“1-2-3 Best Ball” is the name of a golf tournament format for 4-person teams in which a different number of team members’ scores are counted on each hole:

On the first hole, the one best score among the four teammates is the team score;on the second hole, the two best scores are combined for the team score;on the third hole, the three best scores are combined for the team score.

One-two-three. On the fourth hole, that rotation starts over and continues through the round.

This format is sometimes called 4-Man Cha Cha Cha. Similar, but not identical, games are Irish Four Ball and Arizona Shuffle.

Playing 1-2-3 Best Ball

Each golfer on a team plays his own ball throughout the round - just regular stroke play for each golfer. (Note that tournament organizers can decree some other form of play, or can decide to use Stableford scoring, but typical stroke play is most common.) The difference in 1-2-3 Best Ball is the number of scores counted on each hole.

In typical best ball or better ball, it’s only the one low score per hole among the teammates that is counted. But in 1-2-3 Best Ball, it’s the one low ball, then the two, then the three that are counted. The effect is to keep all the golfers in the quartet involved in the action and contributing to the team score. Even the weakest golfer on a team will have opportunities to contribute to the team score.

One drawback to 1-2-3 Best Ball is that it takes longer to play compared to a scramble.

Scorekeeping in 1-2-3 Best Ball

Let’s run through a scorekeeping example just to make sure everyone gets the scoring method described above.

Here are the first six holes of a 1-2-3 Best Ball round. What is the team score on each hole?

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6

Golfer A 3 4 5 4 4 3

Golfer B 6 4 4 6 5 4

Golfer C 5 7 5 4 5 6

Golfer D 5 6 6 5 6 7

On the first hole, the team score is 3. Only the one lowest score among the four teammates counts on No. 1.On No. 2, the two low balls count, so the team score is 8 (Golfer A’s 4 combined with Golfer B’s 4).On No. 3, the team score is 14, because the three low balls count (Golfer A’s 5 plus Golfer B’s 4 plus Golfer C’s 5).

On No. 4, it’s back to the one low ball as the rotation starts over, so the scores for Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the example above are 4, 9 and 13, respectively.

We used gross scores in our example, but a 1-2-3 Best Ball tournament can use handicaps and net scores, too.

The 1-2-3 Best Ball Rotation

As noted, it goes one low ball on No. 1, two on No. 2 and three on No. 3, then back one on No. 4 and so on. What you wind up with over the course of the round is a rotation that looks like this:

One low ball is used on Holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16;two low balls are used on Holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17;and three low balls are used on Holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

Featured Video

The Fourball Alliance Golf Tournament

Explaining the Bramble Golf Tournament Format

Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets

How to Play a ‘Best Ball’ Golf Tournament

How to Play the Better Ball Format

How to Play the Four Ball Golf Format

The 4-Man Cha Cha Cha Golf Format

How to Play the Low Ball-High Ball Golf Game (and Variations)

How to Play the Irish Four Ball Golf Tournament Format

Explaining the Am-Am Golf Format

Reverse Scramble Golf Format

Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets

How a Quota Golf Tournament Works

How to Play a 2-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

How to Play the Foursomes Golf Format

How to Play an Eclectic Tournament in Golf

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“1-2-3 Best Ball” is the name of a golf tournament format for 4-person teams in which a different number of team members’ scores are counted on each hole:

On the first hole, the one best score among the four teammates is the team score;on the second hole, the two best scores are combined for the team score;on the third hole, the three best scores are combined for the team score.

One-two-three. On the fourth hole, that rotation starts over and continues through the round.

This format is sometimes called 4-Man Cha Cha Cha. Similar, but not identical, games are Irish Four Ball and Arizona Shuffle.

Playing 1-2-3 Best Ball

Each golfer on a team plays his own ball throughout the round - just regular stroke play for each golfer. (Note that tournament organizers can decree some other form of play, or can decide to use Stableford scoring, but typical stroke play is most common.) The difference in 1-2-3 Best Ball is the number of scores counted on each hole.

In typical best ball or better ball, it’s only the one low score per hole among the teammates that is counted. But in 1-2-3 Best Ball, it’s the one low ball, then the two, then the three that are counted. The effect is to keep all the golfers in the quartet involved in the action and contributing to the team score. Even the weakest golfer on a team will have opportunities to contribute to the team score.

One drawback to 1-2-3 Best Ball is that it takes longer to play compared to a scramble.

Scorekeeping in 1-2-3 Best Ball

Let’s run through a scorekeeping example just to make sure everyone gets the scoring method described above.

Here are the first six holes of a 1-2-3 Best Ball round. What is the team score on each hole?

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6

Golfer A 3 4 5 4 4 3

Golfer B 6 4 4 6 5 4

Golfer C 5 7 5 4 5 6

Golfer D 5 6 6 5 6 7

On the first hole, the team score is 3. Only the one lowest score among the four teammates counts on No. 1.On No. 2, the two low balls count, so the team score is 8 (Golfer A’s 4 combined with Golfer B’s 4).On No. 3, the team score is 14, because the three low balls count (Golfer A’s 5 plus Golfer B’s 4 plus Golfer C’s 5).

On No. 4, it’s back to the one low ball as the rotation starts over, so the scores for Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the example above are 4, 9 and 13, respectively.

We used gross scores in our example, but a 1-2-3 Best Ball tournament can use handicaps and net scores, too.

The 1-2-3 Best Ball Rotation

As noted, it goes one low ball on No. 1, two on No. 2 and three on No. 3, then back one on No. 4 and so on. What you wind up with over the course of the round is a rotation that looks like this:

One low ball is used on Holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16;two low balls are used on Holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17;and three low balls are used on Holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

Featured Video

The Fourball Alliance Golf Tournament

Explaining the Bramble Golf Tournament Format

Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets

How to Play a ‘Best Ball’ Golf Tournament

How to Play the Better Ball Format

How to Play the Four Ball Golf Format

The 4-Man Cha Cha Cha Golf Format

How to Play the Low Ball-High Ball Golf Game (and Variations)

How to Play the Irish Four Ball Golf Tournament Format

Explaining the Am-Am Golf Format

Reverse Scramble Golf Format

Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets

How a Quota Golf Tournament Works

How to Play a 2-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

How to Play the Foursomes Golf Format

How to Play an Eclectic Tournament in Golf

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

“1-2-3 Best Ball” is the name of a golf tournament format for 4-person teams in which a different number of team members’ scores are counted on each hole:

On the first hole, the one best score among the four teammates is the team score;on the second hole, the two best scores are combined for the team score;on the third hole, the three best scores are combined for the team score.

One-two-three. On the fourth hole, that rotation starts over and continues through the round.

This format is sometimes called 4-Man Cha Cha Cha. Similar, but not identical, games are Irish Four Ball and Arizona Shuffle.

Playing 1-2-3 Best Ball

Each golfer on a team plays his own ball throughout the round - just regular stroke play for each golfer. (Note that tournament organizers can decree some other form of play, or can decide to use Stableford scoring, but typical stroke play is most common.) The difference in 1-2-3 Best Ball is the number of scores counted on each hole.

In typical best ball or better ball, it’s only the one low score per hole among the teammates that is counted. But in 1-2-3 Best Ball, it’s the one low ball, then the two, then the three that are counted. The effect is to keep all the golfers in the quartet involved in the action and contributing to the team score. Even the weakest golfer on a team will have opportunities to contribute to the team score.

One drawback to 1-2-3 Best Ball is that it takes longer to play compared to a scramble.

Scorekeeping in 1-2-3 Best Ball

Let’s run through a scorekeeping example just to make sure everyone gets the scoring method described above.

Here are the first six holes of a 1-2-3 Best Ball round. What is the team score on each hole?

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6

Golfer A 3 4 5 4 4 3

Golfer B 6 4 4 6 5 4

Golfer C 5 7 5 4 5 6

Golfer D 5 6 6 5 6 7

On the first hole, the team score is 3. Only the one lowest score among the four teammates counts on No. 1.On No. 2, the two low balls count, so the team score is 8 (Golfer A’s 4 combined with Golfer B’s 4).On No. 3, the team score is 14, because the three low balls count (Golfer A’s 5 plus Golfer B’s 4 plus Golfer C’s 5).

On No. 4, it’s back to the one low ball as the rotation starts over, so the scores for Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the example above are 4, 9 and 13, respectively.

We used gross scores in our example, but a 1-2-3 Best Ball tournament can use handicaps and net scores, too.

The 1-2-3 Best Ball Rotation

As noted, it goes one low ball on No. 1, two on No. 2 and three on No. 3, then back one on No. 4 and so on. What you wind up with over the course of the round is a rotation that looks like this:

One low ball is used on Holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16;two low balls are used on Holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17;and three low balls are used on Holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

“1-2-3 Best Ball” is the name of a golf tournament format for 4-person teams in which a different number of team members’ scores are counted on each hole:

  • On the first hole, the one best score among the four teammates is the team score;on the second hole, the two best scores are combined for the team score;on the third hole, the three best scores are combined for the team score.

One-two-three. On the fourth hole, that rotation starts over and continues through the round.

This format is sometimes called 4-Man Cha Cha Cha. Similar, but not identical, games are Irish Four Ball and Arizona Shuffle.

Playing 1-2-3 Best Ball

Each golfer on a team plays his own ball throughout the round - just regular stroke play for each golfer. (Note that tournament organizers can decree some other form of play, or can decide to use Stableford scoring, but typical stroke play is most common.) The difference in 1-2-3 Best Ball is the number of scores counted on each hole.

In typical best ball or better ball, it’s only the one low score per hole among the teammates that is counted. But in 1-2-3 Best Ball, it’s the one low ball, then the two, then the three that are counted. The effect is to keep all the golfers in the quartet involved in the action and contributing to the team score. Even the weakest golfer on a team will have opportunities to contribute to the team score.

One drawback to 1-2-3 Best Ball is that it takes longer to play compared to a scramble.

Scorekeeping in 1-2-3 Best Ball

Let’s run through a scorekeeping example just to make sure everyone gets the scoring method described above.

Here are the first six holes of a 1-2-3 Best Ball round. What is the team score on each hole?

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6

Golfer A 3 4 5 4 4 3

Golfer B 6 4 4 6 5 4

Golfer C 5 7 5 4 5 6

Golfer D 5 6 6 5 6 7

On the first hole, the team score is 3. Only the one lowest score among the four teammates counts on No. 1.On No. 2, the two low balls count, so the team score is 8 (Golfer A’s 4 combined with Golfer B’s 4).On No. 3, the team score is 14, because the three low balls count (Golfer A’s 5 plus Golfer B’s 4 plus Golfer C’s 5).

On No. 4, it’s back to the one low ball as the rotation starts over, so the scores for Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the example above are 4, 9 and 13, respectively.

We used gross scores in our example, but a 1-2-3 Best Ball tournament can use handicaps and net scores, too.

The 1-2-3 Best Ball Rotation

As noted, it goes one low ball on No. 1, two on No. 2 and three on No. 3, then back one on No. 4 and so on. What you wind up with over the course of the round is a rotation that looks like this:

One low ball is used on Holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16;two low balls are used on Holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17;and three low balls are used on Holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

  • On the first hole, the team score is 3. Only the one lowest score among the four teammates counts on No. 1.On No. 2, the two low balls count, so the team score is 8 (Golfer A’s 4 combined with Golfer B’s 4).On No. 3, the team score is 14, because the three low balls count (Golfer A’s 5 plus Golfer B’s 4 plus Golfer C’s 5).

On No. 4, it’s back to the one low ball as the rotation starts over, so the scores for Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the example above are 4, 9 and 13, respectively.

We used gross scores in our example, but a 1-2-3 Best Ball tournament can use handicaps and net scores, too.

The 1-2-3 Best Ball Rotation

As noted, it goes one low ball on No. 1, two on No. 2 and three on No. 3, then back one on No. 4 and so on. What you wind up with over the course of the round is a rotation that looks like this:

  • One low ball is used on Holes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16;two low balls are used on Holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17;and three low balls are used on Holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

Featured Video

Featured Video

Featured Video

Featured Video

Featured Video

Featured Video

  • The Fourball Alliance Golf Tournament

  • Explaining the Bramble Golf Tournament Format

  • Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets

  • How to Play a ‘Best Ball’ Golf Tournament

  • How to Play the Better Ball Format

  • How to Play the Four Ball Golf Format

  • The 4-Man Cha Cha Cha Golf Format

  • How to Play the Low Ball-High Ball Golf Game (and Variations)

  • How to Play the Irish Four Ball Golf Tournament Format

  • Explaining the Am-Am Golf Format

  • Reverse Scramble Golf Format

  • Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets

  • How a Quota Golf Tournament Works

  • How to Play a 2-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

  • How to Play the Foursomes Golf Format

  • How to Play an Eclectic Tournament in Golf

The Fourball Alliance Golf Tournament

The Fourball Alliance Golf Tournament

Explaining the Bramble Golf Tournament Format

Explaining the Bramble Golf Tournament Format

Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets

Golf Tournament Formats, Side Games and Golf Bets

How to Play a ‘Best Ball’ Golf Tournament

How to Play a ‘Best Ball’ Golf Tournament

How to Play the Better Ball Format

How to Play the Better Ball Format

How to Play the Four Ball Golf Format

How to Play the Four Ball Golf Format

The 4-Man Cha Cha Cha Golf Format

The 4-Man Cha Cha Cha Golf Format

How to Play the Low Ball-High Ball Golf Game (and Variations)

How to Play the Low Ball-High Ball Golf Game (and Variations)

How to Play the Irish Four Ball Golf Tournament Format

How to Play the Irish Four Ball Golf Tournament Format

Explaining the Am-Am Golf Format

Explaining the Am-Am Golf Format

Reverse Scramble Golf Format

Reverse Scramble Golf Format

Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets

Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets

How a Quota Golf Tournament Works

How a Quota Golf Tournament Works

How to Play a 2-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

How to Play a 2-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

How to Play the Foursomes Golf Format

How to Play the Foursomes Golf Format

How to Play an Eclectic Tournament in Golf

How to Play an Eclectic Tournament in Golf

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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies