Can you agree to stop play in match play?

Yes, you can agree to stop play in match play for any reason, as long as it doesn't delay the competition. If one player wants to resume, the other must resume immediately — the agreement ends the moment either player wants to continue.

When you can agree to stop

In match play, you and your opponent can agree to stop play for any reason — weather, darkness, an emergency, or just because you want a break. The only restriction is that you can't do it if stopping would delay the competition. That means if groups behind you are waiting, or the committee has set a pace-of-play window, you can't just pause the match and hold everyone up.

What happens when one player wants to resume

The agreement to stop is only binding while both players want to stay stopped. The moment one player says they're ready to play, the agreement is over and the other player must resume play too. You can't force your opponent to stay stopped if they want to keep going, and they can't force you to stay stopped if you want to play.

The one exception: delaying the competition

You can't agree to stop if doing so would delay the competition. If the committee has suspended play for everyone, that's different — you must stop. But a private agreement between opponents can't override the pace of play or hold up other groups. If you stop and it causes a delay, you're both on the hook for a pace-of-play breach under Rule 5.6a, not Rule 5.7a.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Stopping would delay the competition → You cannot agree to stop play. The agreement is invalid and you must continue or face a pace-of-play penalty under Rule 5.6a.
• Committee suspends play → All players must stop immediately. This isn't an agreement — it's mandatory under Rule 5.7b.

Frequently asked questions

Can we stop play because of bad weather?

Yes, you can agree to stop for weather — or any other reason — as long as it doesn't delay the competition. If lightning is involved, either player can also stop individually under Rule 5.7a for safety.

What if my opponent wants to keep playing but I want to stop?

You can't force them to stop. If they want to continue, play continues. The agreement to stop only works if both players want it.

We agreed to stop for lunch. Can one of us resume early?

Yes. The moment either player wants to resume, the agreement ends and the other player must resume too. You can't hold someone to a stop they no longer want.

Does this apply in stroke play?

No. In stroke play, you can't agree to stop play. Only the committee can suspend play. If you stop without committee authorization in stroke play, you're disqualified.

What if we disagree on whether stopping would delay the competition?

If there's a dispute, the committee decides. But as a practical matter: if groups are waiting behind you or you're behind pace, stopping will almost certainly be ruled a delay.