Date Published: 24/06/2025
Whether you’re playing a casual weekend round or entering a local competition, match play offers a unique and strategic way to enjoy golf. Unlike stroke play, it pits you directly against an opponent – hole by hole.
In this blog, we explain exactly what match play golf is, the different formats it includes, and the key rules every golfer should know.
Match play is a scoring format where players compete to win individual holes rather than tallying strokes across an entire round.
Each hole is a separate contest, if you take fewer strokes than your opponent, you win the hole.
The match ends when one player is ahead by more holes than remain.
There are also different forms of match play, such as:
Match play is more than just a different scoring format, some of the rules and penalties vary from stroke play, so it’s important to know what’s allowed (and what isn’t).
Below are some key match play rules every golfer should understand, especially if you’re new to competitive formats.
In match play, you’re allowed a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag. If you exceed this, the penalty is loss of hole for each hole where the breach occurred – up to two holes maximum.
If your ball falls off the tee before you make a swing, you can re-tee it without penalty. But if it falls after you’ve made a stroke, the ball must be played as it lies.
In match play, giving advice to or receiving it from anyone other than your caddie or partner (in team formats) results in loss of hole.
Differentiating penalty areas in golf is difficult. As a result, we recommend visiting Rule 17 on The R&A website.
The differentiations come as penalty areas can be marled either yellow or red:
You can’t improve the position of your ball by moving growing or fixed objects – like bushes, branches, or grass. If you do, it results in loss of hole.
As of the 2019 rules update, you’re allowed to repair spike marks and other damage on the green, even if it’s on your line of putt.
Just make sure repairs are limited to the damage only.
You’re allowed incidental contact with the sand when walking or preparing to hit, but you must not:
You can move loose impediments (like leaves or twigs) in the bunker unless your ball moves as a result.
You have 3 minutes to search for a lost ball, starting when you or your caddie begins looking. If it’s not found within that time, it’s deemed lost.
To avoid confusion, always announce when you’re hitting a provisional ball. Say something like, “I’m hitting a provisional ball” before making the stroke.
If your ball comes to rest near an immovable obstruction (e.g. a cart path or sprinkler head), you can take free relief, as long as the obstruction interferes with your stance, swing, or intended line of play.
If you find yourself in an unplayable spot, you have three relief options—each with a one-stroke penalty:
In match play, the player furthest from the hole plays first. If a player plays out of turn, the opponent may require the shot to be cancelled and replayed.
If your ball is buried in the rough or otherwise unclear, you can mark and lift it to identify it, but only after notifying your opponent and giving them the chance to observe.
Final tip: Know the rules, play with confidence
Being familiar with these match play-specific rules helps you play faster, smarter, and more fairly. For even more confidence on the course, join iGolf and track your progress with a Handicap Index.