Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
A conceded match is a match-play result in which one player or side gives the entire match to the opponent before the result is otherwise decided. Under the Rules of Golf, this is described as conceding the match; it is different from conceding one stroke or one hole.
How it matters in match play
The concession ends the match and gives the opponent the win. Rule 3.2b allows a player to concede the match at any time before the result is decided, including before play starts. The concession must be clearly communicated, verbally or by an unmistakable action, and is final: it cannot be declined or withdrawn. A competition's procedure still determines when the recorded result becomes final.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Conceded Match |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Rule 3.2a(3) and Rule 3.2b(1)-(2) |
| Related concepts | Concession, Conceded Hole, Match Result, Match Win, Match Loss |
Worked example
Illustrative example: Before the first tee shot, Alex tells Ben, ‘I concede the match.’ Ben is recorded as the winner; no holes need to be played. If Alex instead concedes only the 14th hole, that is a Conceded Hole, not a Conceded Match.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Rule 3.2a(3) and Rule 3.2b(1)-(2)
Sources: www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
Can a player concede a match before it starts?
Yes. Rule 3.2b permits a player to concede the match at any time before the result is decided, including before the players start the match.
Can the opponent refuse a conceded match?
No. A clear concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn under Rule 3.2b(2). The competition should still record the result using its stated procedure.
Is conceding a hole the same as conceding the match?
No. Conceding a hole awards that hole to the opponent, while conceding the match ends the whole contest and gives the opponent the match win.
Does ‘Conceded Match’ mean the player forfeited under every competition rule?
Not necessarily. The Rules of Golf describe the action as conceding the match; a club or event may use its own administrative wording for recording the result. Check the Terms of the Competition for that procedure.
Can a player concede a match after the result has been decided?
Rule 3.2b permits the concession only before the result is decided. Once the result is decided, the match is no longer available to be conceded under that provision.
Is a Conceded Match a different format of match play?
No. It is a way a match can finish, not a separate format. The underlying competition might be singles, four-ball or another authorised match-play form.