Trevor Ng
Golf is often considered an individual sport, with stroke play seeing players compete for the lowest number of strokes and match play pitting two players or teams against each other over individual holes. However, team golf is growing in popularity, with leagues such as the PGA Jr. League, City Tour, and TGL providing opportunities for golfers of all ages to compete in teams. Team golf is also prominent in high schools and colleges, with organisations like the National High School Golf Association and NCAA varsity golf promoting the sport at these levels. The format of team golf varies, with options like best ball, scramble, and foursomes (alternate shot) offering a range of ways for golfers to collaborate and compete together.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team size | 2 players or 4 players |
| Scoring format | Match play, stroke play, best-ball, or scramble |
| Team dynamics | Each player plays the hole as normal, with the lowest score of all the players on the team counting as the team's score for the hole |
| Team composition | Teams are led by elite captains and consist of professionals and amateurs |
| Team events | Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, City Tour, PGA Jr. League, NCAA varsity golf, LIV Golf League, TGL |
| Team structure | Teams are often captained by a PGA or LPGA professional |
| Team rankings | The National High School Golf Association ranks the top teams and individuals in boys' and girls' ranks across the country |
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What You'll Learn
Team Golf Timeline
Golf is often considered an individual sport, but there is a growing emphasis on its team aspect. The industry has recognized the importance of incorporating the team element into golf to attract more kids to the game and sustain participation.
PGA Jr. League
The PGA Jr. League is a fun, inclusive opportunity for boys and girls to learn and enjoy golf. Participants wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends. Each team is captained by a PGA or LPGA professional who acts as a coach and fosters a welcoming environment.
High School Golf
High school JV and Varsity golf is vital to the golf industry, with over 220,000 participants. The National High School Golf Association, founded in 2017, ranks the top teams and individuals in boys' and girls' categories across the country.
NCAA Varsity Golf
NCAA varsity golf provides an avenue for competitive team golf in college. Since 2003, collegiate club golf has gained popularity, with over 350 clubs forming across the country.
City Tour
Launched in 2014, the City Tour offers millennials in major cities the chance to compete in a fun, relaxed team format. Teams can choose to compete in a Best Ball or Scramble format.
Country Club Matches
As players advance beyond the City Tour, they can join a country club and participate in competitive team matches. These vary across the country and are open to players of all ages.
Professional Team Golf Events
While pro golf is typically considered an individual sport, events like the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup showcase exciting team-based competitions.
TGL
TGL (Team Golf League) is an innovative golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour. It features teams of four players competing in a two-hour team golf competition, combining technology and fan engagement.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf is a league featuring 13 teams of four players each, battling for the Individual Championship and Team Championship. The season runs from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale.
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Team Golf Formats
Golf is often considered an individual sport, but there is a growing emphasis on its team aspect. Team golf formats are vital to the industry, especially in high school and college golf. There are several popular formats for team golf, each with its own unique rules and strategies. Here are some of the most common team golf formats:
Scramble
Scramble tournaments involve teams of 2, 3, or 4 golfers. In a scramble, each team member tees off on every hole. After the initial tee shots, the team selects the best shot, and then each team member plays their next shot from that spot. This process continues for the rest of the shots on the hole, including putting. The scramble format encourages teamwork and strategy, making it a popular choice for groups with diverse skill levels. It provides a relaxed and social atmosphere, ensuring that everyone has a chance to contribute to the group's score.
Best Ball
Best Ball is played with teams of two, each playing their own ball throughout the round. After each hole, the lowest score among the players is recorded as the team's score. This format blends individual play with a team element, adding an exciting dynamic to the game. It keeps all team members engaged and allows them to strategize together.
Alternate Shot
Also known as "Foursomes," this format is played in pairs, with each team having only one ball. Players alternate playing shots, with one team member teeing off on the first hole, and the other playing the second shot. They continue to alternate shots until the hole is completed. This format emphasizes cooperation and communication between teammates, bringing a unique competitive edge to the game.
Four Ball
Four Ball is played with teams of two, where each golfer plays their own ball during the entire match. In match play, the golfer with the lowest score on each hole wins that hole for their team, earning a point. The team with the most points at the end wins. In stroke play, the team's score on each hole is the lowest score among its members.
The Skins Game
The Skins Game can be played individually or as teams. Each hole is worth a "skin," and the golfer with the lowest score on that hole wins the skin. If there is a tie, the skin is carried over to the next hole. The player or team with the most skins at the end is the winner. This format adds an element of strategy as players can also earn skins for specific achievements on each hole, such as landing a tee shot onto the green or making par after encountering obstacles.
These are just a few examples of team golf formats that are commonly used in recreational and competitive golf settings. Each format offers a unique twist to the traditional game of golf, promoting teamwork, strategy, and fun among participants.
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Team Golf Competitions
Golf is often considered an individual sport, especially when it comes to stroke play tournaments. However, there is a growing emphasis on team golf, with the industry recognising the importance of the team aspect in growing and sustaining participation in the sport.
In a Best Ball or Four Ball format, each player plays the hole as normal, but the lowest score of all players on the team counts as the team's score for that hole. Teams can consist of two, three, or four golfers, and the format can be played as match or stroke play.
Scramble tournaments also involve teams of two, three, or four golfers. Each team member tees off on every hole, and after the initial tee shots, the team selects the best shot. Each team member then plays their next shot from that spot, and this continues for the rest of the hole, including putting.
The Alternate Shot format involves teams of two golfers, where players from each team alternate shots on each hole throughout the round.
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Team Golf Leagues
Golf is played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known as stroke play, or the lowest score on the individual holes in a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play. While stroke play is the most commonly seen format at all levels, there is a growing emphasis on team golf.
For older players, the City Tour provides an opportunity for millennials in major cities to meet and compete against other 18-40 year-olds in a relaxed team-based format. Teams can compete in a Best Ball or Scramble format. As players gain experience, they can join country clubs and participate in competitive team matches.
At the collegiate level, club golf is a great option for golfers to continue their team golf careers without the same time commitment as varsity golf. Over 350 clubs have formed across the country, providing a competitive and team-based opportunity for golfers.
The LIV Golf League is another example of a team golf league, featuring 54 players and 13 teams competing for the Team Championship. The season runs from February to August, with 13 regular-season events followed by a Team Championship finale. Each event begins with a shotgun start, with 18 groups of players spread around the course, all teeing off simultaneously.
TGL, presented by SoFi, is an innovative golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour. It features the top stars of the PGA Tour, with four players assigned to each team. Each match consists of three players competing on each team in a two-hour team golf competition, combining technology and innovation with fan engagement.
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Team Golf for Kids
Golf is played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes by an individual or team, known as match play. While golf is often considered an individual sport, there is a growing emphasis on its team aspect, particularly for kids, to encourage teamwork and make the sport more accessible.
The National High School Golf Association, founded in 2017, ranks the top teams and individuals in girls' and boys' ranks across the country. High school JV and Varsity golf play a huge role for over 220,000 high schoolers. The PGA Jr. League is another opportunity for boys and girls to learn and enjoy golf in a fun, social, and inclusive setting. Participants wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends, creating a welcoming environment.
Collegiate club golf has also taken off, providing a great opportunity for high school golfers to continue their team golf careers. Club golf offers a less time-intensive way to play competitive, team golf in college.
Team golf tournaments include the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, as well as the LIV Golf League, which features 13 teams of four players each, battling for the Team Championship. The Team Championship is decided in a winner-takes-all showdown, with the thrill of match play and the drama of survive-and-advance competition.
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Frequently asked questions
Team golf is a variation of golf where the game is played between teams instead of individuals. While golf is often considered an individual sport, team golf has gained prominence over the past 15 years, with events like the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.
Some examples of team golf leagues include the PGA Jr. League, the City Tour, and the LIV Golf League. These leagues offer opportunities for golfers of different ages and skill levels to compete in a team-based format.
Scoring in team golf can vary depending on the specific format being played. One common format is "best-ball," where each player on a team plays the hole normally, and the lowest score among the team members counts as the team's score for that hole. Other formats include foursomes (alternate shot) and match play, where teams compete hole-by-hole.
