Rules & Terminology

Fourballs (eight groups of two-man teams)

"Fourball" play is a match in which each member of the two-man teams play their own ball. Four balls are in play per hole with each of the four players recording a score on the hole. The team whose player posts the best score on that hole wins the hole. Should players from each team tie for the best score, the hole is halved.


Singles (sixteen groups of one-man teams)

"Singles" is a match in which one player competes against another player. A player wins the match when he is up by more holes than there are holes remaining to play.

Match play is a game that is decided hole by hole instead of cumulatively over 18 holes.

A hole is won by the team, which holes its ball in the fewer strokes.

Score is kept by the number of holes up (won) and the number of holes to play. (Example: U.S. 2-up, with six holes to play)

When a team is up (winning) by more holes than there are holes remaining, then the match is closed out and a point is awarded.

One point is awarded for each match won.

If the match is tied or "halved" through 18 holes of play, each team receives one half of a point.

A total of 32 points are awarded in Russell Cup competition.

If a match is currently tied while in competition, then it is considered "all-square".

A match is considered "dormie" when one side is up by the exact number of holes that remain.

A player/twosome is said to be 2-up thru 10 after winning two more holes than their opponent(s) through 10 holes.

A player/twosome is said to win the match 2-up after winning two more holes than their opponent thru 18 holes.

A player/twosome is said to win 3 and 2 after winning three holes more than their opponent(s) with only two holes left to play, assuring victory.

Matches are played with handicaps adjusted as follows.

In Foursome and Fourball play the player with the lowest handicap of the foursome is reduced to a 0 handicap and the remaining players have their handicaps reduced by a like amount.

In Singles play the player with the lowest handicap is reduced to a 0 handicap and the opponents handicap is reduced by a like amount.