Match Play
Win holes, not strokes. Whoever's up by more holes than remain wins.
2 or more players
In match play, the round is a series of separate holes rather than a single stroke total. Win a hole and you go one "up"; lose it and you're one "down"; tie it and the hole is "halved," with nothing changing. The lowest total score for the round doesn't matter — only who won more holes.
That changes the strategy: a blow-up hole costs you one hole, not five strokes, so you can afford to take risks and you're never truly out of it until the math runs out.
How to play Match Play
- 1Compare scores hole by hole
On each hole, the lower score wins the hole. Equal scores halve the hole. You're not adding up strokes — you're counting holes won.
- 2Track 'up' and 'down'
The player who has won more holes is that many 'up' (e.g. '2 up'); the other is the same amount 'down'. Level is 'all square'.
- 3Use handicap strokes for net match play
To even out different abilities, give strokes on the hardest holes based on the handicap difference, then compare net scores on those holes.
- 4Close out the match
The match ends as soon as a player is up by more holes than are left to play. Being '3 & 2' means 3 up with only 2 holes to go — the match is over.
Reading a match play result
- After 16 holes you're 3 up with 2 holes left to play.
- Your opponent can win at most the final 2 holes, which isn't enough to catch you.
- The match is over — you win '3 & 2'.
- If you'd been 2 up with 2 to play, you'd be 'dormie': you can't lose, but your opponent can still force a tie.
Common variations
When you're up by exactly as many holes as remain, you're 'dormie' — you can't lose the match, though the other side can still square it by winning the rest.
Match play scales to teams: four-ball (each side's better ball wins the hole) and foursomes (alternate shot) are staples of Ryder-Cup-style events.
You can layer a press onto a match (a new bet on the remaining holes) or play halved holes as carryovers in some side games.
Frequently asked questions
What does '3 & 2' mean in match play?
The winner was 3 holes up with only 2 holes left to play, so the match ended early — the trailing player couldn't catch up.
What does 'dormie' mean?
A player is dormie when they're up by exactly the number of holes remaining. They can't lose the match, but the opponent can still tie it by winning every remaining hole.
Does total score matter in match play?
No. Only who wins more holes matters. You could shoot a higher total than your opponent and still win the match by winning more individual holes.
How do handicaps work in match play?
In net match play, the difference in handicaps sets how many strokes the higher handicapper receives, allocated to the hardest holes. Net scores are then compared hole by hole.
Skip the 18th-green math
Three Putt scores Match Play for you and shows exactly who owes who. Everyone can score from their own phone, or one person can handle it. Nothing to download.
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