How Often Do You Play Match Play?

[Tailgater]

We never play it and I don't know why. It looks like a blast.

[Slice of Life]

Never, really. My Uncle and I just recently figured out a way to compete next year...1 pt for stroke play, and 1 pt for match play every round we get in together. Winner at the end of the season will get something TBD haha.

[Hardballs]

Quite often when there's only 2 of us! Usually play better too as I'm not really focusing on a score/stroke play?

[Pretzel]

With my teammates I will nearly always play matches or skins games, which feel very similar to me. Both of them let you ignore the total score and focus down on each hole as a new round in a sense. I love both formats for that reason specifically.

[NJpatbee]

I sometimes play rotating partners where you switch every 6 holes to another partner.  The lowest combined score on a hole wins a point similar to match play, but we do keep our scores for handicap purposes (no concessions) since some of struggle to get 20 official rounds/season.  Same with a Nassau or Skins - keep a legitimate score at the same time.  When I play with my 9 year old grandson we use similar scoring rules for each 9 - match play but you finish each hole (he plays from the green tees and can be very competitive).

[Lihu]

We never play it and I don't know why. It looks like a blast.

It is a blast.

I try to play once a week, if I get the same partners. Depends who I play. Most of the people just like to play for fun and/or exercise. If you keep the stakes really cheap, it can be fun and add a little spice to the game. Just make sure you are accurate with your handicap.

[Hardballs]

Plus it's fun in pairs too! In fact, although we all make a note of our stroke play, we usually always play either stableford or match play, depending on how many of us there are, Stroke play can often end up very disappointing, (for me anyway) it only takes a a couple of bad holes and your cards ruined where as the other ways allow you to play and keep the interest right till the end... Most times!

[David in FL]

Almost exclusively.  If we have a big group, we'll do a stableford so everyone can compete against everyone else, but other than that, it's either individual match play or a 4-ball.

Helps with your pace of play too.  Out of a hole, pick up and move on.

[lumpuckeroo]

Never, but we never compete against one another, we just compete against the old man.

[bradsul]

All the time, it's great fun!  I play 5-6 times per week and about half are match of some sort (at least for another couple weeks, stupid Canadian winter!)  Favourites are:

• four ball
• 4-2-1
• match
• skins

Mostly it depends how many players there are.  Often it's just 2 or 3 so match and 4-2-1 tends to be the most used.

[boogielicious]

My old league used to be match play, but it became difficult to get everyone lined up to start at the same time. You had to wait for your partner to tee off.   My new league is stableford.  I like to play match and have started playing with a good friend of mine.  We play for beer, front nine, back nine, total.

[vangator]

My league is a combination of medal and match play. one point per hole match play, two points per nine holes for low medal for a total of 11 points per nine (it's a nine hole league). Six points for the team low medal for a team total of 50 points per night. It's not pure match play because you need to play the hole out, but gimmies can be given. Taints the handicap but speeds up play. We have a double par pickup rule. I've only invoked that once in 30+ years in the league and no alcohol was involved.

[David in FL]

My old league used to be match play, but it became difficult to get everyone lined up to start at the same time. You had to wait for your partner to tee off.   My new league is stableford.  I like to play match and have started playing with a good friend of mine.  We play for beer, front nine, back nine, total.

No better game within a 4-some or as a pair.

We play a Nassau too.  Nothing big, usually $5 three ways with presses allowed only after a bet has been closed out.  $30 is a BIG win/loss, and usually less than $10 changes hands.