Matchplay Information

Matchplay is one of the main forms of competition in golf. It pits players against each other, rather than against the field as in stroke play or stableford. Opponents compete to win individual holes, and the player who wins the most holes wins the match.
Matchplay can be played by two individuals, one on one, and that is known as Singles Matchplay. Or teams of two players can square off, with Foursomes and Fourballs the most common formats for team play.

Par does not mean a thing in Matchplay. All that matters is that you take fewer strokes than your opponent.

Singles Matchplay
Full difference between the handicap of the two players. So if Player A has a handicap of 15 and Player B has a handicap of 23. Player B shall receive strokes at holes with SI 1 to 8.

Four-ball Matchplay (better ball)
Back marker to concede strokes to the other 3 players based on 3/4 of the difference between the full handicaps. So if Player A has a handicap of 15 and Player B has a handicap of 17, Player C has a handicap of 22 and Player D has a handicap of 27. Player B shall receive strokes at holes with SI 1 and 2. Player C shall receive strokes at holes with SI 1 to 5. Player D shall receive strokes at holes with SI 1 to 9.

How are matches scored in Matchplay?
Matchplay scoring is very simple: Golfers compete hole by hole, and the golfer/team who wins the most holes wins the match.

Basics of Match Play Scorekeeping.
The player with the lowest net score for the hole is said to win the hole.

If Player/Team A wins Hole 1 he is said to be 'one-up'. Player/Team B who has lost the hole is said to be 'one-down'.

If Player/Team B wins the next hole, the match is 'all-square'.

If Player/Team A wins the next hole, he is two-up.

If both Players/Teams get the same net score the hole is 'halved' and the match score stays the same.

Score is kept by the number of holes up (won) and the number of holes to play. (Example: Player/Team A is 2-up, with six holes to play.)

A match is considered 'dormie' when one Player/Team is up by the exact number of holes that remain.
For instance if Player/Team A is 'dormie two' that means they are two holes ahead with two holes to play.
Player/Team B can only halve the match

When a Player/Team is up (winning) by more holes than there are holes remaining, then the match is won or 'closed out'.

Because the match is played between the two players or pairings and no-one else, players can opt to 'give' short putts rather than make their opponent hole out. The 'given' putt still counts as one stroke.

Order of Play
In matchplay, the player furthest from the hole ALWAYS plays first. If Player A is 15ft from the pin and on the green, while Player B is in the rough but only 10ft from the pin, It is Player A's turn to play first.

Playing out of turn
In strokeplay or stableford, order of play is a matter of etiquette. If you hit out of turn, it's a breach of etiquette, but there is no penalty. In matchplay, if you hit out of turn your opponent can require you to replay the shot in the proper order. It doesn't matter if your first shot was a great one, you can still be asked to replay it, if you played out of turn.

Further information can be found in the Rules of Golf 2008-2011 on Page 45.

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