Match play is golf's oldest form of competition and, for many golfers, its most enjoyable. Instead of adding up every shot over 18 holes, you play against an opponent hole by hole. Win a hole and you go one up; lose one and you are back to all square. A disaster on one hole costs you only that hole, so the game is full of comebacks, tactics and drama. Here is how match play works, how the rules differ from stroke play, and how to play it well.
How match play scoring works
- Win a hole by taking fewer strokes (net of any handicap strokes) than your opponent.
- Halve a hole when you take the same number of strokes.
- The match score is described by how many holes you are ahead: "2 up", "all square", "1 down".
- The match ends when one player is ahead by more holes than are left. If you are 3 up with 2 holes to play, you win "3 and 2".
- Dormie means you are ahead by exactly the number of holes left, so you cannot lose in regulation (though you could be pulled back to all square).
- If a match is level after 18 holes, it may be halved (common in team events) or continue to extra holes until someone wins a hole (common in knockouts).
Read how golf scoring works for stroke play and other formats.
Concessions
In match play you may concede your opponent's next stroke (often a short putt), a whole hole, or the match.
- A concession is made when it is clearly communicated, by words or an action such as knocking the ball away.
- A concession cannot be refused or withdrawn.
- If you concede a putt, your opponent's ball is treated as holed with their next stroke.
Conceding short putts is normal and keeps the match moving, but you are never obliged to concede anything. Some golfers concede short putts early in the match and make their opponent putt them later, when the pressure is on.
Handicaps in match play
In a handicap singles match, the player with the higher handicap receives strokes based on the difference between the two players' handicaps for the tees being played.
- Calculate each player's course handicap (and playing handicap, using the allowance set for the competition).
- The lower handicap plays off zero; the higher receives the difference.
- Those strokes are received on the holes with the lowest stroke index numbers on the scorecard (stroke index 1 is the hardest hole).
For example, if your playing handicap is 18 and your opponent's is 12, you receive six strokes, on stroke index holes 1 to 6. On those holes, your score is reduced by one before comparing with your opponent's.
Competitions set their own handicap allowances, for example a percentage of the difference in fourball matches. Read the World Handicap System explained and use our handicap calculator.
Key rule differences from stroke play
| Situation | Match play | Stroke play |
|---|---|---|
| Most rule breaches | Loss of hole | Two-stroke penalty |
| Playing out of turn | No penalty, but your opponent may cancel the stroke and make you replay it | No penalty |
| Playing from outside the teeing area | No penalty, but your opponent may cancel the stroke | Two-stroke penalty and replay |
| Playing a wrong ball | Loss of hole | Two-stroke penalty |
| Disputes | Must be raised (a claim) at the time, before either player starts the next hole | Resolved before the scorecard is returned |
| Concessions | Allowed | Not allowed: every ball must be holed |
Two other match-play rules are worth knowing:
- Tell your opponent your score when asked, and tell them as soon as you incur a penalty. Giving the wrong number of strokes can cost you the hole.
- Ball played from outside the teeing area or out of turn: your opponent decides, immediately, whether to cancel the stroke. If they do, you replay it.
Read golf rules every golfer should know and golf etiquette 101.
Match play strategy
Play the course first
In the early holes, focus on playing your own game. Steady golf with few big numbers wins most matches.
Then play your opponent
As the hole develops, adjust to what your opponent has done:
- If your opponent is in trouble (out of bounds, in the water, in deep rough), play safe. Find the fairway or the middle of the green and make them beat you.
- If your opponent has hit a great shot, you may need to take on more risk to win or halve the hole.
- If you are well up in the match, keep the ball in play and let your opponent take the risks.
- If you are behind with few holes left, you may need to be aggressive.
Use the honour
Hitting first lets you put pressure on your opponent with a good tee shot. Hitting second lets you see their result and choose your play accordingly.
Be decisive on the greens
- Putt to make, not just to lag, when your opponent is already close to the hole.
- Lag carefully when they have a tricky putt for a half, so you do not give them a hole.
- Watch your opponent's putt to learn the break if they are on a similar line.
Keep the mental game in check
Match play has momentum swings. A lost hole is just one hole: reset and focus on the next. Read the mental game of golf and golf course management.
Team match-play formats
- Fourball (better ball): each player plays their own ball; the better score of each pair counts on each hole.
- Foursomes (alternate shot): partners share one ball, taking alternate shots and alternate tee shots.
- Singles: one against one.
Team events often combine all three. Read golf formats and games explained and golf side games: skins, Nassau and wolf.
Etiquette in match play
- Be clear about concessions. Say "that's good" or pick the ball up only when you mean it.
- Agree the handicap strokes before you start, and check the stroke index on the card.
- Avoid gamesmanship. Rattling your opponent with noise, slow play or misleading information is poor sportsmanship and, in some cases, a breach of the rules.
- Shake hands whatever the result.
Frequently asked questions
What does "3 and 2" mean?
The winner was three holes ahead with only two holes left to play, so the match ended.
Do you have to hole out in match play?
No. A putt, hole or match can be conceded. Otherwise, you continue until the ball is holed or the hole is conceded.
How do handicaps work in match play?
The higher-handicap player receives the difference between the two handicaps as strokes, on the holes with the lowest stroke index numbers.
What happens if a match is all square after 18 holes?
It depends on the competition: the match may be halved, or it may go to extra holes until one player wins a hole.
Is match play good for beginners?
Yes. A bad hole only costs one hole, so it is less stressful than stroke play and ideal for friendly games and club knockouts. Read your first golf competition.
The bottom line
Match play is golf at its most head-to-head: hole by hole, with concessions, handicap strokes and tactical decisions on every shot. Know how the scoring and the key rules differ from stroke play, agree the strokes before you start, play the course early and your opponent late, and never give up: matches are won and lost on the final few holes.