match play

American  

noun

Golf.

1. play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won by each side.

---

match play British  

noun

1. golf Compare Stableford stroke play

   1. scoring according to the number of holes won and lost

   2. ( as modifier )

      a matchplay tournament

---

Other Word Forms

• match player
  noun

Etymology

Origin of match play

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

match play

Mark Fine, who has co-written a book about bunkers, says the increased use of rakes after World War I was the result of a shift from match play to stroke play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

If this were 1974, TV fans could have seen this knock-down, grudge match play out in real time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024

"I've played in a few. I love playing match play."

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2024

Woods will be among 264 players who will go through 36 holes of stroke play on the North and South courses at Oakland Hills to determine which 64 players advance to match play.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 2024

In match play, I say always play the bold game.

From The Complete Golfer by Harry Vardon