Organise a match play golf tournament: groups, brackets and tee times

Choose match play, over 18 or 9 holes

In match play, two sides compete hole by hole: one player against another, or one pair against another in foursomes or four-ball. The match ends as soon as one side leads by more holes than remain to be played (Rule 3.2a of the Rules of Golf). In TournoiFacile, choose 18-hole match play, the default, or 9-hole match play for a shorter format; the choice applies to the whole tournament. A pair registers under a single name, just like a player. This is the format of club match play championships and of the knockout stage of many championships, where the draw follows a stroke play qualifier. TournoiFacile handles match play only: stroke play and Stableford, which add up strokes or points over the whole course, are not scored in it.

Enter the result: 3&2, 1 up or AS

Results are written as on the match sheet. “3&2”: three holes up with two to play, so the match ended on the 16th. “1 up”: won by one hole on the 18th. “AS” (all square): match halved. “1 up on the 19th”: won at the first extra hole. TournoiFacile stores the margin and the hole where the match ended, then shows the official result on the public pages and the slideshow. Impossible results are rejected: 10&8 is the widest margin over 18 holes and 5&4 over 9, a match decided on the last hole is won 1 up or 2 up, and an extra hole is always won 1 up. Referees and markers enter results from their own area, and Toti, the TournoiFacile assistant, understands a sentence such as “3&2 for Durand against Martin”.

Rank the groups and play the brackets

In a group, a win earns 2 points, a halved match 1 point and a loss 0; all three values can be changed. When points are level, TournoiFacile compares head-to-head, then hole difference (margins of matches won minus margins of matches lost), then the total margin of matches won, and finally draws lots. In a bracket, a match cannot end all square: if the sides are level after the last hole, play continues to the 19th, the 20th and beyond until a hole is won (Rule 3.2a(4)). TournoiFacile therefore refuses a halved match outside the groups, in line with the French golf federation’s 2026 sporting Vade-mecum, under which no knockout match may be halved. A forfeit is recorded as 1 up for the opponent: the federation awards the match without setting a margin, and the smallest margin keeps hole difference fair. Qualifiers then move into the bracket automatically.

Plan the starting tees and the day

In TournoiFacile, pitches become starting tees, and each tee hosts one match at a time. Over 18 holes the schedule allows 3 hours 30 minutes per match: 180 minutes of play and 30 of changeover, with at least 30 minutes’ rest between two matches for the same player; 9 holes count 105 minutes of play. All these times can be changed. The French golf federation’s 2026 Vade-mecum allows 3 hours 30 to 3 hours 45 for 18 holes in a two-ball, and at least 8 minutes between tee times. Create one starting tee per match on the course at the same time: in a shotgun start, every group sets off together from a different hole. When starting from the 1st and 10th tees, the first groups reach the other tee about two hours later, so tee times can only be given in two-hour waves, with two starters. Match play often ends before the 18th: the times remain estimates to check before publishing, with sunset in mind.

A worked example

Sixteen players in four groups of four, over 18 holes

Each player plays three group matches. Each group winner goes into the semi-finals, then the final.

On 8 tees with a shotgun start, the 24 group matches fill 3 waves, then the semi-finals and the final take one wave each: 5 waves of 3 hours 30 minutes, or 17 hours 30 minutes without breaks. At two matches a day, plan three days. Over 9 holes, at 2 hours 15 minutes per wave (105 minutes of play and 30 of changeover), the same draw needs 11 hours 15 minutes, or two days.

Step by step in TournoiFacile

1. Choose the sport and entrants

   Select your sport when creating a tournament. Name the competition and enter the categories and numbers of entrants. You can add final names later. Open the custom format if your event needs a different structure.

2. Prepare the matches

   Choose the groups and what follows them. Add the pitches, courts or tables you can actually use, together with the playing days and available times. Allow for breaks and changeovers.

3. Check the schedule

   Generate the programme, then check rest times and each category’s start times. Manual placement also lets you work by round, phase or category. Review estimated times before publishing.

4. Record and share results

   Enter results using the scoring screen for your sport. Share the public link so that participants and spectators can find fixtures, scores and standings on their phones.

Practical questions

Make it your tournament

Choose your sport, build the structure and check the outcome before sharing the public link.