What is the purpose of a score orienteering course?

The purpose of a score orienteering course is to collect points by visiting specific locations. In this format, participants are given a map with various control points marked, each worth different point values. Competitors can choose which points to visit and in what order, based on their strategy and navigation skills. This allows for flexible routes and encourages participants to make tactical decisions about which locations to prioritize based on the points they can earn.

While following a pre-defined route, navigating based on time, and racing against others are elements that can be present in orienteering, they do not capture the essence of score orienteering, which emphasizes point collection and strategic planning over a fixed course or head-to-head racing.