Individual Matchplay
Singles Explained.
One player against one. Hole by hole. The format used in every major amateur championship — and in most friendly head-to-head matches at club level. Here's how it works.
Definition
In individual matchplay (also called singles matchplay), two players compete head-to-head, hole by hole. Each hole is won, lost, or halved. The player who leads by more holes than remain wins the match — the total number of strokes over the round is irrelevant.
How hole-by-hole scoring works
Each hole produces exactly one result: a win for one player, a loss, or a half (tie). The match state tracks how many holes up or down each player is — not their combined stroke total.
| Hole result | What happens | Effect on match state |
|---|---|---|
| Player A nets lower | Player A wins the hole | Player A goes (or extends) 1 up |
| Player B nets lower | Player B wins the hole | Player B goes (or extends) 1 up |
| Equal net scores | Hole is halved | Match state unchanged |
In strokeplay, a double-bogey on hole 1 costs you two strokes against the field. In matchplay, it only costs you that one hole. Whether you lose a hole by 1 stroke or 5 strokes makes no difference — you lose the hole and move on. This is what makes matchplay so distinctive: a bad hole is immediately forgotten.
Match states and terminology
The match state is always described from the perspective of the leading player. Once you understand this, reading a scoreboard or calling out the match state becomes second nature.
| State | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All square | Neither player leads | Equal holes won after 9 holes |
| X up | Leading by X holes | "3 up" after 12 holes |
| X down | Trailing by X holes | "3 down" (from opponent's view) |
| Dormie | Leading by as many holes as remain | "2 up with 2 to play" — the trailing player must win every remaining hole to halve |
| X & Y | Match won — X holes up, Y holes remaining | "3 & 2" — 3 up with 2 to play |
The word dormie comes from the name of this app. Read the full dormie guide →
When the match ends
A matchplay match ends as soon as one player's lead is mathematically unbeatable — not necessarily at the 18th hole. The match is over the moment a player is more holes up than holes remain.
Player A is 4 up with 3 holes remaining. The match is over — Player B cannot win even by taking all 3 remaining holes. Player A wins "4 & 3".
If the match is all square after 18 holes, it goes to sudden death — one hole at a time until someone wins a hole outright. The first extra hole where someone wins ends the match.
If a player wins the match on the final hole, the result is stated as "1 up" — not "1 & 0". The "&" notation only applies when the match ends before the 18th is played.
Concessions
One of the defining features of matchplay is the concession. A player may concede an opponent's putt, their next stroke, or the entire hole at any time — and that concession cannot be refused or withdrawn.
The most common concession — "that's good" or picking up the ball means the opponent is credited with holing out in the next stroke. Often used for short putts where the outcome is near-certain, keeping play moving and avoiding embarrassment.
Either player can concede the hole at any point during play — before any strokes are made, mid-hole, or after both players have played. Once conceded, play moves to the next hole.
A player may concede the entire match at any time. This ends the contest immediately with the opponent winning. It cannot be refused.
For the full rules on concessions and other matchplay situations, see the Matchplay Rules guide.
Handicap allowance in singles matchplay
Individual matchplay uses a 100% allowance — the full Course Handicap difference between the two players. This is the most generous allowance of any format, reflecting that there is no partner to provide backup.
1. Both players calculate their Course Handicap for the tees being played: (Handicap Index × Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to nearest whole number.
2. Both Course Handicaps are used directly as Playing Handicaps — 100% allowance, no reduction.
3. The lower Course Handicap player's shots received = 0 (they are the "scratch" reference for this match).
4. The higher Course Handicap player receives shots equal to the difference between the two Course Handicaps.
5. Those shots are allocated to the holes with the lowest Stroke Index numbers, up to the total shot difference.
= 9.5 + 1.2 → Course Handicap 11
= 20.6 + 1.2 → Course Handicap 22
Shot difference: 11 (22 − 11). Player B receives 11 shots from Player A.
Player B gets one extra shot on each of the 11 holes with the lowest Stroke Index numbers — SI 1 through SI 11. On those holes, Player B's net score = gross score minus 1.
How shots are allocated by stroke index
The shot difference determines which holes Player B receives a stroke on. The Stroke Index column on the scorecard ranks holes 1–18 by where a handicap shot is most valuable. The higher-handicap player receives strokes on the N holes with the lowest stroke index, where N = the shot difference.
| Hole | Par | Stroke Index | Player B gets a shot? (diff = 11) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 7 | ✓ 1 shot (SI 7 ≤ 11) |
| 2 | 4 | 13 | — no shot (SI 13 > 11) |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | ✓ 1 shot (SI 3 ≤ 11) |
| 4 | 5 | 17 | — no shot (SI 17 > 11) |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | ✓ 1 shot (SI 1 ≤ 11) |
Abbreviated to 5 holes. On all 18, Player B receives shots on whichever 11 holes have SI 1–11 — regardless of their position in the round.
Where individual matchplay is played
Singles matchplay is the format used in the most prestigious amateur golf competitions, as well as everyday club events and friendly matches.
- Club knockout competitions: The standard format for knockout cups and match weeks at club level. Two players drawn against each other, winner progresses. See the Club Knockout guide.
- Amateur championships: The R&A Amateur Championship, US Amateur, and most national amateur championships use matchplay from the round of 64 onwards after strokeplay qualifying.
- Society matchplay: Many golf societies run a singles matchplay league or end-of-season knockout alongside team formats. See the Society Matchplay Rules.
- Friendly matches: The simplest way to settle a head-to-head — arrange a handicap match against a playing partner. No scorecard to add up, just holes to win.
Strategy in singles matchplay
Matchplay strategy is fundamentally different from strokeplay. Without a partner, every hole is your responsibility — and the psychological pressure of a head-to-head match changes how you should approach decisions.
- Play the opponent, not the course: If your opponent is in trouble, play conservatively to guarantee your par. If they've already made par, you may need to take risks to win the hole.
- Know your shot holes: On holes where you receive a shot, your target is net birdie (gross par). These are your best chances to go ahead — protect them.
- Never give up a hole cheaply: In strokeplay you might take a drop and move on. In matchplay, fighting for a bogey can win or halve a hole your opponent thought they'd won.
- Manage momentum: Winning consecutive holes is what changes a match. Going 2 or 3 up in a short stretch forces your opponent to take risks. Halving holes when you're ahead is often as good as winning them.
- Use concessions deliberately: Giving a putt puts psychological pressure on future holes where you don't concede. Withholding a short putt when the match is tight is a legitimate tactic.
Common questions
What is individual matchplay in golf?
Individual matchplay (also called singles matchplay) is a format where two players compete head-to-head, hole by hole. Each hole is won, lost, or halved. The player who leads by more holes than remain wins the match. Total strokes over the round are irrelevant — only holes won and lost matter. It is the format used in most club knockout competitions and major amateur championships.
How many shots do I get in individual matchplay?
In singles matchplay, the WHS uses a 100% allowance. Both players calculate their Course Handicap for the tees being played. The lower handicap player receives 0 shots. The higher handicap player receives shots equal to the full difference between the two Course Handicaps, allocated to the lowest stroke index holes. For example, if one player has a Course Handicap of 8 and the other 16, the higher-handicap player receives 8 shots on the holes with Stroke Index 1–8.
What does "3 and 2" mean in matchplay?
"3 and 2" (written as 3 & 2) means the winning player was 3 holes ahead with only 2 holes remaining — so the trailing player mathematically could not catch up. The match ended before the 18th hole was played. The "&" notation always means holes up & holes remaining when the match ended early. A win on the final hole is simply called "1 up".
What is the difference between individual matchplay and four-ball?
Individual matchplay is one player vs one player. Four-ball is two teams of two, with each team counting the better of their two net scores per hole. The key differences: individual matchplay uses 100% of the Course Handicap difference; four-ball uses an 85% allowance to reflect the advantage of having a partner. In individual matchplay there is no backup if you have a bad hole — in four-ball your partner can rescue the team.
Can you halve a match in individual matchplay?
Yes. If the match is all square after 18 holes, it is halved — both players share the result. In a knockout competition this would go to sudden death (extra holes) until someone wins a hole. In a league or points-based competition, a half is often worth half a point to each player.
Related guides
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