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Which form of play do you prefer? In the Rules of Golf, Match Play (Rule 2) comes before Stroke Play (Rule 3). I guess that's the way the game was first contested: Mr. MacTavish against Mr. MacGinnis when all golfers were amateurs. I believe the emphasis on stroke play is due to televised professional tournaments. Even with 36 hole cuts, lots of name players remain for the weekend. And for club outings, everyone can compete on one or two days. Most of the competition I enter is stroke play, but I love a match play tournament. In addition to the course and one's own ability, there is the opponent to contend with. That seems to bring the mental side of the game into sharper focus. I do hope that match play does not become an "endangered species" of golf.

I like match play, in my league we play both formats. Match play adds a little bit of pressure in one regard but you can also have a blow up hole and still be in the match. Take an 8 (which I never do ) in stroke play and it is tough to come back.

Both work for me. I'd probably prefer to play stroke over match but I like both. I like skins a lot. My buddy and I play skins quite a bit. Good way to make a little extra cash.

I don't mind match play a couple of times a year but a golf course has 18 holes. All of which are meant to be played. So it's stroke play for me.

brianf

I like polls, so I hope you don't mind if I added one. Not sure if there has been a poll on this topic before.

To answer the question, for everyday play, definitely stroke play, but it's fun to play matches once in a while for the extra head-to-head rush you get. It works best of course if you have a playing partner who is close in ability to you. A friend of mine and I used to play some fun matches...back in high school, during our team golf season, we were separated by 1 shot total in combined scores for the entire season. That similarity in ability made match play fun. But overall, I guess I'd have to say stroke play.

The closer my opponent and I are in ability, the more I want the match to be Stroke play. If he's better, I prefer Match play.....for obvious reasons.

I like match play, because two mismatched players are more likely to have a competitive match.

In SA with the exception of singles, 4 ball and 4some knock out comptitions, all club competitions are variations of stroke play (better ball medal, stableford, alliance and so on) but it is usual in 4 ball play to play a match "on the side". At most clubs the match is "match play" but the "stroke play" rules are observed for the competition i.e. putts my be conceded "for the match" but are always holed "for the competition" - this recognises that club competitions can have only one winner but that all players in the filed probably want to "play for something " - usually the equivalent of a $5 nassau.

In the case of the matchplay competitions there is absolute prohibition against participation in the club competition that may be played on the same day.

Personally, I love them both - match play for the cut and thrust and the man against man game with its constantly varying scenarios and stroke play for the discipline - you against old man par - grinding on tough days, keeping it going on good days.

Isn't it the greatest game of them all??

I enjoy Match-Play more than Stroke Play.

Most inter-club comps are Match- Play, which suits me because in Stroke play I tend to lose concentration at times (hence hcp of 5.6 index shooting under par).

We also play Stableford a lot in the UK. Speeds up play and is played over a full round, also allows for blow-ups. Stableford favours high handicaps so many low handicappers don't play in too many.

I prefer a match because as stated before i can blow up on one or two holes and still be in it, also i love to take on risky shots and stroke doesn't allow you to do that. That being said it is more satisfing to card a good stroke round and i do feel better if i manage to win when we have to count em all.

As golfers, we normally play stroke play about 90% of the time, if not more. I'd prefer Match Play, if only because it's such a special treat to play that way.

Last summer I played in a group of a dozen guys. We all arranged our own matches...they just had to fall within a weekly slot. We reported the results via e-mail and it was a fun 3 month event. It was all match play. I'd never played match play before, but it was an absolute ball.

There are four of us who play regularly and its Match-Play most of the time.
Handicaps 3, 5, and two 6's so "Stick End" golf.
We all take part in Club Comps so play a lot of Stroke-play too.
I must admit that I enjoy Match-play more than Stroke-play.
My only Club Comp successes have all been in Match-play events.