Ringer Golf Competition: Rules and How It Works
What is a ringer competition?
A ringer competition is a season-long (or period-long) club event where each player tries to achieve their best score on every hole across multiple rounds over time. At the end of the competition, your "ringer card" totals those best-ever scores for a final combined total.
You're not competing round by round — you're competing across the whole season, one hole at a time. A great 5 on the 12th in January gets locked in; you only need to beat it to improve.
It's one of the most popular club formats in the UK precisely because it extends the competitive season across many months and rewards every round you play, no matter how mixed the rest of it was.
How it works
Setup: At the start of the competition (usually the beginning of the club season), each player starts with a blank 18-hole ringer card.
During the season: Every time you play an eligible round and post your score, your score on each individual hole is compared to your current ringer card entry for that hole. If today's score on hole 7 beats what you had before, it replaces it.
Example: On 3rd March, you make a net 4 on the par-5 7th hole. That 4 goes on your ringer card. On 18th April, you make a net 6 on the same hole — it doesn't change. On 2nd June, you make a net 3 — your ringer card for hole 7 now shows 3.
At the end of the competition: Your 18 best scores are totalled. The player with the lowest ringer total wins.
Net vs gross ringer
Most club ringer competitions run on net scores — your gross score on each hole minus the handicap strokes you receive on that hole (based on stroke index).
For example: on a hole with SI 5, a player with a course handicap of 12 receives one stroke. If they shoot 5 gross, their net score is 4. That 4 goes on the ringer card.
A player with a course handicap of 20 receives one stroke on every hole plus a second stroke on the two hardest holes (SI 1 and 2). On an SI 5 hole they receive one stroke; on an SI 1 hole they receive two. Net scores are calculated accordingly.
Net ringer competitions are far more common because they give all handicap levels a genuine chance. Gross ringers exist but tend to be dominated by low-handicappers from the start.
What rounds are eligible?
The club sets the eligibility rules, but typically:
- Must be a qualifying round (one that counts for handicap purposes)
- Must be played under competition conditions or general play with at least 10 holes
- Solo rounds may or may not be eligible — check your club's specific rules
Some clubs run ringer competitions open to any posted round; others restrict it to competition rounds. The local rules sheet will specify.
How to improve your ringer card
The nature of ringer means every round has value, even a bad one. If you have a terrible day overall but manage a personal-best net 2 on the 9th, that counts. This is psychologically different from stroke play — you can have a satisfying ringer round even after a difficult front nine.
Strategies for improving your card:
- Play your strong holes aggressively — if hole 4 is where you consistently score well, commit to it
- Target holes where your current ringer score is higher than you know you can go
- Play in as many eligible rounds as possible — more rounds means more chances to improve individual holes
- Keep a note of which holes still have room to improve (your weakest ringer entries)
When is a ringer competition decided?
Most ringer competitions close a few weeks before the end of the season, with a final leaderboard posted. In some clubs, the winner is determined by whoever achieves the lowest ringer total; in others, it's the biggest reduction from a starting target (e.g., how many shots under par your ringer card finishes). Check your club's format.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter the ringer competition mid-season? Usually yes — you just start building your card from the first eligible round you play after entering. You'll have fewer rounds to set scores, but early-entrants don't necessarily win.
What if two players finish with the same ringer total? Typically settled by a countback (comparing scores on the back nine, then last six holes, then last three, then 18th hole), or by whoever set their ringer total first in the season.
Does a hole-in-one go on my ringer card? Yes — a net 0 (or even net -1 on a par-3 where you receive a stroke) would be recorded. It's effectively unbeatable for that hole for the rest of the season.
Is the ringer competition good for beginners? Very much so. Every round contributes, a bad day overall doesn't eliminate you, and there's always something to improve on your card. It's a format that keeps every player engaged across the full season regardless of overall scoring ability.