Golf · Guide
Match play explained
Instead of counting every shot, you play hole by hole against an opponent. Win a hole by taking fewer shots on it; win the match by winning more holes.
How it is scored
- Fewer strokes on a hole wins that hole. The same score halves it.
- The match state is how many holes you are ahead: "2 up", "1 down", or all square.
- The match ends as soon as one player is further ahead than there are holes left.
Reading a result
| Result | Means |
|---|---|
| 3 and 2 | 3 holes up with 2 to play |
| 1 up | Won by one hole on the last green |
| Dormie | As many up as there are holes left; cannot lose in regulation |
| Halved | Level after the last hole, in team events where a half counts |
What is different from stroke play
- Concessions: you can concede a putt, a hole or the whole match. That is where the "gimme" comes from.
- A bad hole costs only that hole, not your whole score, so players take on more risk.
- Penalties are often loss of hole instead of two strokes.
Where you see it
Club knockout competitions, and the biggest team event in golf, the Ryder Cup, where every match is played this way.
Quick answers
- How does match play work in golf?
- You play hole by hole against an opponent. Take fewer shots on a hole and you win it. Whoever wins more holes wins the match.
- What does '3 and 2' mean in golf?
- The winner was three holes up with only two left to play, so the match ended early.
- What does 'dormie' mean?
- A player is as many holes up as there are holes left, so they cannot lose in regulation play.
- What does 'all square' mean?
- The match is level.