Overview

Doubles Golf® is a modern rebranding of golf’s traditional two-player “Better Shot” format, created to make the game more relaxed, social, and inclusive. Co-founded by Jack Nicklaus and the team behind Junior League Golf, Doubles Golf® is the first format of its kind in U.S. golf history.

The format is built around 9-hole rounds, enabling faster play and making it ideal for evening leagues, tournaments, and special events at any golf facility. Courses nationwide can host Doubles Golf® Leagues, Series, Qualifiers, Tournaments, and other programs across Men’s, Women’s, Seniors, and Mixed Doubles categories.

Doubles Golf® serves as the entry point into a national pathway system that culminates in the U.S. Doubles Golf® Championships—bringing players together from local clubs all the way to national competition.

FORMAT & SCORING

Doubles Golf® uses the two-player “Better Shot” format. Teams of two follow the process below:

• Tee Shots:
  Both players tee off from the teeing ground, and the team selects the preferred ball for their next shot.

• Lift, Clean, and Place (One Club-Length):
  After selecting the ball, it is marked. Each player may lift, clean, and place their ball within one club-length, no closer to the hole.

• Lie Improvement Limitations:
  A ball may be moved from rough to fairway using the one club-length rule; however, free relief may not be used to move a ball out of a penalty area, out of a bunker, or onto a green.

• On the Green:
  Once the team reaches the green, the selected ball is marked, and players may place their ball within one club-head of the mark, in any direction, no closer to the hole.

• Maximum Score:
  The highest score allowed on any hole is double bogey, helping maintain pace of play.
  
  COURSE SET-UP

  • Course Yardage Guidelines:
    While the PGA/LPGA Professional or facility operator ultimately determines the appropriate course length, the following yardage ranges are recommended for Doubles Golf® play:

    • Men: 3,000–3,400 yards

    • Women: 2,400–2,800 yards

    • Seniors: 2,700–3,100 yards

  • Championship Yardages:
    State, Regional, and National Championship events will typically be played at the higher end of these recommended yardage ranges.
    

    DOUBLES GOLF® RATING

    • All Teams Must Have a Doubles Golf® Rating:
      Every Doubles Golf® team is required to establish a rating to ensure fair and consistent play across leagues, qualifiers, and championships.

    • Stage 1 – Temporary Rating:
      When registering, if both players on the team have a valid USGA Handicap Index, the team will automatically receive a Temporary Rating.

    • Stage 2 – Conditional Rating:
      After registering and posting two (2) 9-hole Doubles Golf® rounds, the team earns a Conditional Rating, calculated from the submitted scores.

    • Stage 3 – Official Doubles Golf® Rating:
      Once a team has posted three (3) 9-hole Doubles Golf® rounds, they are awarded their Official Doubles Golf® Rating.

    • Ongoing Rating Updates:
      After a team has established its Official Rating, each newly posted score will update the rating within 24 hours, similar to the GHIN update process.

ADVANCEMENT

• Promoting Teams to State or Regional Qualifiers:
  Course Operators, Allied Golf Associations, and PGA/LPGA Professionals determine the most suitable dates to run their Doubles Golf® Leagues, Series, or Qualifiers based on local schedules and facility needs.

• Deadline for Identifying Advancing Teams:
  All winning teams who will advance to State or Regional Qualifiers must be identified no later than July 31st of each year.

• Grace Period:
  The first two weeks of August may be used as a grace period if additional time is required to complete events or finalize advancing teams.

CATEGORIES QUALIFIED FOR ADVANCEMENT

• Men’s Category:
  Any two men 25 to 59 years of age.

• Women’s Category:
  Any two women 25 to 59 years of age.

• Mixed Category:
  One man and one woman 25 to 59 years of age.

• Seniors’ Category:
  Any two players 60 years of age or older.

ADVANCEMENT TO STATE OR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

• Qualifying Teams:
  Teams that win their category (Men’s, Women’s, Mixed, or Seniors’) at their club’s Doubles Golf® League, Series, or Qualifier will advance.

• Invitation to Championship:
  All advancing teams from each club, in each qualified category, will be invited to compete in their designated State or Regional Championship.
  

ADVANCEMENT TO U.S. DOUBLES GOLF® CHAMPIONSHIPS

• National Qualification:
  State or Regional Champions in each qualified category (Men’s, Women’s, Mixed, and Seniors’) earn the right to advance.

• Invitation to Nationals:
  All State or Regional Champions will be invited to compete in the U.S. Doubles Golf® Championships.
  
  RULES OF PLAY

  The following Doubles Golf® rules are established by the United States Doubles Golf® Committee (USDGC):

  • Format – Doubles Golf® (“Better-Shot” Format):
    Teams of two play the Better-Shot format, where both players hit, the team selects the preferred ball, and both players play from that position.

  • Sharing Clubs:
    Each player may carry a maximum of 14 clubs.

    • Partners may share clubs, provided the combined total does not exceed 14.

    • Example: If Player A carries 6 clubs and Player B carries 8 clubs, the team may share these 14 clubs without penalty.

LIFTING & MARKING SELECTED BALL

• Marking the Selected Ball:
  After the team chooses its preferred drive or shot, the selected ball must be marked before it is lifted or played—unless the ball will be played from its exact original location.

• Who May Lift the Ball:
  The selected ball may be lifted by the player, their partner, a substitute, or any person authorized by the player. The ball may be cleaned once lifted.

• Proper Marking Procedure:

  • The mark should be placed directly behind or next to the ball before lifting.

  • If the player chooses to play from the original spot, the mark may be moved up to:

    • One club-head length on the putting surface, or

    • One club-length everywhere else on the course.

• Penalty for Not Marking:
  If a selected ball is lifted or played without being properly marked, the team incurs a one-stroke penalty.

• Continuing the Process:
  The same lifting, marking, and placing procedure applies for every selected shot until the team reaches the putting green.

• Relief in the General Area:
  A ball may be moved one club-length within the general area—which includes all areas of the course except the teeing area, penalty areas, bunkers, and the putting green.

PENALTY AREAS

• Playing from a Penalty Area:
  If a team chooses to play a ball from within a penalty area, the ball must be played as it lies for the first stroke. Either player may hit the first shot with no relief allowed.

• Second Shot Placement:
  The second player must place their ball as close as possible to the first ball’s original position, no closer to the hole, while replicating the same conditions (e.g., lie, stance, surface).

• Taking Relief:
  If the team chooses not to play from the penalty area, USGA relief options apply and a one-stroke penalty is assessed.

LOST BALL & OUT OF BOUNDS

• Lost Ball:
  If neither player’s ball can be found, USGA “lost ball” rules apply. The team must return to the spot of the previous stroke, both players re-hit, and a one-stroke penalty is added.

• Out of Bounds:
  Although Doubles Golf® treats out-of-bounds stakes similarly to penalty areas, a ball may not be played from out of bounds.

  • A team whose selected ball is out of bounds must take a one-stroke penalty and play from the nearest in-bounds point where the ball crossed the boundary.

LINE OF PUTT

• Once on the putting green, the selected ball is marked, and each player will putt from within one club-head of the mark, in any direction, no closer to the hole.

• If it is determined that a team intentionally rolls a ball on the green before putting to gain an advantage, a penalty may be assessed.

FINISHING A HOLE

• Once either player holes out, that score becomes the official team score for the hole—regardless of whether the second player has putted.

• Maximum Score: The highest score allowed on any hole is double bogey.

• If a team reaches bogey strokes and has not holed out, they must pick up, record a double bogey, and proceed to the next tee.

TIES

• For Club Championships, facilities have discretion in how ties are decided (e.g., playoff, chip-off, putt-off).

• If an alternate method is used, it must be announced prior to the event.

• The USDGC-recommended method is scorecard matching (below).

SCORECARD MATCHING (USDGC Recommended)

If two or more teams finish with identical totals:

1. Compare teams’ scores against par for the last 9 holes.

2. If still tied, compare last 6 holes.

3. If still tied, compare last 3 holes.

4. If still tied, compare the aggregate Par-3 scores.

5. If still tied, compare each Par-3 in reverse order on the scorecard.

6. If still tied, conduct a putt-off or chip-off until a winner is determined.

SCORING LEAGUE MATCHES

• Doubles Golf® league matches are played over 9 holes.

• Each hole is worth 1 point.

• If a hole is tied, both teams receive 0.5 points.

• Match totals must always equal 9 points.

• The team with the most total points at the end of the match is the winner.

• Mobile Scoring Note:
  The scoring app awards an additional 1 point to the team that wins the overall match.

GENERAL NOTE

• For any ruling not covered in Doubles Golf® Rules, refer to the USGA Rulebook.