Nina Caldwell
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole they win. Unlike stroke play, where the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes, match play golfers compete hole-by-hole, with the golfer who wins the most holes declared the champion. Match play scoring can be confusing to novices, with scores that may look odd or unfamiliar. For example, a final score of 1-up means the match went the full 18 holes, with the winner finishing with one more hole won than the runner-up. Match play also features more forgiving play, where a golfer who is struggling on a particular hole can choose to pick up their ball and give the hole to their opponent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring | Golfers compete hole-by-hole, and the golfer who wins the most holes is the champion. |
| Win/Loss | Win a hole, that's one for you; lose a hole, that's one for your opponent. |
| Ties | Ties on individual holes (called halves) are not counted and are not kept track of in match play scorekeeping. |
| Score Representation | If you've won five holes and your opponent has won four, the score is represented as 1-up for you, or 1-down for your opponent. |
| Full Match | If the match goes the full 18 holes and you've won one more hole than your opponent, the score is 1-up. |
| Early Victory | If you win by three holes with only two holes left to play, the score is 3 and 2. |
| Dormie | If a player is dormie, they are leading by the same number of holes that remain. |
| Handicap Matches | The lowest net score wins the hole. The golfer with the highest handicap receives extra shots based on the difference between each player's handicaps. |
| Ready Golf | Ready golf does not apply to match play. Playing in turn is of tactical importance as the next shot could be influenced by the opponent's shot. |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring system: One point per hole, most points win
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole they win. Golfers compete hole-by-hole, and the golfer who wins the most holes is the champion. In match play, the lowest net score on the hole wins that hole. If both players make a par on a hole but one player is receiving a shot on that hole, then that player would win the hole. If there are no shots being given, the hole is halved. If a player wins the first hole, they go 1-up; if they win the second, they go 2-up, and so on. The match is over when one player or team leads by more holes than there are still to play. If a player is four holes ahead with only three holes left to play, they would win the match by 4&3.
When match play matches are played in the NET format, each golfer's score is adjusted after each hole according to handicap, and the net scores are compared to determine a winner for a hole. At the start of the round, golfers declare their handicaps, and the difference between them is calculated. The golfer with the highest handicap will be awarded an extra stroke on as many holes as the calculated difference. For example, if Player A declares a handicap of 5 and Player B declares a 10, for a difference of 5, Player B will be given a free stroke on the five most difficult holes. If Player B needed 5 strokes for the most difficult hole and Player A needed 4 strokes, the hole would be halved instead of Player B losing that hole.
In match play, a winner is declared when their opponent can no longer tie or win the match, even if they were to win all the remaining holes. If a player is in a position where they can still halve the match but cannot lose, this is known as "dormie". So if Player A is 2-up with two holes to play, they are "dormie 2". If a match goes 18 holes and one player has won six holes while their opponent has won five (the other holes being halved or tied), the player has beaten their opponent 1-up. When a match goes 18 holes, a score such as 2-up means the player in the lead took the match "dormie" on the 17th hole.
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Ties: Holes can be tied or 'halved'
In match play golf, holes can be tied or halved. If both golfers have identical scores on a hole, the hole is halved, resulting in no change to the overall score. This means that neither golfer earns a point for that hole.
For example, if Player A and Player B both take 5 strokes on a hole, the hole is halved, and the match remains tied. In this case, Player A and Player B would each get a par for that hole, but no points would be awarded.
Handicaps can also come into play when determining ties or halves. In a handicap match, the golfer with the highest handicap receives extra shots or strokes on the holes with the highest difficulty ratings, based on the difference between the players' handicaps. For instance, if Player A has a handicap of 5 and Player B has a handicap of 10, Player B would receive an extra stroke on the holes with the highest difficulty ratings of 1 through 5. So, if Player B needed 5 strokes on the most difficult hole and Player A needed 4 strokes on that same hole, the hole would be halved instead of Player B losing the hole due to their extra stroke.
Additionally, the term "dormie" is used when a player is in a position where they can still halve the match but cannot lose. For example, if Player A is 2-up with two holes to play, they are considered "dormie 2". This means that Player A has a lead of two holes with only two holes left to play, so they cannot lose the match but could potentially halve it if they lose the remaining two holes.
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Handicap: Adjusted scores based on golfer's handicap
In match play golf, two golfers compete head-to-head, trying to win or not lose more holes than their opponent. The golfer with the lowest score on a given hole receives one point. If the golfers tie, the hole is halved.
When it comes to handicaps, match play can be played in either a gross or net format. In gross match play, handicaps are not considered, and scores are not adjusted based on golfers' handicaps. On the other hand, net match play takes golfers' handicaps into account.
Here's how handicap adjustments work in net match play:
- Course Handicaps: Each player's Handicap Index is converted into a Course Handicap using charts provided by the golf course.
- Course Rating Adjustment: Players on tees with a higher Course Rating receive an increase based on the difference in Course Ratings. This adjustment is added to the Course Handicap and then rounded to the nearest whole number.
- Handicap Difference: The Playing Handicap for each player is adjusted so that the lowest handicap plays off zero.
- Handicap Allowances: In individual match play, the handicap allowance is 100%. For pairs, it is typically reduced to 90%, and the handicaps are adjusted accordingly.
- Stroke Allocation: The difference between the golfers' handicaps is calculated, and the golfer with the higher handicap is awarded extra strokes on holes with difficulty ratings corresponding to that difference. For example, if Player A has a handicap of 5 and Player B has a handicap of 10, there is a difference of 5 strokes. Player B would receive a free stroke on holes with difficulty ratings of 1 through 5.
It's important to note that match play handicaps are calculated differently when using a single tee compared to multiple tees, especially in mixed matches between men and women. In mixed matches, players using tees with higher Course Ratings receive additional shots over those using lower-rated tees.
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Conceding: A player can concede a hole or match to their opponent
In match play, a player can concede their opponent's next stroke, a hole, or the match at any time. Conceding a hole or match is an act of good sportsmanship and is a common occurrence in golf. Concessions must be clearly communicated and are final—they cannot be declined, withdrawn, or ignored. For example, if a player concedes their opponent's putt, but the opponent putts anyway and misses, the conceded putt stands as the player's score.
It is important to note that concessions are only valid if they are made before a hole is completed. Additionally, players are not allowed to agree to concede holes to each other to deliberately shorten a match. In match play, the winner is determined by who has won the most holes, so conceding a hole can be a strategic decision to focus on other holes.
When a player is struggling on a particular hole, they can choose to concede it to their opponent and move on to the next hole. This is especially useful if the opponent has a significant advantage on that hole, such as a shorter putt or a better lie. By conceding the hole, the player can conserve their energy and focus on holes where they have a better chance of winning.
Conceding a match is typically done when a player acknowledges that their opponent is playing better and is highly likely to win the remaining holes. This can occur when a player is facing a large deficit with only a few holes left to play, or when one player has a significant advantage in terms of skill or strategy. Conceding a match is a respectful way to end a competition and can help foster a sense of camaraderie among golfers.
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Strategy: Aggressive play is encouraged in match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf where golfers compete against each other on a hole-by-hole basis. Each hole is a separate competition, and the golfer with the lowest score on a given hole receives one point. If the golfers tie, the hole is considered tied or halved. The winner of the match is the golfer with the most points at the end of play.
Match play encourages aggressive play, especially at the professional level, where par is usually not good enough to win a hole. Since a very poor result for a hole is no worse than a slightly-below-average result when playing against an opponent with an average score, golfers often accept the higher risk that comes with aggressive tactics. This is because, in match play, the total number of strokes taken during the round doesn't matter. Instead, the focus is on winning individual holes rather than minimising overall stroke count.
However, there are circumstances where a player may choose to play more conservatively. For example, if your opponent has hit a poor tee shot or is under pressure to compensate for a poor start on a particular hole, you may reason that there is a good chance to win the hole with an average result.
Additionally, in match play, golfers can employ a different strategy due to the unique scoring system. The situation in the match and the outcome of each shot already played on a hole will both be considered when deciding how to proceed. For instance, in the NET format, each golfer's score is adjusted after each hole according to their handicap. At the start of the round, golfers declare their handicaps, and the difference is calculated. The golfer with the highest handicap will be awarded an extra stroke on as many holes as the calculated difference.
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Frequently asked questions
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents.
Golfers compete hole-by-hole, and the golfer who wins the most holes is the champion. If both golfers' scores are identical, the hole is halved, resulting in no change to the overall score.
"Up" refers to how many holes a player is leading by. For example, if a player is four holes ahead with only three holes left to play, they would win the match by "4 and 3".
When a player is in a position where they can still halve the match but cannot lose, they are "dormie". For example, if Player A is 2-up with two holes to play, they are "dormie 2".
No, in match play you are not required to keep a scorecard. Scorecards are only required in stroke play.
