Stroke Play (Medal)
Also called Stroke Play (Medal Play), Medal Play, Individual Stroke Play
Count every stroke; lowest 18-hole total wins.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Outing & Tournament Formats · Betting Games
Match Play
Also called Singles Match Play, Hole-by-Hole, Head-to-Head, Singles Match
Win holes, not strokes; the match ends when the lead exceeds holes remaining.
- Players
- 2–4 players, best with 2
- Play as
- Any format
- Scorekeeping
- Easy
- Handicaps
- Handicaps recommended
- Money
- Money optional
- Type
- Outing & Tournament Formats
How to play
Two players (or two sides) compete hole by hole. Lowest score wins the hole, ties halve it. The match is over when one side leads by more holes than remain (e.g. 3&2). Putts, holes or the match may be conceded. Used for Ryder Cup and most club knockouts.
Scoring
Status is tracked as 1 up, all square, dormie (up by the holes remaining). Handicap: 100% of the difference in course handicaps in singles; four-ball match play 90% relative to the lowest handicap; foursomes 50% of the combined difference.
Variations
- Four-ball match play
- Foursomes match play
- Threesomes (1 vs alternate-shot pair)
- Skins is match play with carryovers
- Bracket/knockout tournaments
- Four-ball (2v2 best ball)
- Foursomes (2v2 alternate shot)
- Nassau: three matches in one round
Tips
- Play the opponent's position, not the card
- Concede short putts early and make them putt everything late
- Concede short putts to keep pace
- Play the opponent, not the course
- Presses keep a lopsided match alive
A double bogey costs one hole, and the psychology is half the game.
Works with
Each link opens every game that works for that number of players.
Related games
Ryder Cup Format
Also called Ryder Cup Style (Team Match), Team Match Play, Buddies Cup
Two captained teams play sessions of foursomes, four-ball and singles for points.
4+ players · best with 8, 12, 16Outing & Tournament FormatsTeamsMedium to score
How to play →Play vs. Par (Bogey Competition)
Also called Play vs. Par (Bogey/Par Competition), Par Competition, Match Play vs. the Course
The course is your match-play opponent and it makes par (or bogey) on every hole.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Ringer (Eclectic)
Also called Eclectic (Ringer), Ringer Tournament, Ringers
Over many rounds, keep your best score on each hole to build one dream round.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Sources
Rules reflect the version most groups play, cross-checked across these sources. House rules vary; agree yours on the first tee.
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