The game of golf features tons of side games and scoring formats. Skins and stroke play are known by most but the more obscure golf formats can be tough to remember. For those that have forgotten the waltz format is a great scoring system when playing with three golfers.
The Waltz golf format takes score via a best ball format. The first hole will record only the single best score the second hole two scores and the third hole all three scores. The rotation will then start again with only one score being recorded on the fourth hole.
This article is going to break down how to play both the waltz format and the reverse waltz format in golf.
Rules of the Waltz Format
To play the waltz format you must break up into teams of three. This game keeps score via a best ball format which means the lowest score on the team is chosen.
The twist to this game is the number of scores that are recorded each hole.
This style of play adds tons of pressure to certain holes where all scores are counted. When only a single best ball score is used teams know they can play a little more aggressively.
How To Score In The Waltz Format
The scoring in the waltz format traditionally is done using the Stableford scoring system. In this scoring system you are either awarded or subtracted points based on how well you scored on the hole. In this system gaining points is the goal as the team with the most points wins.
Here is a look at the Stableford Scoring system
- Double Eagle: 8 points
- Eagle: 5 points
- Birdie: 2 points
- Par: 0 points
- Bogey: -1 point
- Double Bogey or more: -3 points
Example Of Waltz Scoring
Say you are playing the first hole and the scores look like this.
Player 1: Double Bogey
Player 2: Birdie
Player 3: Bogey
Your total score for the hole would be 2 points. This is because on the first hole of the Waltz format you only count the best ball. The best ball out of these three players is the player who scored a birdie.
A birdie in the Stableford method is worth two points. Since only one score is recorded the total for the team on hole one would be two points.
If these scores were to occur on the second hole you would get 1 point. This is because you would record both the birdie and the bogey as these are the lowest two scores. A birdie is worth two points in the waltz format. Once you subtract the one point for the bogey the team would earn a single point for this hole.
If these scores came on the third hole you would get a total of -2 points. This is the cumulative total of all three golfers. This total is found by taking the two points for the birdie then subtracting one for the bogey and taking away three more for the double bogey.
How To Play The Reverse Waltz In Golf
Playing the reverse Waltz format is almost identical to the Waltz format. The only difference between them is the rotation of how many scores to record on each hole.
In a reverse waltz you record three scores on the first hole, two on the second, and one on the third. You then continue this sequence throughout the round.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope our article gave a clear and concise breakdown of the waltz golf format.
Remember the waltz format takes into account one two or three scores from your team. This is one of the few three-person golf games which can come in handy when you don’t have a full foursome.
If you enjoyed this article on the waltz format see our guide to Bowmaker golf tournaments or our guide to a golf game called criers and whiners.