Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Low Gross is a competition result awarded to the player with the lowest gross score: the actual strokes played plus any penalty strokes, before handicap strokes are applied. It is normally used for a scratch division or a gross prize, while a Low Net result subtracts handicap strokes.
How it matters in match play
Low Gross is mainly a stroke-play or competition-prize label, not a separate match-play format. In a gross match, players compare their actual hole scores, including penalty strokes; the player with fewer strokes wins that hole under Rule 3.2a. A club may report an overall gross result only if its Terms of the Competition provide for one.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Low Gross |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Rule 3.1c(1) and Rule 3.2a(1); see also Rule 3.3a |
| Related concepts | Gross Score, Net Score, Gross Winner, Low Net, Scratch Competition |
Worked example
In an illustrative 18-hole competition, Alex scores 82, Ben 86 and Chris 89 before handicap adjustments, so Alex wins the Low Gross result; no handicap strokes are subtracted.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Rule 3.1c(1) and Rule 3.2a(1); see also Rule 3.3a
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
Does Low Gross use handicap strokes?
No. Low Gross compares gross scores, meaning the actual strokes plus penalty strokes. Handicap strokes are not subtracted; subtracting them produces a net score instead.
Is Low Gross the same as winning a match?
No. Low Gross is usually a gross-scoring result in a competition, often stroke play. Match play is decided hole by hole, so a player can win the match without having the lowest total gross score across the round.
Can a match-play event also award Low Gross?
It can, if the event Terms of the Competition create a separate gross result, but that is an event arrangement rather than a separate Rules of Golf format. The match itself is still decided by holes won, lost or tied.
What is the difference between Low Gross and Low Net?
Low Gross goes to the lowest score before handicap adjustment. Low Net goes to the lowest score after the player’s applicable handicap strokes are subtracted, so the two results can go to different players.
Does a penalty stroke count in Low Gross?
Yes. A gross score includes strokes made and penalty strokes. The competition’s stated scoring terms still control how a result is recorded and whether any separate division or tie procedure applies.
Is Low Gross an official Rules of Golf format?
No. The Rules define gross scoring and scratch competitions, but Low Gross is a common competition-result label. The Committee should state the scoring method and any divisions in the Terms of the Competition.