Match Play Golf Rules
Match play is golf at its most primal -- player against player, hole by hole. Instead of counting total strokes, you win or lose each hole individually. It is the format used in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and countless weekend wagers.
What is Match Play in Golf?
In match play, two players (or two teams) compete hole by hole. The player with the lower score on a hole wins that hole. If both players score the same, the hole is "halved" (tied). The match is won by the player who is ahead by more holes than remain to be played.
Unlike stroke play where every shot counts toward a cumulative total, match play only cares about who wins each individual hole. You can make a 10 on a hole, lose it, and start the next hole with a completely clean slate. This creates a fundamentally different mental game.
Hole-by-Hole
Each hole is a mini-competition. Win a hole by having the lower score. A bad hole does not ruin your round -- just move on to the next one.
Up, Down, or All Square
The score is tracked as holes up or down. "2 Up" means you have won two more holes than your opponent. "All Square" means the match is tied.
How Match Play Scoring Works
Win a hole
The player with the lower score wins the hole and goes "1 Up." If you were already 1 Up and win another hole, you move to "2 Up." Your opponent is correspondingly "2 Down."
Halve a hole
When both players make the same score, the hole is halved and the match status stays the same. If you were 1 Up going into the hole, you remain 1 Up.
Close out the match
A match ends when one player leads by more holes than remain to be played. If you are 3 Up with 2 holes to play, you win "3 and 2" because your opponent cannot catch you. If the match reaches the 18th hole all square, the hole decides the winner.
Handle ties
If the match is all square after 18 holes, it can either end as a halved match or go to sudden-death playoff holes, depending on the format. For casual games with money on the line, most groups play sudden death.
What is Dormie?
A player is "dormie" when they are up in the match by exactly the number of holes remaining. For example, 2 Up with 2 to play is dormie. The leading player cannot lose the match on the course -- the worst they can do is halve it if the opponent wins every remaining hole.
Dormie is one of the most pressure-packed situations in golf. The trailing player must win every remaining hole just to force a tie or playoff. The leading player only needs to halve one hole to clinch the match. This dynamic creates intense, memorable golf.
Concessions (Gimmes)
Match play has a unique rule that does not exist in stroke play: concessions. A player can concede their opponent's next stroke, a hole, or even the entire match at any time. Once conceded, it cannot be taken back.
Types of Concessions
- --Putt concession: The most common type. When your opponent's ball is close enough that you expect them to make it, you can say "that's good" and concede the putt. The ball is picked up and the stroke is counted as made.
- --Hole concession: If you are clearly going to lose a hole (e.g., you are lying 4 and your opponent is on the green in 2), you can concede the hole, pick up your ball, and move to the next tee. This speeds up play considerably.
- --Match concession: A player can concede the entire match at any point. This is the sportsmanlike thing to do when the match is clearly over, though it is rare in casual play where every hole matters for side bets.
Match Play Format Variations
Singles Match Play
One player versus one player over 18 holes. The most common format for weekend games. Straightforward and easy to track.
Four-Ball (Best Ball) Match Play
Two teams of two. Each player plays their own ball on every hole. The lower score from each team is compared. This is the format used in Ryder Cup afternoon sessions.
Foursomes (Alternate Shot)
Two teams of two, but partners alternate shots with the same ball. One player tees off on odd holes, the other on even holes. Highly strategic and demanding.
Net Match Play
Handicap strokes are applied on specific holes based on the difference in player handicaps. This levels the playing field and allows golfers of different abilities to compete fairly.
Match Play Strategy Tips
Play your opponent, not the course: In match play, you only need to beat one person. If your opponent hits into trouble, play conservatively. If they stripe it down the middle, you may need to take more risk. Every decision is relative to what your opponent is doing.
Use concessions strategically: Giving a short putt early in the round can lull your opponent into complacency. Later, when the pressure is on and you don't concede a similar putt, they may feel the heat. It is gamesmanship within the rules.
Forget bad holes immediately: A triple bogey in match play costs you one hole, not three strokes. The ability to move on is the biggest mental advantage in this format. Treat each tee box as a fresh start.
Close out matches early: When you have a lead, stay aggressive. Giving your opponent too many chances to claw back invites momentum swings. The best match players put their foot on the gas when ahead.