Concession in Match Play: Conceding a Stroke, Hole, or Match

What is a concession in match play

In match play, a concession (Rule 3.2b) is the act by which one player gives up requiring their opponent to complete a stroke, a hole, or the entire match. It is the rules equivalent of the informal "gimme."

A concession can be made at three levels:

• Concession of a stroke — the opponent does not need to play their next stroke; the hole result is calculated with that stroke counted
• Concession of a hole — the opponent wins the hole without needing to finish it
• Concession of the match — the opponent wins the match

How to make a concession

A concession is communicated verbally or by a clear, unambiguous gesture. There is no special format. All that matters is that the opponent clearly understands you are conceding the stroke, hole, or match.

Valid examples: "that putt's good", "the hole is yours", "I concede the match".

A concession is final and cannot be withdrawn

Once made, a concession cannot be withdrawn. Even if the player who received the concession tries to complete the stroke anyway, that attempt has no effect under the Rules.

If the opponent attempts to play a stroke that has already been conceded, the result of that stroke does not count for any purpose. The hole result is the one that follows from the concession.

The opponent cannot decline a concession

A concession cannot be refused or ignored. If you concede a putt to your opponent, that putt is holed — regardless of whether the opponent wants to attempt it for practice or any other reason.

When a concession can be made

A concession can be made at any point before the opponent has completed the hole:

• Before they have played
• Between strokes
• Even at the last moment, while the ball is still rolling

If the opponent's ball has already entered the hole, the hole is already completed and a concession is no longer possible (though many players say it anyway as a courtesy gesture).

Concessions in Foursomes and Four-Ball

In Foursomes (partners playing alternate shots), a concession of a stroke concedes the next stroke to the opposing team, not to an individual player.

In Four-Ball (better-ball), a concession of a stroke to one player applies only to that player: their partner continues playing their own ball. You cannot concede the hole to the team if the other partner still has a ball in play that could win or halve the hole.

Common mistakes with concessions

Mistake 1 — Thinking concessions apply in stroke play: they do not. Concessions only exist in match play. In stroke play, all strokes must be completed.

Mistake 2 — Trying to withdraw a concession made in haste: once said, it is final even if you regret it instantly.

Mistake 3 — Confusing a concession with a ball picked up without one: if you simply haven't conceded and the opponent picks up their ball without finishing the hole, that is the opponent's error, not your concession. The opponent incurs a penalty for not completing the hole.