Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
An individual competition is an event in which each player competes alone rather than with a partner as a side. It can use match play or stroke play, with gross results or handicap-adjusted net results, as specified in the competition terms.
How it matters in match play
In individual match play, one player competes directly against one opponent, and the result is decided hole by hole rather than by comparing total strokes with the whole field. If handicaps apply, the lower Playing Handicap normally plays from zero and the other player receives the difference, with strokes allocated by the published stroke index. The Committee should state the allowance and allocation in the Terms of the Competition.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Individual Competition |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf Rule 3.1b; Rule 3.1a(1); WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C |
| Related concepts | Match Play, Stroke Play, Gross Score, Net Score, Handicap Competition |
Worked example
In an illustrative individual stroke-play net competition, Alex returns 86 gross strokes with a 10-stroke Playing Handicap (86 − 10 = 76 net), while Ben returns 82 with 4 (82 − 4 = 78), so Alex is the net winner by 2 strokes.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.1b; Rule 3.1a(1); WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C
Sources: www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
Does an individual competition mean stroke play?
No. Individual describes whether players compete on their own, while stroke play and match play describe how the contest is scored. An individual event can be either form, subject to its Terms of the Competition.
Can an individual competition use handicaps?
Yes. It may be a gross competition with no handicap strokes or a handicap competition using net scores. The Committee must state the applicable handicap allowance and other scoring conditions in advance.
What handicap allowance is recommended for individual competitions?
WHS Appendix C recommends 95% for individual stroke play, including individual Stableford, Par/Bogey and Maximum Score, and 100% for individual match play. The relevant national association or Committee may set the allowance in the Terms of the Competition, so check the event conditions.
Is an individual competition the same as a singles match?
Not necessarily. A singles match is one individual against one opponent in match play. An individual competition can also be a field event in which each player competes against the field in stroke play or another permitted individual form.
Who decides whether the event is gross or net?
The Committee sets the Terms of the Competition. Those terms should identify the form of play and whether handicap strokes apply, so players know whether results are based on gross or net scores.
Are examples of individual competitions historical results?
No. The Alex and Ben figures here are an illustrative worked example only, intended to show the arithmetic rather than report a real event.