MATCH PLAY RULES

ORDER OF PLAY - Rule 6.4a

 

  1. On the first tee, the honour is decided by the order of the draw.
  2.  The player that wins the hole has the honour on the next tee.  If a hole is halved, the player that had the honour on the previous hole, retains it.
  3.  After the players start a hole, the ball that is farther from the hole is to be played first.  If you are on the green and further away than your opponent, who is off the green, you are still away and must play first.  You never play out of turn, even on the green.  There is no continuous putting.
  4. There is no penalty if a player plays out of turn; but the opponent may immediately require her to cancel the stroke and replay in the correct order.  Rule 6.4a(2) EXCEPTION - Playing out of turn by Agreement to Save Time.
  5. IN partners play; they may choose to play their balls in whichever order the two of them prefer.
  6.  The lower handicap player plays to a 0 (scratch) and the higher handicap players receive the number of strokes that is the difference between their handicap and the scratch player. eg. Player A has a course handicap of 10 and player B has a course handicap of 15. Player B will get 5 strokes for this match. One stroke on each of the stroke index allocation holes 1-5.  In a 4 ball match where a missing party is the person who the stroke allowance was calculated from (lowest Handicap) the handicap strokes will be allocated based on the missing person being present.

 

RESULT OF HOLE AND MATCH - Rule 3.2

 

  1. You win a hole when you complete the hole in fewer net strokes than your opponent.
  2. You tie a hole (also known as halved) when you and your opponent complete the hole in the same number of net strokes.
  3. You win a match when you lead your opponent by more holes than remain to be played.
  4. You must post adjusted scores played in all Matches for handicap purposes. If you picked up on any hole, record the score you most likely would have gotten on the hole.  For example; Add 1 stroke if ball is on putting green not more than 5 feet from the hole. 

Add 2 or 3 strokes if the ball lies between 5 feet and 20 yards from the hole; depends on position of ball, difficulty of green and players ability. ( Handicap Rule #3.)

 

 

CONCESSIONS - Rule 3.2b

 

  1. You may concede your opponent's next Stroke, a Hole or the Match, but a concession is only made when it is clearly communicated. 
  2. A concession is final - you cannot withdraw it once made and your opponent cannot decline the concession. But there is no penalty if the player continues to hole out after the concession unless their stroke could be of assistance to their partner.  But putting is discouraged as it slows the pace of play.  If the player misses the putt it doesn’t matter because it has already been conceded.
  3. Matches should not take longer to play than a regular game of golf.  If you are ‘out of the hole,’ Pick Up.  Give opponents putts that you know they will make.

 

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN MATCH PLAY - Rule 3.2d

 

 1. Tell your opponent the right number of strokes you have taken when asked. It is often helpful for everyone to announce what they are ‘lying’ once everyone is on the green.  Know the match score and who gets strokes, if any, on each hole.

 

 2.   An opponent refusing to answer or giving the  wrong information will get the General Penalty (Loss of Hole) unless she corrects this error in time:

  • During a hole – the correction must be made before the player makes another stroke or takes a similar action such as conceding the opponent's next stroke or the hole.
  • After hole complete – correction must be made before either player/opponent makes a stroke to begin another hole or takes a similar action.
  • After the final hole – correction must be made before the result of the match is reported to the Committee.

  3.  In case of doubt as to procedure, the option to play a second ball under Rule 20.1c(3) does not apply to Match Play.

  4.  Make your opponent aware as soon as possible after you get a penalty.

 

 

 5.  A player who  knows or believes that her opponent has breached a Rule may act on the breach or choose to ignore it. Rule 3.2d(4).

Players may agree how to decide a Rule issue - the outcome of this agreement is conclusive even if it turns out to have been wrong under the rules.  But the player and opponent may not agree to ignore a breach, otherwise they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b.

 

  6. If a player has doubts about a Rules issue during a round and a referee is not available in a reasonable time, she should notify her opponent that a later ruling will be sought. This must be done before either makes a stroke to begin another hole. Rule 20.1b

 

 

 

GENERAL RULES- Same Rules as Stroke Play, but with different penalties

 

  1. If you and your opponent play each other's ball during play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball---loss of hole.
    If it is not known which wrong ball was played first, there is no penalty and the hole must be played out with the  exchanged balls.Rule 6.3.c.  If one of the partners hits a wrong ball; loss of hole; her partner may continue.
  2.  During a round, you must not give or ask for advice Rule 10.2a.  Penalty applies only to Player. Loss of hole. Rule 23.9a. This penalty has no effect on the partner, who may continue to play for the side on that hole.
  3. If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the tee markers, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the teeing ground.
  4. If you purposely touch, move, or cause to move, your opponent’s ball, other than when searching, you are assessed a 1 stroke penalty. Rule 21.4c
  5. If a putt from the putting green hits another ball at rest on the putting green, whether it is your side or the opponents' there is no penalty in Match Play. (Rule 11.2b(2)) Play your ball from where it comes to rest and ensure that the ball that you moved is replaced back to where it was.
  6. Line of Putt and Line of Play - A player must not make a stroke with her partner positioned on or close to an extension of the line-of-putt or line-of-play.
  7.  A partner may leave their ball on the putting green even if it is in a position where it may usefully act as a backstop, while the other partner makes their putt. There is no penalty if the ball in motion is deflected or stopped by a ball at rest on the green. (Rule 23.5a, 15.3a)   NOTE: if an opponent considers a ball might assist a player making the putt, they can demand that it is lifted.
  8. A player may practice on the course on the day of the Match. (Rule 7-1)
  9. Players may discontinue their Match by agreement for darkness, weather, player illness or injury.
    The match must be resumed from where it was discontinued; the players do not start the round again. The Committee will usually decide if and when to start play again.