You win holes, not strokes
Forget the total on your card. In match play, the only question on each hole is who had the lower score:
- Win the hole — your side goes one hole up.
- Lose the hole — you go one down.
- Tie the hole — it's halved, and the score stays exactly where it was.
That's the magic: a triple-bogey 7 loses you the hole, but so would a bogey — the damage is capped at one hole either way. Make an 8 and a great par on the next two and you're right back in it. Match play is the format where you can have a terrible hole and a great match.
Reading the score
The running score is the lead, not a stroke total. The shorthand you'll hear:
| You hear | It means |
|---|---|
| AS (all square) | The match is tied — nobody's ahead. |
| 2 up | Your side has won two more holes than the other. |
| 1 down | You're behind by one hole. |
| Dormie | The leader is up by exactly the holes remaining — can't lose now. |
| 3&2 | The match ended: 3 up with 2 holes left, so it was over. |
The match doesn't always go 18 holes. The moment one side's lead is bigger than the number of holes left, it's mathematically over — you stop and shake hands. That's where a score like 3&2comes from: three holes up with only two to play, the trailing side can't catch up, done. Go all 18 still tied and the match is halved.
Concessions — the match-play courtesy
Unique to match play: you can concedeyour opponent a shot. Tap-in left for par? “That's good” — they pick up, no need to hole the two-footer that wouldn't change anything. You can concede a putt, a whole hole, or even the match. It keeps the round moving and is a genuine sportsmanship move — but it's strategic too: make them hole the nervy three-footer when it matters. Once you concede, it's final— you can't take it back if they'd have missed.
Common questions
What does "AS" mean in match play?
AS stands for "all square" — the match is tied, with neither side ahead. You start every match all square, and you return to AS any time the trailing side wins back the lead. It is the match-play equivalent of even.
What does dormie mean?
Dormie means a side leads by exactly the number of holes left to play — for example, 3 up with 3 to go. The leader can no longer lose: the worst they can do is get caught and halve the match, so the trailing side has to win out just to force a tie.
What does a "3&2" score mean?
It means the winner was three holes up with only two holes left, so the match was over — the trailing side could not catch up even by winning both remaining holes. The first number is the lead, the second is how many holes were unplayed. You stop and shake hands rather than play the dead holes.
What is a concession in match play?
A concession is giving your opponent a shot — usually a short putt — so they pick up and the hole is settled without holing out. It is unique to match play and a courtesy that keeps things moving. You can also concede a whole hole, or concede the match. Once given, a concession can't be taken back.
When to pick match play for your trip
Pick match play when you want drama and a forgiving format in one — a head-to-head or two-on-two where a single disaster can't bury you and every hole is its own fresh fight. It's the format of the Ryder Cup for a reason: momentum swings, concessions, and a comeback that's always live. Group Caddie tracks the running status — AS, the lead, dormie, and the closing 3&2 — so you can just play the hole in front of you.