Reference - Match
Play - Match Play Formats
Match play is second only
to stroke play as the most popular form of competition in golf. In fact,
match play and stroke play are the bedrock forms of competition. And
there are many different ways to play match play, all built around its
core principle: players (or teams) compete to win individual holes, with
the side winning the most holes claiming the match.
There are dozens and dozens of different formats that can be played as
match play. Many of them can be found in our Tournament Formats and
Betting Games glossary.
However, the best-known match play formats are those used in the Ryder
Cup. Here is an introduction to those match play formats:
Singles Match Play
Singles match play pits Player A against Player B, hole after hole.
If Player A scores a 4 on the first hole while Player B records a 5,
Player A wins the hole.
In the Ryder Cup, ties are called "halves" and are not played off (each
side scores a half-point for their team). In Ryder Cup-style
competitions, this is common. However, in singles match play tournaments
- something such as the U.S. Amateur Championship, as an example - a
match that is all square (or tied) after 18 holes continues until there
is a winner.
Fourball Match Play
In Fourballs, each side consists of two players. Each player player his
or her own ball throughout the round. On each hole, the low ball of the
two players serves as that side's score. For example, on the first hole
for Team A, Player 1 scores a 4 and Player 2 scores a 5, so the team
score is 4. If Team A gets a 4 while Team B scores 5, then Team A wins
the hole.
Handicap allowances for various Four Ball competitions can be found in
the USGA Handicap Manual, Section 9-4 (www.usga.com).
Foursomes Match Play
Because it is included in the Ryder Cup, Foursomes match play is one of
the best-known forms of match play. It's not very common as a format
used among friends during a casual round of golf, however.
Foursomes pits 2-person teams against each other, with each team playing
one ball, alternate shot. Example: Player A and Player B are partners.
On the first hole, A tees off; B plays the second shot; A plays the
third shot; and so on until the ball is holed. The lower of the two
teams' scores win the hole.
Handicap allowances for Foursomes competitions can be found in the USGA
Handicap Manual, Section 9-4 (www.usga.com).
From:
http://golf.about.com/od/beginners/a/matchplayformat.htm
Back to Golf Reference
|
