Match play

The score is given in holes: ‘2 up’ means you have won two more holes than your opponent. A match is decided as soon as one player is more holes ahead than there are holes left. ‘3 and 2’ means three holes ahead with two holes to play. If you both take the same number of strokes on a hole, it is halved.

The honour on the first tee is decided by draw. After that, whoever won the last hole has it. If a hole is halved, the player who had the honour keeps it.

Unlike stroke play, in match play you may concede strokes, holes or the whole match. The general penalty is loss of hole. One-stroke penalties, however, remain a penalty stroke in match play and are added to your score for the hole. If a player plays out of turn, the opponent may cancel the stroke and have it replayed. If your putt on the putting green hits your opponent’s ball, there is no penalty, unlike in stroke play: your ball is played as it lies and your opponent’s ball is replaced.

If your opponent asks how many strokes you have taken, you must give the right number. If you give a wrong number and do not correct it before your opponent makes another stroke, you lose the hole. If you think your opponent has breached a Rule, you must request a ruling before either of you tees off on the next hole. Otherwise the result of the hole stands.