Match Play vs. Storke Play

[Merlot]

Match play is great and alot of people think that is the way the game was meant to be played. I definitely prefer match for all the other people on the course when it's busy.;) Seriously, I enjoy a match game now and then, and often incorporate it into a stroke game with my wagering buddies.

Truly, IMHO, golf is about getting through 18 holes and focusing and keeping your wits about you for 4 +hours. (atleast these days:( ) If this is the true challenge of the game then match play definitely comes up well short.

What do you think? I am not bashing match play. It is good and can be more exciting but it can cheat the game of its true test.

[davepratt]

We've been playing match for years. In stroke if one guy knocks a couple OB and the other makes a bird, you could have a 5 shot swing on one hole basically killing half the nassau. In match it's one down and on you go. It's also a lot faster because you're picking up once you're out of the hole. The big downside is you usually have no idea what you shot. We'll keep score if we have a career round going but once that tanks, we quit scoring.

[Merlot]

We've been playing match for years. In stroke if one guy knocks a couple OB and the other makes a bird, you could have a 5 shot swing on one hole basically killing half the nassau. In match it's one down and on you go. It's also a lot faster because you're picking up once you're out of the hole. The big downside is you usually have no idea what you shot. We'll keep score if we have a career round going but once that tanks, we quit scoring.

Match play has many benefits like the ones you have mentioned Dave.

Maybe stroke play should be left to players who work on thier games and are a specific handicap. Is this good advice?

[Smully]

Match play has many benefits like the ones you have mentioned Dave.

Maybe stroke play should be left to players who work on thier games and are a specific handicap. Is this good advice?I believe Stroke play, Identfies, the superiour player,Match play defines, who wins the most holes, Score should prevail over holes, in my opinion.

[goshawk]

I look at it very simply........stroke play is the golfer vs the course, match play is one-on-one against each other. Both have merits.

[davepratt]

I look at it very simply........stroke play is the golfer vs the course, match play is one-on-one against each other. Both have merits.

A good way to look at it

[BowmanvilleJim]

After watching the first round of the Accenture last night I am convinced that matchplay is far more interesting for the viewers. Every hole is valuable, every poor shot is costly. I love that.

Ofcourse the problem for sponsors is that they may end up with no big names for the weekend. Let me restate that. The sponsors are always worried that TIGER may not be there on the weekend.

[Merlot]

I look at it very simply........stroke play is the golfer vs the course, match play is one-on-one against each other. Both have merits.

This is simple and true. Still a course to manage regardless though.

After watching the first round of the Accenture last night I am convinced that matchplay is far more interesting for the viewers. Every hole is valuable, every poor shot is costly. I love that.

Ofcourse the problem for sponsors is that they may end up with no big names for the weekend. Let me restate that. The sponsors are always worried that TIGER may not be there on the weekend.

It is exciting. Not sure if players themselves want match play all the time instead of tournamnets. I bet most would say there is enough.(those that qualify for all the match play events eah year)

[cldale]

Match play is great and alot of people think that is the way the game was meant to be played. I definitely prefer match for all the other people on the course when it's busy.;) Seriously, I enjoy a match game now and then, and often incorporate it into a stroke game with my wagering buddies.

Truly, IMHO, golf is about getting through 18 holes and focusing and keeping your wits about you for 4 +hours. (atleast these days:( ) If this is the true challenge of the game then match play definitely comes up well short.

What do you think? I am not bashing match play. It is good and can be more exciting but it can cheat the game of its true test.

I personally enjoy Matchplay both to watch and as a concept. It was explained to me once that MatchPlay is a bad format for TV (aside from specific golfers being around, I think there were issues with it being tougher to televise properly). Can't recall the specifics though.

I prefer any format which requires players to be good every day of an event, and not be able to "mail it in" on any particular day. Watching the final day at Torrey Pines wasn't the most exciting golf in the world. But if Tiger had to win match play that day, it would have been fan more compelling.

[davepratt]

I personally enjoy Matchplay both to watch and as a concept. It was explained to me once that MatchPlay is a bad format for TV (aside from specific golfers being around, I think there were issues with it being tougher to televise properly).

The problem is that on the final day there's only 2 twosomes to show so there's a lot of dead air. Also they can't predict the length of the matches. They could both end in 2 hours when 4 was scheduled for TV coverage. Then we'd have to watch reruns of the Brady Bunch.

[Merlot]

I personally enjoy Matchplay both to watch and as a concept. It was explained to me once that MatchPlay is a bad format for TV (aside from specific golfers being around, I think there were issues with it being tougher to televise properly). Can't recall the specifics though.

I prefer any format which requires players to be good every day of an event, and not be able to "mail it in" on any particular day. Watching the final day at Torrey Pines wasn't the most exciting golf in the world. But if Tiger had to win match play that day, it would have been fan more compelling.

I know what you mean. Bu tI don't know what you mean as far as'mailing it in'? Guys who can't win so they just post a score and collect a cheque?

We don't see them anyway or very little on TV.

When Ernie was down 6, was he mailing it in yesterday?

[BowmanvilleJim]

The problem is that on the final day there's only 2 twosomes to show so there's a lot of dead air. Also they can't predict the length of the matches. They could both end in 2 hours when 4 was scheduled for TV coverage. Then we'd have to watch reruns of the Brady Bunch.

I know that's the problem the networks and sponsors have but for my druthers I wouldn't mind if it ended in 2 hours some weeks. You have to realize I am looking at it purely from the viewers standpoint.