Extra Holes
Extra holes are the additional holes played when there is a tie after the regular round, to determine a winner.
Extra holes, in German often called Stechen, occur in two situations. In match play at All Square after 18 holes, when the rules of play require a decision. And in stroke play with a shared lead after the final round, usually then written up as a Play-off. Play goes hole by hole until someone wins — the sudden-death principle. Some tournaments instead use a mini stroke play over two or three holes, followed by sudden death if the tie persists.
In practice, extra holes are a mental duel. Example: your club match play final is all square after 18 holes. You go back to the 1st hole and keep playing, hole by hole. Whoever wins the first extra hole wins the match. The strategy barely changes: mistakes are punished immediately, so control counts for more than risk. Whoever puts their Drive safely on the fairway puts the opponent under pressure without giving anything away themselves.
A common misconception: extra holes do not apply automatically. Whether and how a tie is played off is set out in the conditions of competition. If a match ends all square in the group stage, both sides often get half a point. Only in the knockout round or the final does the play-off come into effect. If in doubt, ask at the club office before your round instead of discussing it on the 18th green.
FAQ
When are extra holes played at all?
Only when the conditions of competition require a decision and there is a tie after the regular round. In match play this is typical of the knockout round; in stroke play, of a shared lead after the final round. If a group game ends in a draw, by contrast, both sides often simply get half a point — without a play-off.
How does a hole-by-hole play-off work?
After the tie, you go back to a designated hole, usually the first, and keep playing until someone wins a hole. Whoever takes the first extra hole has won the match — hence the name sudden death. Some tournaments instead play a short play-off over two or three holes and only go to sudden death if the tie persists.
Should I take more risks in a play-off than in the regular round?
No, the opposite is usually smarter: mistakes are punished immediately in a play-off, so control counts for more than risk. Whoever puts the drive safely on the fairway puts the opponent under pressure without giving anything away. A play-off is above all a mental duel — calm beats courage.