Page type: Result notation (illustrative worked fixture)
Free tool: Open the calculator →
A live match status
All square means the players have won the same number of holes at that moment. With scheduled holes remaining, it is a live status rather than a final result.
Illustrative six-hole scorecard
The invented 4 and 5 gross scores show alternating hole wins and ties, returning the match to level. This fixture is not historical data and does not include handicaps.
Not a synonym for halved
A halved match can be final only if the Terms of the Competition permit a tie after the final hole. If a tie is not permitted, Rule 3.2a(4) requires extension until a winner is found.
Table
| Hole | Alex gross | Ben gross | Hole result | Cumulative match lead after hole | Holes remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Alex won | Alex 1 up | 17 |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | Ben won | All square | 16 |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 15 |
| 4 | 4 | 5 | Alex won | Alex 1 up | 14 |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | Ben won | All square | 13 |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 12 |
Worked example
Illustrative live-match fixture only: Alex and Ben are all square after six holes, with 12 holes still scheduled.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 3.2a(1), (3) and (4)
Sources: www.randa.org
Common questions
Does all square mean the match is over?
No. It means neither player leads at that point. If scheduled holes remain, the match continues.
Is all square a halved match?
No. A halved match is a final tied result subject to the Terms of the Competition; all square is normally an in-play status.
Can the score change on the next hole?
Yes. Whoever wins a later hole takes the lead, while a tied hole leaves the match all square.
Are total gross strokes used to settle the match?
No. The gross scores here determine the individual-hole winner; the running match score follows holes won, lost or tied.
What happens if all square remains after the final hole?
Terms may allow the match to end tied. Otherwise Rule 3.2a(4) calls for extra holes until a winner exists.
Is this an actual match record?
No. The card is invented illustrative data using Alex and Ben, not an account of historical golf.