Medal Play (Strokeplay) Golf: Rules, Scoring and Handicap
What is medal play in golf?
Medal play — also called strokeplay — is the oldest golf format and the one used in professional golf worldwide. The rule is simple: count every stroke taken across all 18 holes. Whoever finishes with the fewest net strokes wins.
Medal is the standard UK term; strokeplay is used globally. They mean exactly the same thing. When your club announces a "monthly medal," it's a strokeplay competition.
Unlike Stableford (where a bad hole scores 0 and is forgotten), in strokeplay every shot stays on your card. A triple bogey on hole 3 still weighs on your total at the final putt of hole 18. This is why it's mentally far more demanding than Stableford.
It is governed by Rule 3.3 of the Rules of Golf (2019 edition).
How the net score is calculated
In a handicap strokeplay competition:
Net Score = Gross Score − Playing Handicap
The Playing Handicap is 95% of Course Handicap, rounded to the nearest whole number (per the official WHS allowances table, USGA/R&A 2024).
Example: you finish the round in 92 gross strokes. Your Course Handicap on this course is 20. Playing Handicap = round(20 × 0.95) = 19. Net score = 92 − 19 = 73.
Net Double Bogey: the per-hole cap
The WHS applies the Net Double Bogey as the maximum score that counts for handicap purposes (not necessarily on the competition card). If on a par-4 with 1 handicap stroke you make 9, only 7 is recorded for your score differential (par 4 + 2 + 1 HC stroke = 7).
This prevents a disastrous round from skewing your Handicap Index disproportionately. However, in a strokeplay competition, that 9 still counts in full toward your competition total.
When strokeplay is used
It's the standard format for:
- Official federation competitions (county, regional, national championships)
- Top amateur tournaments (European Amateur, US Amateur)
- All professional tour events (DP World Tour, PGA Tour, Majors)
- Some special club competitions (usually the most prestigious events on the calendar)
Day-to-day club competitions more often use Stableford, because medal can be frustrating for high-handicappers — one bad hole can feel like the whole round is over.
Strokeplay variants
Net strokeplay
The most common form in handicap competitions. Playing Handicap is subtracted from gross total; lowest net wins.
Gross strokeplay
No handicap applied. Lowest gross score wins. Used in scratch events or special championship categories.
Strokeplay by division
When players compete in separate handicap brackets (e.g., Division 1: HI 0–5, Division 2: HI 5.1–11.4, etc.), strokeplay allows fair comparison within each group.
Strategy in strokeplay
Strategy in strokeplay changes fundamentally compared to Stableford:
- Every hole matters: there's no throwing away a hole. A triple bogey doesn't just lose you that hole — it moves you further from every other player in the field.
- Par is the minimum target: in Stableford you can freely chase birdies. In medal, avoiding a double bogey on hard holes is often worth more than chasing a birdie on easy ones.
- Course management is critical: on the hardest holes, a conservative strategy (bogey guaranteed vs. risky par attempt) often pays off.
- Back-to-back errors are dangerous: a bad hole in medal can knock you off your game for the next one. Mental management is as important as ball-striking.
Key differences between Strokeplay and Stableford
| Aspect | Strokeplay (Medal) | Stableford |
|---|---|---|
| What you count | Total strokes | Points per hole |
| Blow-up hole | Stays in your total | Scores 0, move on |
| Mental demand | Very high | Moderate |
| Risk/reward balance | Errors are heavily penalised | Attacks are rewarded |
| Handicap applied | 95% of CH | 95% of CH |
| Use in professional golf | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
When to play strokeplay instead of Stableford
Strokeplay is the format that best reflects your actual scoring ability. If you've been playing for a while and want to know where you really stand — or if you're preparing for more serious competitions — medal rounds will teach you more than Stableford.
That said, for social golf and higher-handicap players, Stableford almost always offers a more enjoyable experience. Choose the format that serves your goals on the day.