Team Match
Two foursomes go head-to-head, hole by hole, best ball or aggregate.
Two equal teams
Team Match is match play between two equal-sized groups instead of two individuals. Each hole, the two teams compare a combined score and whoever's better takes the hole, exactly like singles match play but with a side per group.
It's the natural bet when you've got two foursomes playing the same round and want cross-group bragging rights on top of whatever's going on inside each group.
How to play Team Match
- 1Form two equal teams
Split into two groups of the same size (say two foursomes). Equal sizes keep it fair for both scoring methods.
- 2Pick a scoring method
Best ball: each team's lowest net score on the hole represents the team. Aggregate: add up the team's scores. Choose before you start.
- 3Win the hole
Compare the two teams' hole scores. The lower one wins the hole; equal scores halve it.
- 4Count holes, not strokes
As in any match play, it's decided by holes won. The team up by more holes than remain has clinched it.
Best-ball team match, one hole
- Team A's best net score on the hole is a 4.
- Team B's best net score is a 5.
- Team A wins the hole and goes one up.
- Play continues hole by hole until one team is up by more holes than remain.
Common variations
Best ball uses each team's single lowest score per hole; aggregate sums the team's scores. Aggregate rewards depth, best ball rewards one hot hand.
Net scoring with handicaps keeps unevenly matched teams competitive.
Frequently asked questions
What is team match play in golf?
Two equal-sized teams compete hole by hole. Each team's combined score (best ball or aggregate) is compared on every hole, and the team that wins more holes wins the match.
What's the difference between best ball and aggregate?
Best ball counts only each team's single lowest score on a hole. Aggregate adds up all of a team's scores on the hole. Best ball favors one strong result, aggregate rewards the whole team scoring well.
Skip the 18th-green math
Three Putt scores Team Match for you and shows exactly who owes who. Everyone can score from their own phone, or one person can handle it. Nothing to download.
Start a round