In golf, the term aggregate has various meaning depending on how the word is being used. Aggregate can be referred to its score, which means the total score of the golfer in a tournament from multiple rounds of play. It also refers to the total score a team of golfers earn when playing together.
Aggregate Playoff
The oldest playoff format for strokeplay tournament in golf is called aggregate playoff. This type of playoff has the lowest cumulative score in a sequence of holes. It is common on three, four, and 18 holes. Considered as the fairest way of deciding a winner, aggregate playoff ensures that even if a player display one bad shot, it does not mean that he is eliminated from winning. In fact, this type of playoff is being used in the men’s major championships. However, aggregate playoff has one known flaw in this system. This flaw is having shorter variants, which means that the competition might take a lot longer to complete, especially since this used in two major championships. For an 18-hole playoff, the play is extended the following day. During the aggregate playoff if two players are tied after a series of holes, they will play the sudden death to determine the winner.
Aggregate Stableford Competitions
Aggregate Stableford is a competition that is played as a team event. One team can consist from two to four players as mixed, men’s, women’s, or medley competitions. Keep in mind that aggregate stableford is different from “four-ball stableford.” In four-ball stableford the players play as partners in the competition and the hole is played by each of them with their individual full handicaps. This is often played with two players. For aggregate stableford competition, although it is a team event, each players plays individually and is responsible for their own scorecards. The team are not considered as partners, hence, the player is accountable for his score just like when playing in an individual event. Their score are then tallied as a team at the end of the event determining the winner.