Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MEDAL, n. As in Eng., a medallion given as a reward for merit; specif. one given by a golfing club, in combs.: medal competition, the competition for such a medal, during which the number of strokes taken by a team or player to complete a round is used to determine the winner, instead of the more usual reckoning of the number of holes gained; medal day, the day of such a competition; medal play, play where the scoring is reckoned as above.Fif. 1857 H. B. Farnie Golfer's Manual 87, 89:
In Medal playing, a ball may, under a penalty of two strokes, be lifted out of a difficulty of any description, and teed behind the hazard. . . . Considerable unforeseen difficulty occurred at the last moment in obtaining definite information from several clubs respecting their medal-days, &c.Sc. 1887 W. & R. Chambers Golfing 90:
Medal competition. All competitions for the Medals of the Club will be decided by playing one round of the Links of 18 holes — the competitor doing it in fewest strokes shall be the winner. . . . On the morning of the Medal day new holes will be made, and any member playing at them before he competes will be disqualified.Sc. 1931 Golf (Lonsdale Library) 116:
I think medal play wants more practice of the two and repays it better.