Match play
Holes won
| Player | Hole 1 | Hole 2 | Holes won |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| B | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Match tied
A wins Hole 1. B wins Hole 2.
Over two holes, Player A scores 4 and 8; Player B scores 5 and 4. A wins the first hole and B the second. The match is tied, although B has taken fewer strokes overall. In a handicap match, any strokes a player receives are deducted on the relevant holes before scores are compared.1
The score describes the lead and, when the match ends early, the holes left. A result of 3 and 2 means a player was three holes ahead with two remaining. In an 18-hole match, that result is reached after the 16th hole.1
A player can give an opponent the next stroke without requiring it to be played. This is a concession, and the stroke still counts in the opponent’s score. A hole or the entire match may also be conceded. Once clearly communicated, a concession cannot be withdrawn or refused.12
At Newport Country Club in 1895, Charles B. Macdonald defeated Charles E. Sands in the first U.S. Amateur final, scheduled for 36 holes. The result, 12 and 11, meant Macdonald led by twelve holes with eleven remaining. It records a margin in holes, rather than twelve fewer strokes.134