Match Play

Forget the total. Win the hole.

2 · Individual · Beginner-Friendly

The Basics

Two players go head-to-head, hole by hole. Win more holes than your opponent and you win the match. Your total score doesn't matter — only who won each hole.

How to Play

On each hole, the player with the lower score wins that hole. If you tie, the hole is "halved." The match is described by how many holes up a player is with how many holes remaining (e.g., "3 and 2" means 3 holes up with 2 to play). Match ends when one player can't be caught.

Scoring

1 Up, 2 Up, All Square. No cumulative score — just holes won.

Example Scorecard

Match Play

Go Low

MaxvsJakeMax 1 Up

Hole	Par	Max	FIR	GIR	Putts	Jake	FIR	GIR	Putts	Status
1	4	4	✓	✓	2	5	✗	✗	2	Max 1 Up
2	3	3	—	✓	2	4	—	✗	2	Max 1 Up
3	5	5	✓	✓	2	5	✓	✓	2	All Square
4	4	3	✓	✓	1	5	✗	✗	2	Max 1 Up
5	4	4	✓	✓	2	5	✗	✗	3	Max 1 Up
6	3	4	—	✗	2	4	—	✗	2	Max 1 Up

Strategy Tips

Match play is about aggression. A bogey on a hard hole might still win if your opponent makes double. Play the player, not the course.

Variations

Four-ball match play (2v2, each player plays their own ball, best ball per team counts).

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