Low Ball, Low Total

Two teams of two play their own ball, usually net off the low handicapper. Each hole has two points: the low ball point goes to the team with the better individual score, and the low total point goes to the team with the lower sum of both partners' scores. Keep a running point total and settle at the end.

Example: Team A's best is 4 vs Team B's 5 (low ball to A); A totals 9 vs B's 10 (low total to A) for a 2-0 hole. Ties: no point (most common), halved 0.5 each, or carried to double the next hole. Typical stakes $1-$2 per point or a flat match value; some groups make birdies worth two extra points.

• Birdies double the points
• Three-point version adding low high-ball
• Nassau layer (front/back/18)
• Gross play for even groups

• A partner's blow-up loses the total point, so play for bogey when in trouble
• Wins with 5-5 beat 4-7 on the total
• Decide tie rules before the first tee