A bad hole does not ruin the whole round in match play. The player and opponent compete directly for each hole, may concede strokes or holes, and must keep each other informed. Those features also change how order-of-play mistakes, penalties, and unresolved Rules questions are handled.
Rule 3.2 compares the player and opponent on every hole. The lower score, including strokes made and penalty strokes, wins that hole. Equal scores tie, or “halve,” it. Winning by six strokes or one stroke has the same effect: one hole won.
The running match score records holes rather than strokes. “Two up” means a player has won two more holes than the opponent. “All square” means the match is tied. Total strokes for the round do not decide a standard match.
A player wins when leading by more holes than remain, when the opponent concedes the match, or when the opponent is disqualified. A player who is four up after 15 holes has won “4 and 3”: a four-hole lead with only three holes left.
If the match is tied after its final scheduled hole, Rule 3.2a normally extends it one hole at a time. The same hole order and handicap-stroke allocation continue unless the Committee provides otherwise. The Terms of the Competition may instead say that the match ends tied.
A player may concede the opponent's next stroke before it is made, concede a hole before it is completed, or concede the match before its result is decided. The concession must be communicated clearly by words or an unmistakable action. Once made, it cannot be declined or withdrawn.
A conceded next stroke counts in the opponent's hole score. The opponent cannot claim a “gimme” without a concession, and a caddie cannot concede a stroke, hole, or match for the player. Players also may not knowingly agree to exchange concessions simply to shorten the match.
The first-hole honour comes from the Committee's draw or, if there is no draw, agreement or a random method. The winner of a hole has the honour on the next tee; after a tied hole, the previous honour continues. Once both balls are in play on a hole, the farther ball is played first.
There is no automatic penalty for playing out of turn. The opponent may promptly cancel that stroke before either player makes another stroke, after which the player must replay from the previous spot when it is their turn. The opponent may also let it stand or invite out-of-turn play to save time, giving up the right to cancel that stroke.
An opponent may ask at any time during a hole or after it is completed how many strokes the player has taken, including penalty strokes. The player must answer correctly; failing to answer is treated as giving a wrong number.
Wrong information normally brings loss of hole unless corrected in time. During a hole, correction must come before the opponent makes another stroke or takes a similar action. After a hole, it must generally come before either player starts the next hole; on the final hole, before the match result becomes final. There is no penalty for wrong post-hole information that did not affect the opponent's understanding of whether the hole was won, lost, or tied.
A player who gets a penalty must tell the opponent as soon as reasonably possible, even if the player did not recognize at the time that the Rules imposed it. Practical factors such as the players' distance apart are taken into account.
Failure to report in time normally brings the general penalty unless the opponent already knew about the penalty—for example, after watching an obvious penalty-relief procedure. The information requirement matters because it can change the opponent's next tactical decision.
Before a handicap match, the players should tell each other the handicaps they are using. Handicap strokes are applied hole by hole according to the Committee's stroke-index allocation, and the lower net score wins the hole. The competition's Terms and the applicable handicap system determine the handicap used and any allowance.
A player who declares a handicap that is too high and fails to correct it before the opponent's next stroke is disqualified if the error affects the strokes given or received. If the declared handicap is too low, there is no penalty, but the player must use that lower figure. Mistakenly applying strokes to the wrong holes can leave the agreed hole result standing if it is not corrected in time.
The players are expected to know whether the match is tied or how many holes one player leads. If they agree on a wrong match score, they may correct it before either makes a stroke to start the next hole—or, after the final hole, before the result is final.
After that deadline, the agreed wrong score normally becomes the actual match score. A timely ruling request can still require correction when an opponent gave the wrong number of strokes or failed to disclose a penalty.
Rule 20.1b does not let a player use the stroke-play procedure of completing a hole with two balls when uncertain. If no referee is available, the players may agree how to decide the issue, and that outcome is conclusive even if legally wrong—provided they did not knowingly agree to ignore a Rule or penalty.
If they cannot agree, a player should tell the opponent that a ruling will be requested. When the facts are known before the final hole, the request normally must be made before either player starts the next hole. For an issue learned during or after the final hole, the request must be made before the match result becomes final.
Without a referee assigned for the entire match, each player protects their own interests and may choose whether to act on an opponent's breach. They may not agree to ignore a Rule or penalty they know applies after either has started the round; both would be disqualified.
A referee assigned to accompany the match must act on breaches seen or reported in time. A referee or Committee resolves disputed facts from the available evidence, applies the Rules and prescribed penalties, and checks whether the request and any correction were made before the relevant deadline.
On the 17th green, Alex lies three and has a short putt. Blair lies four and must hole a longer putt to stay in the hole. Alex clearly says, “That next stroke is good.” Blair's score is five without making the putt; the concession cannot be withdrawn after Blair then holes the longer putt for fun.
If Alex holes out in four, Alex wins the hole. If Alex takes two more strokes and also makes five, the hole is tied. The practice-looking putt after a valid concession does not reverse the conceded score.
This explanation covers individual match play under Rule 3.2. Three-Ball match play modifies the Rules under Rule 21.4. Foursomes, Four-Ball, and team competitions add partner or side rules under Rules 22–24.
The Committee's Terms of the Competition should state the scheduled number of holes, tie procedure, when the match result becomes final, handicap conditions, and any authorised Local Rules. Those documents should be checked before applying a procedure borrowed from another event.
This page applies the jointly governed R&A and USGA 2023 Rules of Golf, effective 1 January 2023, with Additional Clarifications updated 1 July 2026. A competition's Terms, adopted Model Local Rules, handicap conditions, and partner or team format can modify details identified on this page.