1v1 or 2v2
Match Play
Hole-by-hole, win the most holes
The simplest head-to-head format. You win, lose, or tie each hole. The match ends when one side is up by more holes than there are left to play.
The rules
1
Per hole
Lowest score wins the hole. Same score = halved (tied). The hole counts equally regardless of how many strokes the difference is.
2
Match status
Reported as '2 up', '1 down', 'all square' (AS), or 'dormie' (up by exactly the number of holes remaining).
3
Closing the match
When you're up by more holes than remain, the match closes — '4 & 3' means you won, 4 holes up with 3 to play.
4
Handicaps
Difference in course handicaps determines stroke allocation. Strokes are given starting on the lowest stroke-index hole (typically the hardest).
Example
How a match closes early
- 1.After hole 15, Alice is 4 up with 3 to play. She can't be caught.
- 2.Match closes 4 & 3 — Alice wins the bet. Holes 16-18 still played for fun (or for presses).
Variations
- ·Best ball — each player on a team plays own ball, low score counts
- ·Scotch / Foursomes — one ball per team, alternate shots
When to play
Default for any 1v1 or 2v2 group. Fast to score, dramatic finishes.