Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Waltz is a team game, usually for three golfers, counting one best score on the first hole, two on the second and three on the third before repeating the sequence. Stableford points are common, but competition terms can specify stroke scoring.
How it matters in match play
Waltz is not itself an individual match-play format. It is normally a team game scored hole by hole, with a rotating number of players contributing to the team score. A club could adapt the team totals into a match between sides, but the scoring rotation and any handicap or money terms should be agreed in the Terms of the Competition rather than treated as a universal Waltz rule.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Waltz |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Best Ball, Stableford, Stableford Point, Team Competition, Handicap Allowance |
Worked example
For an illustrative three-player Stableford round, Alex scores 2 points, Ben 0 and Chris -1: Hole 1 counts only the best score (2), Hole 2 counts the best two (2 + 0 = 2), and Hole 3 counts all three (2 + 0 - 1 = 1). If the group agrees on $1 per team point, those three holes produce 5 points; that stake is a house rule, not part of Waltz itself.
Sources: www.golfcompendium.com , www.beezergolf.com , hammanor.intelligentgolf.co.uk , www.randa.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How many players are needed for Waltz?
The common version is a three-player team. Some descriptions allow four-player teams, but the group should state how the one-, two- and three-score rotation is applied before play, because local versions vary.
Is Waltz the same as 1-2-3 Best Ball?
Those names are commonly used for the same or a very similar game: players use their own balls, and the number of best scores included changes from one hole to the next. Confirm the scoring scale and rotation with the organiser.
Does Waltz have an official handicap allowance?
There is no single WHS allowance specifically named for Waltz in the standard allowance table. A committee should set the allowance in the Terms of the Competition; do not automatically copy an allowance from another format. Any club example is local, not a universal rule.
Can Waltz be played with money?
Yes, if the group agrees a settlement method first, such as paying per team point or comparing final totals. The stake, point value, tie treatment and any carryover are house terms, not Rules of Golf requirements.
What is Reverse Waltz?
Reverse Waltz is a named variation in which the rotation starts with three scores, then two, then one, and repeats. It is not the default Waltz pattern, so write the chosen sequence on the scorecard before teeing off.
Is Waltz governed by the Rules of Golf?
The Rules of Golf govern how the round is played, but they do not prescribe this casual Waltz scoring game. The committee or players must publish the competition terms for team scoring, handicaps, points and settlement.