Hi Linda,
Someone told me that you must start a match play game from
the first tee because of the stroke indexes. He claimed that if a match started
on the 10th hole someone could be put at either an advantage or a
disadvantage. Does it make a difference, and must you start on the first tee
only in match play?
Thank you in advance.
Lou from South Africa
Dear Lou,
Ideally, a match should begin on the first or tenth hole.
However, if there are several matches scheduled, and the Committee decides to
shotgun the matches (start them all at the same time), matches may begin on
different holes. This is often done with team play.
There should be little or no advantage to either player in a
match beginning on the first or tenth hole. The handicap holes are divided
evenly, with the odds on one nine and the evens on the other. One nine may be
more difficult than the other, but everything should even out over the course
of the match.
Regardless of a real or perceived advantage or disadvantage,
players must begin play on the hole to which they are assigned by the
Committee.
Don’t forget that if you need to play extra holes to settle
the match, the first extra hole will be the next consecutive hole. In other words,
if you begin play on the 10th hole and the match is all square on
the 9th hole (after 18 holes of play), your first extra hole will be
the 10th hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
