Rules · Lesson
Scorecards and Holing Out in Stroke Play
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In stroke play, Rule 3.3 has a marker keep your score. Usually the same person all round. After each hole, check your score with your marker, penalties included. At the end, your marker signs the card. You also have to hole out on every hole. If you don't, fix it before you tee off on the next hole. On the last hole, fix it before you hand in your card. Otherwise you're disqualified. Some formats, like Stableford, work differently.
Step by step
- Check each score with your marker.
- Include penalties.
- Hole out on every hole.
- Fix a missed hole-out before the next tee.
- Check your card before handing it in.
Why it works
Stroke play is decided by your total strokes over every hole, so the card has to be accurate and complete. A marker gives an independent record, and checking each hole stops errors from piling up unnoticed. Holing out on every hole means each hole is finished and counted, so the total reflects the whole round.
Common mistakes
- You leave a penalty stroke off the score because you forgot it by the end of the hole.Agree the strokes and any penalties with your marker on the green or at the next tee, before you play on.
- You pick up a short putt that was not holed, as you would in a casual game.Putt every ball into the hole in stroke play, even a tap-in.
- You hand in the card without checking it because you are in a hurry.Go through every hole's score and the marker's signature before you give the card to the committee.
How you'll know it's working
- At every green, you and your marker agree the score before leaving for the next tee.
- Every ball you play ends up in the hole, including tap-ins.
- When you finish, each hole shows the right score and the card has your marker's signature.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a short loop of three holes, agreeing and writing down the score with a friend after each one.
Harder: Play a full round while keeping a marker's card, adding in a penalty or two on purpose and making sure each one is recorded and checked.
Common questions
Who can be my marker in stroke play?
Your marker is usually someone playing in your group, and normally the same person all round. Check the competition's rules if you are unsure who has been assigned.
What happens if I forget to hole out on a hole in stroke play?
You must go back and hole out before you tee off on the next hole. If it was the last hole, you must fix it before you hand in your card, or you are disqualified.
