Key Resources

 

Match Play Explained 'cheat sheet' - overview of the differences between match play and stroke play

 

Recording of Match Play Explained information session - how a match is scored, how team score is calculated, key rules differences pertinent to four-ball match play, how to settle disputes, and strategy tips.

 

Powerpoint presentation of Match Play Explained.

 

 

Pairing & Handicap Information 

Each team will compete as two 'sides' on each day of competition.  The sides will be assigned as follows:

  • Players on each team will be labelled Player A, B, C, & D in order of lowest to highest handicap as of the handicap cutoff date
  • On Saturday,
    • Player A + Player B will form a side who will compete against a side from another team.
    • Player C + Player D will form a side who will compete against a side from another team.
  • On Sunday,
    • Player A + Player C will form a side who will compete against a side from another team.
    • Player B + Player D will form a side who will compete against a side from another team.

 

Team / Handicap requirements:

  • Each player must have a valid handicap by the handicap cutoff date and have posted at least 54-holes in the current calendar year.
  • The team can be composed of players with any valid handicap index.  For anyone familiar with terms of the association-wide Cup Series events, this event does not have any requirements for the combination of handicaps for team members or pairings (i.e. "6-stroke spread" for four-ball partners does not apply). 
  • Teams can be composed of players from any Chapter.
  • Please review the Match Play Open Terms of the Competition document for complete details.

 

Match Play Explained

 

Don't keep track of number of strokes in your round

Match play is fun because your total score for the round isn't relevant!  The only thing that counts is the number of holes won in comparison to your opponent (the other two players in your foursome).  

 

Play each match with a partner

In a four-ball match, two players on a team compete as a 'side' against two players from another team who also compete as a 'side'.  Each player plays their own ball for the entire hole.  The best net score between the two team members on a side becomes the side's score on the hole.  A hole is won by the side having a better net score than the other side.  A match is won when one side is up by more holes than are left to play.

 

Each match is worth only one point

Well.. technically 1.10 points is the maximum number of points that can be awarded for a match.  Here's how it works...

  • Two sides play each other on each hole.  The side with the best team score wins the hole.  Each hole is worth 0.01 match points
  • When one side has won more holes than there are holes left to play, then the match is over. The winning team earns 1.0 match points and the losing team earn 0.0 points.  If the match goes all 18 holes and the teams are tied, each team earn 0.5 match points.

 

Winning team has the most match points

Team Birdie Girls is composed of players A, B, C & D.

  • On Saturday, A & B play a tight match so they are tied after 16.  Each team has won 5 holes each and tied the other 6. They win both the 17th and 18th hole, winning the match "2 Up".  They are awarded 1.0 points for the win plus 0.07 points for the 7 holes they won outright, for a total of 1.07 match points.  (The other team was awarded 0.05 points)
  • On Saturday, C & D win "4 & 3" by being up by 4 holes after 15, having won 8 holes in total.  They are awarded 1.08 match points.
  • On Sunday, A & C tie their match but won 5 holes in total.  They are awarded 0.5 points for the tie plus 0.05 for the holes won, for a total of 0.55 points
  • On Sunday, B & D lost their match but won 6 holes.  They are awarded 0.06 points.
  • The Birdie Girls final result stands at 2.76 match points.

 

 

Scoring will be setup for you

Confused?  Don't be!  Just come play your ball from tee to green.  We will help make the scoring simple.  For each match, your scorecards will be pre-printed with your handicap strokes already indicated to make it easy to determine each players net score on each hole.  When you turn in your scorecard, we will figure out all of the appropriate match play points for you.

 

Learn More

Attend the Match Play Explained information session on July 14 at 8:00pm.