Experience the Thrill of match play golf

You are warmly invited to join us for the 2026 Men’s Club Summer Long Match Play at Latah Creek Golf Course. We are thrilled to be entering the third year of this format, offering the chance to indulge in the spirited competition of Match Play Golf. Even if you participated last year, we encourage you to peruse this email and then sign up using the appropriate link below to partake in the excitement.

Open-Match-Play Registration or Senior-Match-Play-Registration (60+)

Understanding Match Play: Match play involves players facing off directly against each other in head-to-head matches. Victory in a hole is determined by completing it with the fewest strokes, and a match is won when a player is ahead by more holes than remain to be played. Participants have the option to concede strokes, holes, or even the entire match to their opponents. If a stroke has been conceded, players are permitted to putt out. For further information on Match Play visit USGA-Match-Play

Event Details: This event is open to all 2026 Latah Creek Men’s Club Members. 

Additionally, we are again having a Senior Summer Long Match Play event for players aged 60 or older as of the start of Match Play and will play from the Gold Tees, alongside the traditional Summer Long Match Play, which will be played from the White, Blue, or combo tees (as outlined below). Both events will have a maximum of 48 players each. Each player is guaranteed three matches; participants will be grouped into pods of four, where each player competes against the others once (three matches). You will have approximately six weeks to schedule and complete your three Pod Play matches. Players advancing to Bracket Play will then have around six more weeks to complete their matches. All players are responsible for covering their own green fees during each match.

Pod Play Points Format:

We will again this year, be using a points system for each match. The goal during pod play will be to acquire as many points as possible in each match. The top two point-earners from each pod will advance to bracket play. Each hole is worth up to one point and each match result is worth one point. Even when a match result has been decided, you can still earn points by winning/tying the remaining holes. Just because you’re down doesn’t mean you are out, so keep playing and earn those points!

Match Points – Each match played will be given a point value; 1 point for a win (W), 0 points for a loss (L), and 0.5 point to each side for a tie (T)

Hole-by-hole Points – Unlike traditional match play, this format allocates up to one point for each hole (W = 1 point, L = 0 points, T = 0.5 point)

There are 19 points available in each Pod Play match (18 hole-by-hole points and one match point). Teams must continue play after the match has been decided to determine the final point total for each side at the completion of 18 holes.

EXAMPLE: Alex is playing against Eric in Pod Play. Eric wins holes 1, 5, and 11, while all other holes are tied, putting him 3 Up. After both players tie hole 16, Eric wins the match 3&2, earning one match point. On hole 17, Alex wins, and they tie hole 18.

Points Distribution:

Eric: 1 match point + 3 points for winning 3 holes + 7 points for tying 14 holes = 11 total points

Alex: 1 point for winning 1 hole + 7 points for tying 14 holes = 8 total points

Pod Play: Players will be randomly placed into pods of four, with the requirement to play against each pod member once. After all matches are played, the two players with the most points in each pod will advance to Bracket Play. The player with the most points will proceed to the Gold Bracket, while the player with the second-most points will enter the Silver Bracket.

Pod Play Rules: Players who do not complete all three Pod Play matches are not eligible to advance to Bracket Play.

Format: All matches are Net Match Play using each player’s course handicap for the tee set played that day. Strokes are allocated based on the difference between handicaps, using the lowest handicap as the baseline. Example: If Player A is a 10 handicap and Player B is a 15 handicap, Player A plays as 0 and Player B receives 5 strokes on the #1–#5 handicap holes. The player with the lower net score on a hole wins that hole. A player wins the match when they are ahead by more holes than remain, and earns the Match Point. Players must continue through 18 holes (even if the match outcome is decided) to determine the final hole-by-hole point totals. New for 2026: Any player who goes 3–0 in Pod Play earns 3 bonus pointsadded to their total points.

Bracket Play: Bracket Play will be single elimination. The winning player advances to the next round, while the losing player is eliminated.

Match Play Tips: Clear communication between opponents regarding the match status is strongly encouraged. Both players should keep a scorecards during the match. In the traditional Summer Long Match Play, players may play from different tees (White, Blue, or Combos) and use their handicap from those tees. The Senior Summer Long Match Play will all be played from the Gold Tees.

Event Schedule:

Sign up deadline: 7:00 PM Friday May 1st

Pod Play: May 8th – June 21st 

Bracket Play Round 1: June 26th – July 19th 

Bracket Play Round 2: July 20th  – August 9th 

Bracket Play Round 3: August 11th – August 30th 

Any Future Rounds will be played in September if needed. 

At the beginning of Pod Play, I will email all four players in the pod to exchange contact information. Players will have from that time to June 22nd to schedule, play, and record their three Pod Play matches/points. A Pod Score Sheet will be available on the Men’s Club Bulletin Board downstairs in the LC Club House. Each player will play one match against each other player in their pod. The winning player will record the match point results. Both players should confirm the reporting. Once on the board, the result is final. Additionally, PLEASE POST YOUR SCORE IN THE GHIN SYSTEM AS A TOURNAMENT SCORE ON THE DAY OF THE MATCH!

Bracket Play: At the start of Bracket Play, I will send out a group email with all bracket participants and their email addresses. It is recommended that you reply ALL with your name for easy identification.

Entry Details:

Entry Fee: $55 per player

Field Size:

Traditional field – 48 MAX

Senior field – 48 MAX

Entry Deadline: May 1st @ 7:00 PM

Payouts:

Win your POD: $50

Second in POD: $25

Winner of Gold Bracket: 30%

Winner of Silver Bracket: 20%

2nd Place Gold: 18%

2nd place Silver: 12%

T3 Gold: Split 12%

T3 Silver: Split 8%

Please Note: Participants are responsible for paying their own greens fees. The GHIN Mobile App Handicap Calculator must be used to determine each player’s stroke allotment.

How to Sign Up: 

Click on the Live Tourney links below to register for the regular match play or senior match play.

Open-Match-Play-Registration or Senior-Match-Play-Registration (60+)

Looking forward to your enthusiastic participation!

Greg Smith

Match Play Chairman