Match Play Tournament Info and Rules - All Players must Read!

 

This page describes Match Play Tournament Requirements and Operational Rules and Requirements for both the President's Cup and Four Ball (Two Person) Match Play.  All participants must be familiar with all of the information on this page.

 

1. Membership Requirement

 

All players must be active members of the Evergreen Golf Club.

 

2. Participation Requirements

 

Match play Quarter-Final rounds (Round of 8), Semi-Final rounds, and the Final Championship round require at least 54 holes of golf played in regular Evergreen Golf Club events during the same year.  Players who do not meet the requirements prior to their match may be disqualified. 

 

3. Posting Scores

 

a. Post your own scores to GHIN using Hole-by-hole Posting Method: You must post your own Match Play scores to GHIN handicap system using the "Hole by Hole" entry (not total score) so we can verify match results. 

  • Please leave all holes after the match is completed as blank even if you played the full 18.  
  • The tournament directors will not be posting scores for you for Match Play. 
  • Please note that match play scores are acceptable for posting per USGA rules: See Handicap rule 2.1a. 
  • The final Championship round should be posted as a "C" Competition score. 

 

b. Holes after Match Completed: Once the match is decided, EGC Committee declares the round to be complete for handicap posting purposes and requires all remaining holes be treated as “not played” for scorecard & posting purposes. Use Handicap rule 3.2 (3.2 When a Hole is Not Played - match finished before final hole). 

  • Even if you actually play the remaining holes, all holes should be posted using Hole by Hole and any remaining holes after the match result is determined should be left blank.  GHIN will fill in an "Expected Score Differential" for the round for you. 

 

c. More than 18 holes but fewer than 27: If you play more than 18 holes but fewer than 27, you don't need to post the extra holes.  If you play a full 9 or more holes, you do need to post that score separately.

 

 

4. Course & Tees

 

Players must schedule your own tee times in advance with the Golf Course of your choice.  

 

The default course in Golf Genius is Eagle Talon, on the player default tees.  You are welcome to play any other course or tees in the western Washington region, including Willows Coyote Creek.  

 

Changing Course: Change the course yourself on the Live Tourney Scorecard screen at any time before your round. 

 

At the top of your Scorecard screen, click on "Match Settings" and use the Course Search, then select your tees. You can search for and select any course in Western Washington. 

 

You do NOT need to send an email to EvergreenGC to change your course.  You should do it yourself. 

 

You are responsible for double checking your own scorecard and handicaps before each match to make sure the course is correct and that everything else looks right.  Click the Player Name in the scorecard to expand the full scorecard, then click the small circled (i) to see the handicap details. You can also check the handicap details in the Match Settings screen. 

 

5. Player Contact Info

 

To schedule your match, reach out directly via email to your opponent. The email contact list is included with the match kickoff email.   

 

6. Scheduling Matches

 

Please contact your opponent directly and arrange a mutually agreeable time and course to play each of your matches. 

 

You should schedule your next match as soon as both opponents are known – Do not wait for the end date of a round to start the next round. This can give you a larger window to find a mutually agreeable date.

 

It is the responsibility of EACH player to contact each other to agree on a date and time and course.  CHECK IN with the opponents if the due date is past - it's possible their result is not showing up in the results page.  The tournament committee will not be sending reminders when a prior round is complete. The current brackets can be found here:

 

 

or from the EGC Portal (https://egc.golfgenius.com) click on the Match Play link in the green box at the top of the page. 

 

Delays. If the opponents can’t agree on a date prior to the round end date, please contact the EGC Tournament Committee at EvergreenGC@outlook.com.  In some cases, we may be able to grant a brief extension.  However, please realize that this affects your next opponent and the delay can cascade into future rounds if the subsequent match cannot be completed within the allotted dates.  If a match schedule cannot be mutually agreed upon by the participants and the committee, assuming both teams made a good effort to find a mutually agreeable time, the match will be decided via a coin toss. No one wants to have this happen.

 

7. Handicaps and GHIN Updates

 

One player in the match should update the handicaps the day of your match in the Scorecard screen before you start to play in the Live Tourney screen.  The update will update everyone in the match.  Handicaps are not automatically updated, and EGC will not be updating handicaps. 

 

Live Tourney allows each player to update handicaps via the "Match Settings" at the top of the scorecard. 

 

Handicap Calculation - Handicap Analysis

Your Handicap Index is converted to a Playing Handicap for the course and tees you are playing. As per USGA Handicap Rules:

  • President's Cup / Individual Match Play, the higher-handicapped player receives the full difference in Playing Handicap between the two players; the lower-handicapped player plays from scratch.

 

  • Four Ball, the handicaps are adjusted to 90% off of the lowest handicap. Course Handicaps are calculated to full precision, then adjusted by 90%.  The unrounded results are then used to calculate Strokes Off, and the final strokes off is then rounded. This is different from the process used for individual match play strokes off calculation per the USGA.

 

My handicap is wrong

There are several reasons that your Playing Handicap may be different from what you expected:
 

  1. If you are playing in the Four Ball (Two Man Team) Match Play, or the Two Man Chapman, or similar events, the USGA Appendix C: Handicap Allowances (usga.org) recommends using a reduced % of the Course Handicap.  For the Two Man Match, it's 90% of both player's CH. 
  2. For the Four Ball match play, be sure to use "Play" at the bottom of the GHIN App, not the regular handicap calculator.  There is a SLIGHT difference in the order of operations it uses to calculate the handicap which can occasionally make a difference. 

 

Questions about how handicap is calculated?  See below for how to view the handicap calculation in the Live Scoring/Leaderboard app. This is a great resource! 

 

Handicap Calculation: If you have questions about handicap calculations, you can view the Handicap Explained Calculation directly in either the Leaderboard or Scorecard screen:

  1. Click on the Player Name.  From the Scorecard screen this will expand the scorecard.
  2. From the Leaderboard, this will bring up Match Details. Click anywhere on the center of Match Details (Names, Holes, Results area) and it will expand into the full scorecard.
  3. Click the small circled (i) beside either of the player's handicaps. This will show the handicap screen for both players. 
  4. Click on either player's names to see the detailed handicap calculation for that player. 
  5. Handicap Date (the date of the current handicap data) is shown at the top of the Handicap Explained screen if accessed via the Leaderboard, but not via the Scorecard. 

 

You can also get to the Handicap Explained screen from the Match Settings link at the top of the Scorecard. 

 

Please check the Handicap Explained Analysis page first before sending us a question about your handicap. If something in the handicap analysis doesn't make sense, feel free to ping EvergreenGC@outlook.com. 

 

8. Make your OWN paper Scorecards AND keep score in Live Tourney app (Live Scoring)

 

  • Individual: One player should keep Live Scoring and the other player should keep the Paper Scorecard.  Each player is acting as the official "marker" for the other. 
  • Four Ball:  A member of one TEAM should keep Live Scoring and a member of the other TEAM should keep the Paper Scorecard.  Each player is acting as the official "marker" for the other TEAM.
  • If you don't use live scoring during the round, keep two paper scorecards, one for each player/team.

 

Q: Why don't we provide preprinted PDF Scorecards?

A: GHIN updates handicaps every night whenever you post a new score.  This means that handicaps can update daily.  If we created preprinted PDF scorecards, the strokes on a preprinted scorecard would be out of date (wrong) by the time you play a match. You will need to check online and create your own manually dotted scorecards before your match.

 

Important Notes:

  • Handicap Allowance 90% For the Two Man Match. The USGA Appendix C: Handicap Allowances (usga.org) recommends using 90% of both player's Course Handicap.  Please don't forget to set this in the GHIN app if you are using it for the Two Man Match handicaps.  Use "Play" option at the bottom of the GHIN app, not the regular handicap calculator, to compute the correct Strokes Off, and set the Handicap Allowance to 90%.
  • Individual Match Play uses 100% of handicap index and can use the Handicap Calculator in the middle of the GHIN app screen OR the Play option. 
  • LIVE Tourney App - Please enter your scores in Live Tourney AND keep a paper scorecard. If you don't use live scoring during your round, please update all scores in the Live Tourney app immediately after the match is over.  This is what will tell Live Tourney who won the match in the bracket, show the winner, and advance you to the next round. 
  • If Live Scoring is interrupted during the round or for any other reason not completed during the round, please make sure to complete it after the round.  Final Scores in Live Tourney are what advances the winner in the bracket!

 

Players must make up their OWN DOTTED SCORECARDS ON THE DAY OF THE MATCH

 

Use a regular paper scorecard from the Course.

 

Method 1: USING LIVE TOURNEY APP or Web Site

 

  1. Make sure Live Tourney has your updated handicaps by Refreshing in Match Settings.  
  2. Go to the Leaderboard or Scorecard view: Go to either the "Scorecard" view or the “Leaderboard” view, find your match, and click on one of your names. This will show the full scorecard view, with dots on individual holes, and will show the Total Handicap and Strokes Off above the name.  
  3. Make up a Dotted Scorecard using a regular Course Scorecard: Copy the strokes from the scorecard or leaderboard view to a printed scorecard (using a pen or pencil) the same day as your match (to make sure you have current handicaps) so you have a printed scorecard on the course with you. If you want to do this the night before, be sure to check the strokes/dots in the morning.  

 

Method 2: Using GHIN App on your Phone or Web Site

 

  1. A) For Individual Match Play: Click on "Handicap Calculator" on the home screen in the GHIN app.
    B: For Four Ball (Team) Match Play: Click on "Play" on the home screen in the GHIN App.
    Your name will be listed.

    • Select the Course

    • For Four-Ball Team - Select Net Match Play. 

    • Click Add Golfers to add your opponent(s).  Type in the LAST name.  Find the golfer, hit "+" beside their name, and hit Add Golfers. 

      • Tip: Use the "Filter" to limit to Washington GHIN, and to search for first names. 

      • Make sure you do not filter to just "Your Club" - not everyone is a member of Evergreen Golf Club GHIN

  2. Set the Handicap Allowance to 90% for Four Ball

  3. Set the Tees for the top players and it will set it for all the other players.  Change any tees that are not the same for specific players. 

  4. The S.O Column automatically shows "Strokes Off" the low player. 

  5. Dot the card starting with the "Handicap Hole #1" and working your way up for the number of strokes shown for each player. 

 

 

9. Scoring the Match

 

Each hole is worth 1 point to the winner. If tied no points are awarded. One person should keep the printed scorecard, and another person should keep Live Scoring.  If you don't keep live scoring during the match, keep at least two paper scorecards to compare at the end. 

 
Score the match as +1, +2, AS, -1, -2, etc., e.g. keep a running net total on a row below or between the hole scores. 

 

 

10. Tiebreakers: If match is tied after 18 holes 

1. No match may end in a tie. If the match is even after 18 holes, players must use one of the tiebreaker methods listed below.  

  1. If you are playing at Willows Run, Extra Holes are not allowed by management unless you pay for an additional round (twilight rates are not unreasonable). Please do not even ask, as management has been clear to EGC that they will not allow this procedure anymore. Continued use of extra holes at Willows Run without paying will jeopardize the right for Evergreen Golf Club to continue playing any club rounds at Willows Run.
  2. If you are playing at any other course, we recommend asking the course in advance if extra holes are allowed per USGA rules for match play tiebreakers.  You should ask either when you make your reservation or when you check in with the starter.  If the course does not allow it, use one of the other methods.
  3. Players must agree on a potential tiebreaker scenario BEFORE playing their match.  

 

2. Tie Break Recommendations are as follows (in order of preference):

  1. Continue the Round the same day - If the course allows, play extra holes the same day until a winner is determined – any match that is tied after 18-holes should check with the golf course before the round to see if they can continue playing extra holes until a winner is decided (same stroke allocation).  This is the USGA preferred method, but may not be available at some courses.  

  2. Schedule an after-5:30 pm Super-Twilight Round at Willows Run within the next 7 days – Schedule a round at Willows Run within the next 7 days, taking advantage of the discounted twilight rates, and either

    1. If both players agree, play a 9-hole match with extra holes after 9 if needed (Recommended after a break in play), OR

    2. Play until the match is decided (Sudden Death).

  3. Continue the round at the beginning of the next EGC Event (Within 10 days) – If all players are signed up for an EGC event such as Thursday League or a Weekend Event within the next 10 days, you may request a common tee time and continue playing the match as sudden death for the first few holes, until the match is decided.  Use Match Stroke Play rules where applicable for those holes.  Each player must fully hole out and record a score for the stroke play event as well. See See Committee Procedures, Section 6C (11) for guidelines on simultaneous stroke and  match play. The reason for sudden death and not a 9-hole match is to minimize impact on the stroke play event. 

  4. Play a 9-hole match if more than 7 days – if a match is tied after 18-holes, players may choose to play a second 9-hole match on a future date to decide a winner. If you are still tied after 9 holes you can continue on the back 9 playing sudden death. 

  5. Flip a tee or a coin – players may flip a tee or a coin to determine the winning team. Do not flip until after the 18th hole.

 

3. If you play extra holes (Revised 5/21/2026):

  1. If you play the same course, per-hole handicap strokes remain the same for playoff holes as the original round. Continue using Live Tourney along with a paper scorecard.  Do not use Live Tourney if you are on a different course as the "strokes per hole" will not be correct. 
    1. Using Live Tourney: After all regulation holes are scored and the match is tied, a Match Tied -- Play Extra Hole button appears
    2. The scorer picks which course hole to play from a grid showing each hole's par and yardage
    3. Both teams score that hole as normal, with handicap strokes applied
    4. If one team wins the hole, the match ends and the winner advances automatically
    5. If the hole is a push, the scorer picks another hole (the same hole or a different one)
    6. Up to 9 extra holes can be played. If still tied after 9, keep score on paper and send result to EGC Admins.
  2. If you are NOT on the same course, just use the paper scorecard. 
  3. Report your final results to EGC per the below process.  If your sudden death holes were not on the same course, please point that out in your email so we can manually set the winner. 
  4. Report final results as "19 Holes" or "20 Holes" etc.

 

 

11. Reporting your Score - Result / Date / Sign / Photo / Email / Post

 

  1. Result: Write down the Match Result CLEARLY on one of the scorecards (e.g. Smith 6 & 5).  I'm not going to count it up and figure it out.  
  2. Date: Make sure the match DATE is on the scorecard. This is a standard USGA requirement. 
  3. Sign: BOTH PLAYERS Sign the Scorecard. Also a standard USGA requirement. 
  4. Photo: Take a photo or scan of your scorecard with your phone. 
  5. Email: The WINNER is responsible for sending email to EvergreenGC@outlook.com, although either player may send it in, if you are the winner you have a stake in seeing that we get the card.  Losers are not quite as motivated and sometimes forget. :) 
    1. (a) Include the Match Result TYPED in the body of the email so we can read it AND
    2. (b) the Scorecard Photo  
    3. (c) Please copy your opponent.  That's their "attestation."
  6. POST: Each player Post your OWN scores to GHIN. EGC does not post match play scores. Posting Hole by Hole (per Rule 3) with full hole scores will automatically handle Net Double Bogey corrections.

 

Please remember to include your opponent on the email results so they can verify the results (and watch out for typos). 

 

Final Championship should be posted as a "C" Competition score.

 

Why do we require you to send in a photo of the card?

  1. It gives us an official copy of the scorecard per USGA rules, and something to check against the live scoring if there is a question. 
  2. It serves as a "Trigger" for us to check on the match in Live Tourney and lock the scores and result. 
  3. It allows us to capture the actual DATE of the match.

 

 

12. Pace of Play

 

Please keep up pace of play when playing match play. 

  • If you are out of a hole, please concede the hole and pick up your ball(s) without putting it out and move on. 
  • If your opponent concedes the hole and you have not yet holed out, please pick up your ball and move to the next hole.

 

13. Conceded Hole - Ball not holed out - Score for Posting

 

From USGA Handicap Rule 3.3:  If you pick up prior to holing out, estimate your “most likely score” for posting. 

 

A "most likely score" is the score a player must post for handicap purposes if a hole is started but not completed or if the player is conceded a stroke. The most likely score is:

  • The number of strokes already taken to reach a position on a hole, plus
  • The number of strokes the player would most likely require to complete the hole from that position, plus
  • Any penalty strokes incurred during play of the hole.
  • If this number exceeds the player's Net Double Bogey limit, you can just write the Net Double Bogey number.
  • Most likely scores should be determined on any hole in accordance with the following guidelines:

 

Position of the Ball

Strokes to be Added

If the ball lies on the putting green, and is no more than 5 feet from the hole:

Add one additional stroke.

If the ball lies between 5 feet  and 20 yards from the hole:

Add 2 or 3 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player.

If the ball lies more than 20 yards from the hole:

Add 3 or 4 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player.

 

 

 

14. A quick note on Match Result Terminology

 

A match result is “Smith beat Jones 2 and 1” or “Smith won 2 up” or “Smith won in 20”.  

  • 2 and 1 – means up by 2 holes with one remaining hole. This is not “Smith won 2 up on 17”.
  • 3 and 2 – means up by 3 holes with two remaining
  • 1 up or 2 up – mean 18 holes played and the match was won by either one hole or by two holes.
  • 3 up or 4 up – this doesn’t mean anything.  You either win 3 & 2, 4 & 2, or 4 & 3.  Etc.
  • Smith won, 20 holes.  Means Smith one on the 20th hole. This is not “1 up after 20” it’s just “20 Holes”.  There’s no way to win by 2 up after 20.