Match Play

Match Play Golf Game

Match Play is one of the most classic ways to compete in golf. Instead of counting total strokes for the entire round, players compete hole by hole.

Win a hole, go 1 up. Lose a hole, go back toward even. Tie a hole, nothing changes.

The goal is simple: win more holes than your opponent or opposing team.

Best for

Match Play works best with 2 players or 4 players.

It is most common as:

• 1 vs 1
• 2 vs 2 team match play
• Individual head-to-head matches in a group

Handicaps

Handicaps are usually used.

Match Play is commonly played net, meaning players receive strokes on certain holes based on their course handicap.

The usual casual method is to play off the lowest handicap in the match.

Example:

• Player A handicap: 4
• Player B handicap: 10

Player A plays at 0. Player B receives 6 strokes.

Player B gets one stroke on the holes ranked 1 through 6 on the handicap row.

How Match Play works

Each hole is its own contest.

On each hole:

• The player or team with the lower score wins the hole.
• If both sides tie, the hole is halved.
• The match score changes based on who wins the hole.

Example:

• Hole 1: Player A wins → Player A is 1 up
• Hole 2: Player B wins → Match is all square
• Hole 3: Both players tie → Match stays all square

Match Play scoring terms

Match Play uses its own scoring language.

All square

The match is tied.

1 up, 2 up, 3 up

A player or team is ahead by that many holes.

Example: If Player A has won 4 holes and Player B has won 2 holes, Player A is 2 up.

Dormie

A player or team is up by the same number of holes remaining.

Example: Player A is 2 up with 2 holes to play. Player A is dormie. Player B can still tie the match, but cannot win it in regulation.

Closed out

A match is over when one side is up by more holes than remain.

Example: Player A is 3 up with 2 holes to play. The match is over. Player A wins 3 and 2.

Simple Match Play example

Two players are playing a match.

Hole results:

• Hole 1: Player A wins
• Hole 2: tied
• Hole 3: Player B wins
• Hole 4: Player A wins
• Hole 5: Player A wins

Match status:

• After hole 1: Player A 1 up
• After hole 2: Player A 1 up
• After hole 3: all square
• After hole 4: Player A 1 up
• After hole 5: Player A 2 up

The match continues until one player is ahead by more holes than remain, or until all 18 holes are completed.

Team Match Play

Match Play is often played as 2 vs 2.

Common team scoring styles include:

• Best ball match play
• Combined score match play
• Alternate shot
• Scramble match play

For casual money games, the most common version is best ball match play.

Each team uses its lowest net score on the hole.

Example:

• Team 1: Player A net 4, Player B net 5 → Team score: 4
• Team 2: Player C net 5, Player D net 4 → Team score: 4

The hole is tied.

Individual Match Play with 3 to 5 players

Match Play can also work with 3, 4, or 5 players by running head-to-head matches between every player.

Example with 4 players:

• A vs B
• A vs C
• A vs D
• B vs C
• B vs D
• C vs D

Each matchup is tracked separately. This creates a lot of action because one player can be winning against one opponent while losing against another.

Match Play money games

There are a few common ways to bet Match Play.

Fixed match amount

The match is worth a fixed amount.

Example:

• Player A vs Player B for $10
• Winner of the match wins $10
• If the match ends tied, no money changes hands

Per-hole amount

Each hole is worth a set amount.

Example:

• $2 per hole
• Win a hole, win $2
• Tie a hole, no payout

This feels closer to skins, but without carryovers.

Front, back, total

Some groups split Match Play into:

• front nine match
• back nine match
• overall match

This is basically Nassau.

Handicaps in Match Play

When handicaps are used, strokes should be applied to the appropriate holes.

Example:

• Player A handicap: 5
• Player B handicap: 13
• Player B receives 8 strokes

Player B receives one stroke on handicap holes 1 through 8. On a par 4 stroke hole:

• Player A makes 4
• Player B makes 5
• Player B receives 1 stroke
• Player B's net score is 4

The hole is tied.

Team handicap example

In 2 vs 2 Match Play, players usually receive strokes based on the lowest handicap player in the match.

Example:

• Player A: 3
• Player B: 8
• Player C: 10
• Player D: 15

Player A is the lowest handicap, so Player A plays at 0.

Adjusted strokes:

• Player A: 0
• Player B: 5
• Player C: 7
• Player D: 12

Each player receives strokes on the appropriate handicap holes.

Plus handicaps

Plus-handicap players can be handled in two common ways.

Give back to course

A plus golfer gives strokes back on the easiest handicap holes.

Example:

• A +2 golfer gives back strokes on handicap holes 18 and 17
• On one of those holes, gross 3 on a par 4 becomes an adjusted 4 for match scoring

Normalize to zero

Some groups make the best player zero and add the difference to everyone else.

Example:

• +2, 4, 6, 10 becomes 0, 6, 8, 12

This is often simpler for casual money games.

Tied matches

If a match is tied after 18 holes, groups can handle it different ways.

Common options:

• push the bet
• continue to extra holes
• use back-nine result as a tiebreaker
• use last six holes
• use last three holes
• split the money

For casual groups, the easiest rule is usually to push the bet unless everyone agrees to a playoff.

Concessions

In Match Play, players can concede short putts or even concede a hole.

A conceded putt counts as made. A conceded hole is won by the opponent.

For money games, groups should be clear about concessions before starting. Some groups allow "good-good" putts. Others require everything to be holed.

Match Play strategy

Match Play changes the way players think.

In stroke play, every shot counts toward the total round score. In Match Play, only the hole matters.

That means a player who makes an 8 on one hole only loses that hole. They can still win the next hole and get right back into the match.

Match Play can reward aggressive decisions because a bad hole does not ruin the entire round.

Common Match Play rules

Before starting, the group should agree on:

• gross or net scoring
• individual or team match play
• best ball or combined score for teams
• match amount or per-hole amount
• whether tied matches push
• whether extra holes are used
• whether concessions are allowed
• how handicap strokes are applied
• how plus handicaps are handled

Match Play payout example

Player A and Player B are playing a $10 match.

After 16 holes:

• Player A is 3 up
• 2 holes remain

Player A has closed out the match.

Final result:

• Player A wins 3 and 2
• Player B pays Player A $10

Another example:

After 18 holes:

• Player A and Player B are all square

If tied matches push, no money changes hands.

Why use a Match Play scorecard app?

Match Play is simple in concept, but it can become harder to track with:

• handicap strokes
• team best ball
• multiple head-to-head matches
• 3, 4, or 5 players
• front/back/overall splits
• concessions
• tied matches
• plus-handicap adjustments

Golf Betting Games keeps the match status, hole results, handicap strokes, and payouts organized during the round.