Match play and strokeplay are the two forms of golf. There can be variations in how strokeplay competitions are played – for instance, Stableford and medal competitions are both forms of strokeplay, yet they have different scoring system from one another. Which category a competition is in is important because the rules for match play and strokeplay differ, particularly with regard to penalties. Typically what is a two-shot penalty in strokeplay would incur the loss of the hole being played in match play.
Any number of players or teams can take part in a strokeplay competition, however a match play competition is a one-on-one contest between two players or teams. The winner in match play is determined not by the total number of shots played, but by the number of holes won. Whoever shoots the lower score on a hole wins that hole. If the players shoot the same score, the hole is halved. The winner of the most holes wins the match. Matches do not have to go to the final hole, as the game ends once a player or team is ahead by more holes than there are holes left to play. In match play, unlike in strokeplay, an opponent can concede a putt.
