Match Play

Setup

Handicaps

Higher handicap receives the difference in strokes on the hardest holes (by handicap rating).

Points

Single match for agreed points. Often played for bragging rights.

How to play Match Play

1. Compete hole-by-hole against your opponent
2. Lowest score wins the hole and goes '1 Up'
3. Ties (halves) result in no change to the match status
4. Match status is tracked as 'X Up' or 'X Down' or 'All Square'
5. Match ends early when one player leads by more holes than remain
6. Example: 4 Up with 3 to play = win '4 & 3'

Winner of the hole has honors on the next tee. Halved holes retain honor.

Scoring

Ties: If all square after 18, can play sudden death or split the match

Be 'Up' by more holes than remain, or be ahead after 18

Strategy

• In match play, only beat your opponent - not the course
• If opponent is in trouble, play safe to guarantee the hole
• Concede short putts to speed play and build goodwill
• One bad hole only costs one hole - shake it off and move on

Example

• Mike10 HCP1 Up
• Dave16 HCP1 Down

Standing on 16 tee. Mike is 1 Up with 3 holes to play. Dave gets a stroke on 16.

What happens

1. Hole 16: Both make 5 gross. Dave's net 4 beats Mike's 5. Match is All Square.
2. Hole 17: Mike makes birdie 3, Dave makes par 4. Mike is 1 Up with 1 to play (Dormie).
3. Hole 18: Both make par. Match ends. Mike wins 1 Up.

Mike started 1 Up, lost 16, won 17, halved 18. Final margin: 1 Up.

Mike wins 1 Up. A tight match decided by Mike's clutch birdie on 17.