive on these holes. After all the players hit there drive the player with the longest drive wins the prize. Drive must be in fairway. This competition is run for Men and Women with separate prizes for each.

Straightest Drive

A money prize can be allocated to various holes. Each player hits his drive on these holes. After all the players hit there drive the player whose drive lands closest to the fairway center wins the prize. Course must paint a white line in fairway for the holes designated as straightest drive holes. . This competition is run for Men and Women with separate prizes for each.

Bingo Bango Bongo (Bingle Bangle Bungle )

In Bingo Bango Bongo, three types of achievements are rewarded with a point. The first player in a group to get his ball on the green gets a point (bingo). The player in the group whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green gets a point (bango). And the player in the group who is first to hole out gets a point (bongo).

Add up the points at the end of the game, high points wins.

Bingo Bango Bongo gives weaker players a chance to earn points because what matters is being first at something. For example, all members of the group tee off on a par-4. The player who hit the worst drive (farthest from the hole) plays first, and so has the first shot at winning the bingo point.

So, too, with closest to the pin. The best players in the group are likely to be on the green in two (or three on a par-5), while the weakest players might be chipping. The closest-to-the-pin point is only earned once all balls are on the green, so the player who has hacked it up the fairway may be sitting just off the green and chipping - giving that player a great chance to pick up the bango point.

Because of these factors (and because the first person putting will be the one farthest from the hole), strict etiquette must be enforced. The player who is away always plays first.

Option: any player winning all three points on a hole wins double points.

Disaster (also Trouble)

A points game in which the winner at the end of the round is the player (or team) that has collected the fewest number of points.

That's because points are "awarded" for bad shots. Hit a ball out of bounds, that's a point.

Points in Disaster can be given any value (organizer is given option during set up). Default is as follows:

• Water ball - 1 point
• Out of bounds - 1 point
• In a bunker - 1 point
• Failing to get ball out of bunker - 1 point
• 3-putt - 1 point
• 4-putt - 3 points
• Hitting from one bunker into another - 2 points
• Whiff - 4 points

A points game in which the winner at the end of the round is the player (or team) that has collected the largest number of points.

That's because points are "awarded" for good shots.

Trash Points can be given any value (organizer is given option during set up). Default is as follows:

• Par from Bunker (sandie) - 1 point
• Par after hitting a tree (barkie) - 1 point
• Natural (gross) birdie - 1 point
• Shot from off the green to inside length of flag stick (polie) – 1 point

An eclectic tournament is a multi-round golf tournament that results in one 18-hole score per player.

Eclectics work this way: Participants play X number of rounds, and compare their scores on each hole per round. The lowest score made on each hole is recorded, producing an 18-hole score. Example: There are three rounds; in Round 1, the golfer makes a 6 on hole No. 1; in Round 2, a 7 on hole No. 1; in Round 3, a 4 on hole No. 1. That golfer's score for the first hole is a 4.

The lowest of each round's scores per hole are recorded on one scorecard and turned in as the final score.

Fairways & Greens

The object is, of course, to hit fairways and greens. The catch is that you have to be the only player to hit the fairway (off the tee) to win the bet, or the only player to hit the green (in regulation) to win the bet.

Determine before the round the value of each fairway and each green. Each hole (excluding par-3s) has two bets - one for the fairway and one for the green. If you're the only player in the fairway off the tee, you win.

If two or more players find the fairway, or two or more players are on the green in regulation, then that bet carries over to the following hole (ala skins).

Prize pool, can be by round or cumulative. Can also be birdies only.

Pick a number
Eeither 25, 50 cents, a dollar, two dollars, whatever, and charge each player that much for:
1. Lost Ball
2. Out of Bounds
3. Ball in the water
4. Three putt
5. Leaving the ball in a sand trap
or any other applicable ‘feat’ you can think up. The cash all gets paid into a kitty that is used to pay for a dinner for the group at a fine restaurant the last night of the trip.