There isn’t a shadow of a doubt that match play is the best form of golf, which we will see on the biggest stage at the Ryder Cup in New York this week.
It’s great fun, it can be tense, and it’s one of countless examples in the sport where, regardless of the age and ability of your opponent, you can be walking down the last hole all square.
You have to dig deep into the trenches in match play. I remember at the start of my teenage years, and being 4 down with four holes left against a single-figure handicapper, and I was off 24.
We both bogeyed the last four holes, therefore I won the last four holes and then won the first extra. It was bonkers, but that is match play.
We all have stories like this, and also where the odd bit of gamesmanship can be used to get in your opponent’s head. I can’t attribute that great day to any type of mind game, but over the years, you pick up the odd trick or two.
Here, we have the best stories from NCG’s resident club golfers and what tactics they’ve used and seen down the years in the matches they’ve played.
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Golf match play tactics: The game of the dark arts
What memories of match play have stayed with you?
Dan Murphy: I once played in the junior knockout against a much older opponent who played the entire round with his earphones in. And this was the era of wires dangling around his chin.
We were level going up the last and I had at least two putts, and probably three, from long range for the match. I five-putted. Maybe my opponent used the tactic of complete dismissiveness to full effect.
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Or, alternatively, they were just being extremely rude.
Steve Carroll: Any loss creates a bad smell, but I assume you’re asking me to examine a player’s character?
We got to the final of the pairs one year and came up against a 17-handicapper whose mark was so off he dismantled a 500-yard par 5 in a driver, 7-iron. We didn’t get past the 13th.
The moral of the story: if you’ve got a useful handicap with plenty of shots, then use it. Coming up against a bandit in match play is the most demoralising thing on earth.
Matt Chivers: I’m not sure there’s anything that you can really do to affect your opponent’s performance, outside of simply playing well or verbally getting in their ear.
You shouldn’t give putts anyway unless they are inches from the cup, but that would be my match play tactic, as simple as it sounds. Don’t feel obliged to give putts.
What golf match play tactics work the best?
Steve: I’m world-class at distraction techniques: “You’re playing well today”, “That’s a tight drive”, “That rough looks a bit chunky” – or what’s otherwise known as being a bit of a git.
If that’s not going to plan, I’m also a tour pro at sulking, questioning handicaps and tutting at any opponent’s drive that hits the centre of a fairway (delete as appropriate).
Playing golf, you ask? If it was down to ball-striking alone, I’d get annihilated.
Dan: I sometimes get myself in trouble due to my dislike of the concept of the gimme. I give very little and expect nothing in return. I don’t like the psychological element of it and I think anything further away than hanging over the hole is missable on occasion.
I’m not trying to play mind games with my opponent, but doubtless they often think that’s exactly what I’m playing at. I can also say with honesty that I take little pleasure from an opponent missing a short putt. I just think it’s an integral part of the game.
Matt: The greatest skill or tactic you can have in match play is finding fairways. Just find that short grass. From my experience, I’ve found it incredibly annoying when my opponent is constantly playing from the short grass, and giving themselves chances to score, whereas my errant drives are doing me no favours.
Alternatively, when I’m in the flow off the tee, the match becomes very simple and straightforward. Sure, you need to play more golf after dinging one down the middle, but it breeds confidence.
Finding fairways is the best match play skill you can have, especially if you’re playing foursomes.
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What do you make of our best golf match play tactics stories? What tactics have you used before? Tell us on X!
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