Definition: "Long and Short" is a golf tournament format for 2-person teams. The name explains the game: One member of the team plays the long shots (drives and approaches), while the other member of the team plays the short shots (pitches, chips and putts).
If you're a golfer who is great with the driver and irons but poor in the short game; or a golfer who is a fanstastic chipper and putter but not so good on full shots, then Long and Short is probably a good tournament format for you.
Long and Short can be played as team vs. team match play, or as team vs. field stroke play.
In order to avoid potential disagreements between teams over which player should play certain shots, it's advisable for the Long and Short tournament organizers to set a specific yardage that delineates the "long" and "short." For example, all shots outside X yards from the green are played by the "long" players; shots inside that yardage are played by the "short" player.
Return to Golf Glossary index
