How do I set up a best ball event?

Best ball (better ball) events score each team using the best individual score(s) on each hole. PlayThru supports:

  • ‍Two-Person Best Ball — 2 golfers per team, best 1 score per hole
  • ‍Four-Person Best Ball — 4 golfers per team, best 1 score per hole
  • ‍Two Best of Four — 4 golfers per team, best 2 scores per hole (summed)

Step-by-step setup

Step 1: Event tab

Select your game format in the event tab of the outing organizer: 

  • Two-Person Best Ball
  • Four-Person Best Ball
  • Two Best of Four

Optional: If using handicaps, PlayThru can adjust the player handicaps for the course. You can also decide how much of a player's handicap to apply (0-100%).


Flights and tiebreaker options are hidden for Four-Person Best Ball and Two Best of Four.

Step 2: Course tab

  1. Add tee box(es) with a par value for every hole.
  2. If handicaps are enabled or you're using the hardest hole tiebreaker, enter in hole handicap indexes.
  3. If adjusting handicaps for the course, enter slope and rating values for each hole.
  4. Save.

Step 3: Golfers tab — assign combo teams

Each playing group needs a Combo Team name. The number of golfers per team must match the format:

Format Golfers per combo team Example
Two-Person Best Ball 2 "Team A" × 2 golfers
Four-Person Best Ball 4 "Team B" × 4 golfers
Two Best of Four 4 "Team C" × 4 golfers
  1. Add all individual golfers.
  2. Click the field under the best ball team column to enter in a team name. Or, click "Select Existing" if you've already added the team name. Then choose the team assignment from the drop down list.
  3. Assign each golfer a Tee, as well as a Start hole, Flight and Handicap (if enabled).
  4. Save.

Validation: PlayThru checks that the number of unique combo teams equals total golfers ÷ team size. If you have 40 golfers in Two-Person Best Ball, you need exactly 20 unique combo team names.

Step 4: Scorecard tab

  1. Fix any checklist errors (common: wrong team count, missing combo team).
  2. Share the scorecard link.

Day-of scoring

  • One person in a foursome can keep score for everyone in the group by selecting each golfer on the Golfer Select screen when opening the scorecard, or each player can keep their own score. Completely up to your disgression.
  • PlayThru automatically takes the best score(s) per hole for the team total.

CSV import

Download the format-specific template from the Import page after setting your game format on the Event tab. Column headers differ between 2-person and 4-person templates.

Related guides

* Two-Person Best Ball
* Four-Person Best Ball