Quick answer: count every stroke, play in turn, wait until the hole is clear and use the venue's posted rules. For casual groups, agree on a stroke maximum and simple ball-relief rule before starting.
The basic scoring loop
- Each player begins from the marked tee area.
- Count every intentional attempt to strike the ball.
- Continue until the ball is holed or the agreed stroke maximum is reached.
- Record the hole score before moving to the next tee.
The lowest total normally wins in stroke play. Venue-specific signs take priority because some obstacles require a particular route, impose a penalty, or direct a stuck ball to a drop point.
Agree on common edge cases
| Situation | Possible house rule |
|---|---|
| Ball against a wall | Move it one putter-head from the edge without going closer to the hole; no penalty. |
| Ball leaves the lane | Return it near the exit point and add one stroke, unless the venue sign says otherwise. |
| Ball moved by another ball | Replace the moved ball and play the striking ball from where it stopped. |
| Unplayable obstacle | Use the marked drop point or ask staff rather than moving course pieces. |
| Stroke limit | Record the agreed maximum and move on so the group behind can play. |
Pace and courtesy
Keep clubs low, stand behind the person putting, and do not begin until the group ahead has cleared the hole. Prepare while another player finishes, then leave the green before adding scores. Let a faster group pass only where the course layout and staff permit it.
Children and mixed abilities
Rules can be adjusted without making the game meaningless. A child can place the ball away from a difficult edge, a new player can stop at the stroke limit, and teams can use best-ball scoring. State the adjustment before it affects a result. For non-competitive play, celebrating a favourite hole can matter more than a complete total.
Record scores cleanly
Use one scorekeeper per group and read totals back before leaving. The browser scorecard supports up to eight players and can be printed without sending names to a server.