How to Play a 36-Hole Eclectic

A 36-Hole Eclectic is a competition format that can be played by two or more golfers or used for a tournament. You can probably guess that it is played over two, 18-hole rounds, played on the same golf course. The gist of this format (or an eclectic of any length) is that each golfer compares his scores in the two rounds and selects the lower score on each hole played.

The Dictionary of Sports and Games Terminology (affiliate link) defines a golf eclectic as "a contest comprising a number of rounds played under strokeplay conditions, with each player selecting his lowest score at each hole."

Eclectic tournaments are also known as Ringer Tournaments, or, more simply, as eclectics or ringers. They can be played over 36 holes, over the length of an entire buddy trip, over the length of an entire association season, or any length at all.

A 36-Hole Eclectic is a great format for a tournament played over two days, or for a group of two, three or four friends who enjoy playing 36 holes in one day or who have tee times on consecutive days.

Let's say Golfer A and Golfer B are teeing off at dawn, breaking for lunch, then playing again in the afternoon. A 36-hole day. Perfect for playing a 36-Hole Eclectic with a little money on the line.

They write their scores down on the scorecard as per usual for the first 18. For the second 18, each writes his scores on the next line of the scorecard, directly below his first-round scores. What they wind up with is two rows of scores, two scores for each hole.

The heart of any eclectic is that you compare all the scores you've recorded on Hole 1 (whether that's two rounds as in a 36-Hole Eclectic, or many rounds), on Hole 2, and on every other hole. And you count your lowest score for each hole.

If Golfer A scores 5 on Hole 1 in his first 18, and 4 in his second 18, his 36-Hole Eclectic score on that hole is 4, the lower of the two scores. On Hole 2, if he scores 4 in Round 1 and 6 in Round 2, his eclectic score is 4. And so on.

At the end of 36 holes, compare the two lines on your scorecard an on each hole circle the lower of your two scores. Add up the circled scores, and that is your 36-Hole Eclectic total.

More definitions:

• What is a ringer score or ringer round?
• What is the 'circle hole' at a golf tournament?
• Marshmallow long drive: what it is, how to win

Sources:
Kaspriske, Ron. Golf Digest's Complete Book of Golf Betting Games (affiliate link), 2007, Doubleday.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Sports and Games Terminology, 2017, McFarland.
United States Department of the Air Force. Air Force Sports Manual, 1954, USAF.