Match Play
The oldest format in golf. Lower score wins each hole; ties halve. Match closes out when one player leads by more holes than remain. Status is reported in standard golf language: A/S, 2 Up, Dormie 3, 4&3.
- Players
- Two players
- Net scoring
- Supported
How it works
The mechanics, hole by hole.
- 1Two players head-to-head. Each plays their own ball.
- 2Lower score wins the hole; ties halve (no change in status).
- 3Status: A/S (all square), X Up (leading by X), Dormie X (lead = holes remaining).
- 4Match clinches when lead exceeds remaining (e.g., 4 Up with 3 to play = won 4&3).
When to play it
Best fit.
Singles match play in club championships, Ryder Cup-style team events, or a casual head-to-head for bragging rights. Encourages aggression — go for the par-5 in two, since the worst that happens on one hole is losing it. Net version equalizes mismatched handicaps.
Worked example
3 holes, with the math shown.
| Hole | Mike | Tom | Hole result | Status after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Mike wins | 1 Up (Mike) |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | Tom wins | A/S |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Halved | A/S |
Two players, hole-by-hole. Mike's par on hole 1 wins; Tom evens it on hole 2. Notice that on hole 3 the score is identical — the hole is halved and the match status doesn't move.
Other head-to-head (1 vs 1) formats
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