Rule 3: Your Golf Competition: Match Play or Stroke Play
What this is about
Rule 3 explains the forms of competition and how you score: match play or stroke play.
What you need to do
- Match play: you play hole by hole against an opponent. Fewer strokes on a hole wins that hole; a tie halves it. You win the match once you're up by more holes than remain to be played.
- Stroke play: you play against every entrant. All strokes plus penalty strokes count, and the lowest total score wins.
- Check in advance whether you're playing alone or with a partner, and whether handicaps are applied (net) or not (gross).
Common mistake
Keeping track of your total strokes in match play. Only the result per hole counts.
Example
Your opponent hits into the water on hole 3 and, with the penalty stroke, makes six. You play the hole in five. You win the hole and go one up.
Practise this rule with real exam questions in the free app.
3.1 Basic elements of every competition
3.1a Forms of play: match play or stroke play
In match play, you play hole by hole directly against an opponent or opposing side; whoever wins the most holes wins the match. In stroke play, you compete against the whole field on the total number of strokes over the round or rounds.
3.1b How players play: alone or as partners
You play alone or with a partner as a side. In foursomes, two partners take turns hitting one ball. In four-ball, each plays their own ball and the better score of the two counts.
3.1c How players score: gross scores or net scores
Without a handicap (scratch), your gross score counts. In a handicap competition, you subtract your handicap strokes from your gross score, and that's your net score.
3.2 Match Play
3.2a Result of a hole and match
You win a hole by completing it in the fewest strokes, penalty strokes included. You express the state of the match in holes up or down, like "2 up" or "1 down". The match is won as soon as you're ahead by more holes than there are left to play: "3&2" means 3 up with 2 to play.
3.2b Conceding the next stroke, hole or match
In match play, you may concede your opponent's next stroke, the whole hole, or the match. You must make this clear, in words or with a gesture. Such a concession is final: it can't be declined and can't be withdrawn.
3.2c Adjusting handicaps in a handicap match
Before the match, you tell each other your handicaps. You receive handicap strokes on each hole according to the stroke index, and the lowest net score wins the hole. You're responsible for knowing where you give or receive strokes.
3.2d Responsibilities of the player and opponent
You need to know the state of the match yourself, and tell your opponent your number of strokes and any penalty if asked. If you and your opponent accidentally agree on a wrong state of the match, you can still correct it until someone starts the next hole (on the last hole: until the result is final). After that, the wrong state of the match stands.
3.3 Stroke Play
3.3a Winner in stroke play
Whoever completes the whole competition (one or more rounds) with the lowest total number of strokes wins: gross score in scratch play, net score in a handicap competition.
3.3b Scoring in stroke play
The scorecard shows your gross score for each hole. After the round, you and your marker certify the card and return it to the Committee right away; after that you can't change anything on it. The Committee works out net scores and handicap strokes. Returning a score that's too low for a hole results in disqualification. Exception: if you didn't know about a penalty stroke, you get that penalty plus 2 extra penalty strokes. A score that's too high isn't corrected and simply stands.
3.3c Not holing out
In stroke play, you must hole out on every hole. If you don't correct this before starting the next hole (on the last hole: before returning your scorecard), you're disqualified. In Stableford, Maximum Score and Par/Bogey (Rule 21), you're allowed to give up on the hole.
Practice questions about Rule 3
You score a 6 on a hole but accidentally write down a 5 on your scorecard. You sign the card and turn it in. What's the consequence?
Answer: You're disqualified
Rule 3.3b(3): if you return a score that's lower than your actual score, you're disqualified. A returned score that's too high simply stands. So always check your card carefully before signing and turning it in.
Your opponent has a 30-centimetre putt left. You say: "That's good." What does this mean?
Answer: Your opponent doesn't have to putt, the ball is "conceded"
In match play, you can "concede" a putt (Rule 3.2b). If you do, your opponent no longer has to putt it and the hole counts as holed out. A conceded putt can't be taken back.
You're playing a stroke play round. On hole 5 you score a 9 and on hole 6 a 3. Your fellow player scores a 5 and a 5. Who's better off after these two holes?
Answer: Your fellow player, because 5 + 5 = 10 is less than 9 + 3 = 12
In stroke play, your total number of strokes counts. Your total is 12 (9 + 3), your fellow player's is 10 (5 + 5). Every stroke counts, including that 9. Your fellow player is two strokes better off.
During match play, your opponent forgets to tell you about their penalty. You discover this two holes later. What's true?
Answer: Your opponent loses the hole where he forgot to report the penalty
In match play, you lose the hole if you don't tell your opponent about your penalty before they start their next hole (Rule 3.2d(2)). A claim can be made any time before the result of the match is final (Rule 20.1b), so even two holes later. You then lose the hole where the penalty applied, even if you didn't know about it.
Who is responsible for adding up the total on the scorecard?
Answer: The Committee
You and your marker are responsible for the correct score per hole. Adding up the total is the Committee's job (Rule 3.3b). So a wrongly added total isn't your fault, as long as the hole scores are correct.