How match play works

1. Agree on gross or net before the first tee shot. In a net match, agree on each player's course handicap for the tees being played (the course handicap calculator works it out).
2. Play each hole. The player with fewer strokes on the hole, penalty strokes included, wins the hole. In a net match, the lower net score wins.
3. When both players take the same number of strokes, the hole is halved (tied) and the match score does not change.
4. Keep the match score as holes up rather than total strokes. Winning a hole by one stroke or by five counts the same: one hole.
5. The match ends as soon as one player leads by more holes than are left to play. If it is level after the last hole, the match is tied.

These are the USGA rules for match play (Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Golf). Because only holes count, a disaster on one hole costs one hole and nothing more. That is why match play suits mixed groups and money games: a player who makes a 9 can pick up, lose the hole and start fresh on the next tee.

The same scoring works for teams. In four-ball (best ball) two partners each play their own ball and the better score on each side counts, and in foursomes (alternate shot) partners take turns hitting one ball. See the guides to best ball and alternate shot for those formats.

The match score is always told from the leader's side: how many holes they are ahead and, during the round, how many holes have been played.

The largest possible result in an 18-hole match is 10 and 8: 10 up after 10 holes with only 8 left. A result of 2 and 1 means the match ended on the 17th green, and 1 up means it went all 18 holes.

Under Rule 3.2b you may concede your opponent's next stroke, a hole or the whole match. A conceded putt counts as one stroke in your opponent's score for the hole, and the ball can be picked up. A conceded hole is lost by the player who concedes it. A concession must be clearly communicated, by words or an obvious gesture, and once made it is final: it cannot be declined or withdrawn.

Players often concede short putts to keep the round moving, and a player who is out of a hole usually concedes it rather than finishing. What you may not do is agree with your opponent to concede holes to each other to shorten the match. In stroke play nothing can be conceded, because every stroke counts toward the total.

How Wedge scores it: Wedge has no concede button. A hole counts in the match once every card in it has a score for that hole, so enter a score for each player on every hole. For a conceded putt, count the putt in the score. For a conceded hole, enter a score for the player who picked up that loses the hole after strokes.

In a net singles match, the USGA's recommended allowance is 100% of each player's course handicap (Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C). The player with the lower course handicap plays off zero, and the other player receives the difference in strokes. The strokes go on the holes with the lowest stroke index, which is the hole handicap printed on the scorecard: stroke index 1 is the hardest hole.

• Course handicaps of 8 and 13 give the higher handicap 13 - 8 = 5 strokes, one each on the holes ranked 1 to 5 by stroke index.
• Course handicaps of 4 and 26 give 22 strokes: one on every hole, plus a second stroke on the holes ranked 1 to 4.
• A plus handicap counts from below zero. A player with a course handicap of +2 against a 10 gives 10 - (-2) = 12 strokes.

On a stroke hole, the player receiving the stroke subtracts one from their score before the hole is compared. A gross 5 with a stroke is a net 4, which beats a gross 5 and halves a gross 4.

How Wedge scores it: in a net match Wedge gives strokes off the lowest course handicap in the match, using 100% of each course handicap, on the holes ranked hardest by stroke index. A player receives at most 2 strokes on any hole, so a difference of more than 36 is capped at 36 strokes over 18 holes. Wedge does not play extra holes: a match that is level after the last hole is halved, while the USGA rule extends a tied match one hole at a time unless the competition says it ends in a tie.

Alex (course handicap 8) plays Jordan (course handicap 13) in a net match. Jordan receives 5 strokes, on the holes with stroke index 1 to 5: holes 5, 12, 3, 14 and 9 on this course. In the table, a score with a stroke shows the net score in brackets, and the match column is shown from the leader's side.

Over 17 holes Alex won 6 holes, Jordan won 4 and 7 were halved, so Alex finished 6 - 4 = 2 up. After the 16th Alex was 2 up with 2 to play, which is dormie: Jordan needed to win both remaining holes to tie. The halve on the 17th left Alex 2 up with 1 to play, which ends the match 2 and 1. Jordan's strokes won three holes (3, 9 and 14) and saved two more (5 and 12), which is exactly what the strokes are for.

There are two common ways to put money on a match. Agree on one before the first tee shot.

• One stake on the match. The winner of the match collects the stake and a halved match pays nothing. In the example above, a $20 match pays Alex $20.
• A stake per hole. Each hole won is worth the stake, and at the end the players settle the difference in holes won. At $5 a hole, Alex won 6 holes and Jordan won 4, so Alex collects (6 - 4) x $5 = $10. Groups who bet per hole usually play every hole, even after the match is decided.

The most popular match play bet splits the round into three matches: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18. That is a Nassau, and its presses add new matches for the player who falls behind.

How Wedge scores it: a wagered match play game in Wedge is one stake per player on the whole match. With two teams of two, each player on the winning side collects the stake from one player on the losing side. For bets on the front nine, back nine and overall, with presses, choose Nassau in Match Setup.

• Giving each player their full handicap. In match play only the difference counts. If both players took all their strokes, the strokes would land on different holes than the rules intend.
• Reading the stroke index as the hole number. Strokes go on the holes with the lowest stroke index, not on holes 1 to 5. Check the handicap row on the scorecard.
• Losing track of the score. Under Rule 3.2d the players are expected to know the match score. Agree on it on each tee, because a wrong score that nobody corrects before the next hole starts becomes the real score.
• A decided match with holes left. Once the match is over the remaining holes do not count for it, but they still count for anyone's stroke-play score and any other bets running on them.
• Rain or darkness. If play stops before the match is decided, agree in advance how it counts. Wedge counts a match only on the holes every player has a score for, so a match stopped early is scored on those holes: the side ahead wins, and a level match is halved.
• Posting the round. A match play round can still be posted for handicap purposes, because each player plays their own ball. Holes a player picked up are posted with the most likely score.