How to Set Up Matches in Match Play Golf
- 1). Select a format for your matches, including the number of players, either one-on-one or teams of two against each other, and whether your matches will be a part of a league or a knock-out tournament.
- 2). Draw up the league table or league brackets on a poster board.
- 3). Use seeding, where the players are ranked and dispersed so groups or regions of the tournament have equal strength, for a balanced league or tournament.
- 4). Put slips of paper or golf balls with the names or numbers of the players on them and draw at random from a hat to fill in your table or bracket randomly.
- 5). Play matches in pairs, either with two players in a group against each other or four players in a group playing in teams of two, scoring either best ball or alternate shots.
- 6). Award a hole to a team or player when their score bests that of their opponents, rewarding one point, no matter how many strokes they won the hole by.
- 7). Award a match to a team or player when they are ahead by more holes than there are left to play.
- 8). Concede a putt if it is so close that you are sure your opponent will make it. Concessions are unique to match play, as you are only competing with those in your group, not everyone on the course, thus allowing the players in the group to agree to give you credit for making a shot.
Source...