Against Par Golf Game: Rules Explained
Against Par — “Contre le Par” in French — strips golf scoring down to the essentials: on each hole, the gap you score is simply your strokes played minus the par of the hole. A 5 on a par 4 scores +1, a birdie scores −1, par scores 0. These gaps add up hole after hole, and at the end of the round, the lowest total differential — the furthest under par — wins. No net score to work out, no complicated points scale: you always know exactly where you stand, “I'm +3” or “−1 today”, and the score reads at a glance, hole after hole. Every hole carries the same weight: consistency is king, and a player who racks up pars without ever falling apart can beat one who alternates birdies and disasters. It is also exactly how professional tournament leaderboards show the score — playing Against Par means reading your round like a pro. For 1 to 4 players, everyone with their own ball, and a par you can edit hole by hole.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play Against Par, hole by hole
- Enter your strokes and the par of each hole. The par can be edited when entering scores (default: 4).
- Work out the gap for the hole: strokes played − par. E.g. 5 strokes on a par 4 = +1; 3 strokes = −1; par = 0.
- Add up the gaps hole after hole. The total moves live: +2, +1, −1…
- The lowest total differential wins the game.
Three players. Hole 1 (par 4): Camille makes 4 → 0, Hugo 5 → +1, Inès 3 → −1. Hole 2 (par 5): Camille 5 → 0, Hugo 7 → +2, Inès 6 → +1. After two holes: Inès and Camille are on 0, Hugo on +3.
End of the round — the lowest total wins:
| Position | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Inès | −2 |
| 🥈 | Camille | +4 |
| 🥉 | Hugo | +11 |
Why Against Par is so popular
You always know where you stand: “I'm +3”, “−1 today”… the score reads at a glance, hole after hole. And every hole weighs the same: consistency is king. It is also the language of tournament leaderboards — “−4 overall” — so playing Against Par means reading your round exactly like a professional.
Strategy tip
Play the par, not the hero: a bogey can be won back, a triple can't. On the hard holes, a deliberate +1 is better than a +3 chasing the impossible — save the attack for the holes that suit you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you work out the gap in Against Par?
The gap for a hole equals the strokes played minus the par of the hole. 5 strokes on a par 4 gives +1, 3 strokes gives −1 (birdie), and making par gives 0. The gaps add up hole after hole into a running total.
How do you win at Against Par?
The player with the lowest total differential at the end of the round wins the game — in other words, the one who finishes furthest under par. A negative total is better than a positive one, exactly as on a tournament leaderboard.
Can you change the par of a hole in the app?
Yes. The par of each hole can be edited when entering scores, with a default value of 4. It is useful for adapting to a real course or to a practice area where the pars differ from the standard ones.
How many players can play Against Par?
From 1 to 4 players, each playing their own ball and building up their own differential. The format suits a round among friends just as well as tracking your own progress, hole after hole.
Every format on a single page: step-by-step rules, a worked example, the points scale and a strategy tip — to read the night before a round or to print. The free sample covers 10 formats, including the 5 you can play for free in the app; Against Par is in the complete guide.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
Your next round, read like a pro
Enter strokes and par: the Game of Swing app works out the differential on every hole, adds up everyone's total and shows the leaderboard live. Against Par is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
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