How to Settle a Tie in Golf

Finishing a round of golf tied with your playing partner creates a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Whether you’re competing for bragging rights, a small wager, or a club championship, knowing how to fairly settle the score is an important part of the game. This guide covers the most common and accepted methods for breaking a tie, from the formal on-course playoffs used by the pros to the practical scorecard comparisons perfect for your weekend round.

The Official Showdown: The On-Course Playoff

There's no more thrilling way to decide a winner than heading back out onto the course. The on-course playoff is the standard for professional tournaments and serious competitions. It tests your nerves under pressure and provides a definitive conclusion. There are two primary forms of on-course playoffs, depending on the format of your original round: stroke play and match play.

Stroke Play Playoff: The "Sudden Death" Method

In stroke play, where your total number of shots for the round determines your score, a "sudden death" playoff is the most common format. It's exactly what it sounds like: the first player to win a hole outright wins the entire competition.

Here's how a sudden death playoff typically works, step-by-step:

1. Designate the Playoff Holes: Before the competition starts, the committee or players should agree on the sequence of holes to be used for a playoff. Most often, play begins again on hole #1, followed by hole #2, and so on. Sometimes a different loop is used, like holes #1, #17, and #18, to keep the action close to the clubhouse.
2. Play the First Designated Hole: All players who are tied head to the tee of the first playoff hole and play it out. If it was a handicap competition, handicap strokes are applied just as they were during the regular round. So, if a player gets a stroke on the first hole, they should subtract one shot from their gross score to get their net score for that playoff hole.
3. Compare Net Scores: At the end of the hole, compare the players' net scores. The player with the single lowest net score is the winner.
4. Continue if Necessary: If two or more players are still tied after the first playoff hole (for example, two players both make a net 4), those who are still tied advance to the next designated playoff hole. This process repeats until one player wins a hole outright.

This is pure drama. Imagine standing on a par-3 in a four-way playoff. One player hits it in the water, another finds a bunker, a third makes par, and you roll in a birdie putt. The match is over. You’ve won. That’s the excitement of sudden death.

Match Play Playoff: Hole by Hole Until a Victor Emerges

In match play, you're competing against a single opponent on a hole-by-hole basis. If, after 18 holes, you and your opponent have won the same number of holes, the match is considered "all square." To determine a winner, the match is simply extended.

This is probably the most straightforward type of playoff:

• You and your opponent return to the 1st tee and continue the match.
• You play hole by hole, just as you did during the main round. Handicap strokes are still applied on the holes where they are allocated (e.g., if you get a stroke on the 2nd toughest hole, the #2 handicap hole, you get it again in the playoff).
• The very first player to win a hole wins the match. The final score is recorded as "1 Up."

For example, you finish all square after 18 holes. You both par the 1st hole, tying it. You then head to the 2nd. You make a 4, and your opponent makes a 5. The match is over. It’s that simple. There is no need to complete any more holes.

When You Can't Play More Holes: The Scorecard Playoff

Let's be realistic. More often than not, heading back out for more holes isn't practical. You might be running out of daylight, the course might have groups teeing off behind you, or you simply might not have the time. In these cases, the winner is determined by a "scorecard playoff," officially known as "matching score cards."

This method uses your existing scorecard to break the tie based on performance over specific stretches of the round. It's a paper-and-pencil way to find a winner, and having a standard procedure keeps things fair and prevents arguments.

The Official USGA Recommendation: How to Match Cards Correctly

Many golfers have their own "house rules" for scorecard tiebreakers, but the USGA provides a recommended, standardized procedure. Using this method is the fairest way to handle ties in tournaments or club events when a playoff isn't possible. The process works by looking at scores over progressively smaller segments of the back nine, because the assumption is that playing well under the pressure of finishing a round is more difficult.

Here is the recommended method, always using net scores for players with handicaps:

Step 1: The Back Nine (Last 9 Holes)

Compare the net totals for the back nine (holes 10-18). The player with the lower back-nine total is the winner. Note: It does not matter what the actual handicap allocation is for those nine holes. You simply take half the player's course handicap. If the handicap is an odd number, you round up for the harder nine.

Step 2: The Last 6 Holes

If the players are still tied after the back nine comparison, you then compare the net scores from just the last six holes played (holes 13-18). The handicap for this portion is calculated as one-third of the course handicap.

Step 3: The Last 3 Holes

If the tie somehow persists, the next step is to compare the net scores from the last three holes played (holes 16-18). The handicap allowance here would be one-sixth of the total course handicap.

Step 4: The 18th Hole

If players are remarkably still tied, the winner is determined solely by the net score on the final hole (hole 18). The handicap applied is one-eighteenth of the course handicap for each stroke given.

Step 5: The Last-Ditch Effort

Should the tie remain after all of that (an incredibly rare occurrence!), the process continues in reverse from hole 17, then 16, and so on, until a winner is found. If that fails, a coin flip or drawing of lots is the final resolution.

Following this procedure eliminates any bias and provides a clear, defensible winner based on performance during the round's most challenging stretch.

Common (but Unofficial) Casual Tie-breakers

For a friendly weekend match, the USGA method might feel a little too formal. Most golf groups have their own preferred, simpler ways to break a tie on the scorecard. Just make sure you agree on the method before you tee off! Here are a few popular ones:

• Back Nine Score: The simplest version. Just compare gross scores on the back nine. Whoever was better wins.
• Hardest Handicap Holes: Look at the net score on the #1 handicap hole. If still tied, move to the #2 handicap hole, then #3, and so on, until one person has a lower score.
• Most Birdies/Pars: Count up who had the most net birdies (or pars, if no one made a birdie). The player with more gets the win.
• The Last Hole: The quickest method of all. Whoever had the lower net score on the 18th hole is the winner.

Beyond the Scorecard: Fun Ways to Settle a Tie with Your Buddies

Sometimes, the best way to break a tie isn't on the scorecard at all. If you've just finished a fun, casual round and want a more interactive way to decide a winner, head over to the practice area for a final challenge. These can be even more fun than the round itself.

The Putting Green Showdown

Nothing tests the nerves like a high-stakes putt. Find an open area on the practice green and set up a showdown.

• Closest to the Pin: A classic. Pick a long, tricky putt (40 or 50 feet). Each player gets one putt. The ball that finishes closest to the hole wins.
• Three-Hole Putt-Off: Choose three different long-range putts. Each player plays all three, counting their total number of putts. The player with the lowest total for the three "holes" wins. This tests your lag putting and short-range nerve.

The Chipping Challenge

If putting isn't your thing, a chipping contest can be just as exciting. Find a challenging spot near the practice green - maybe a tight lie, some thick rough, or a spot where you have to go over a bunker.

• Again, the simplest format is closest to the pin. One chip each. The player who cozies it up nearest the hole takes the honors.
• You can also play a game of "UP and DOWN." Each player chips, and then must make the subsequent putt. The first person to successfully get up and down wins.

Final Thoughts

From the high-stakes drama of a sudden-death playoff to the simple justice of a scorecard comparison, there are many fair ways to settle a tie in golf. The most important thing is to agree on your method before the round begins to avoid any confusion or hard feelings on the 19th hole.

Sorting out course rules and formats can sometimes add another layer of thinking to your game. That is where we wanted to simplify things for you. If you’re ever stuck on a ruling or need to quickly look up a tie-break procedure, you can ask Caddie AI for an instant, clear answer. You can even use it on the course to get a recommendation for a tough shot, giving you an expert opinion right in your pocket and clearing any doubt so you can just focus on your swing.