Men's Net Four-Ball Match Play - Washington Golf (WA Golf)

2026 WA Golf Men’s Net Four-Ball Match Play

A fun season-long event bringing flexibility, inclusiveness, and camaraderie to golfers in Washington & Northern Idaho. Choose the course, choose the tees, choose the time, and climb the bracket to the final weekend at Gamble Sands!

Entries close Wednesday, March 25th

Event Details

Partner up and compete against other teams in your division throughout the 2026 golf season in a fun Net Four-Ball Match Play format. Advance through pod play and climb the bracket to the final weekend at Gamble Sands! View the full event manual.

There are no format changes for 2026 – two teams will advance from each pod to bracket play, and the pod play points format and mobile scoring will remain in effect.

Eligibility: Open to all active WA Golf male members over 18 years of age with an established handicap. Players must reach their 18th birthday by April 1, 2026.

Entry Fee: $150 per team

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, March 25th at 4:30pm

Field Size: 256 teams

Entry Includes:

Two tee prizes, one for each player. Note: The individual that completes registration for the team will receive the package with tee prizes.
Each of the final eight teams will receive an invitation to compete in the Final Weekend at Gamble Sands.

Final Weekend:

The final eight teams left standing will receive an invitation to compete in the Final Weekend, October 16-18, 2026, at Gamble Sands. Two nights (Friday-Saturday) Double occupancy lodging at the Inn at Gamble Sands, golf, cart fees, and daily lunch will be covered for all teams that reach the Final Weekend. Practice rounds are NOT included or scheduled.

PLEASE NOTE: Players are responsible for covering their own green fees during each match outside of the Final Weekend.

Event Breakdown

Each team will be randomly placed into a region to compete in based on their location. The field of 256 teams will be split up into four divisions of 64 teams each. Teams will be split up into 16 pods of four within each division. Teams will play three matches within each pod and the top two point-earning teams from each pod will advance to single-elimination bracket play.

Pod Play Points Format:

The goal during pod play will be to acquire as many points as possible in each match. The top two point-earning teams 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 this year, 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 and Sam are playing against Eric and Nate in Pod Play. Eric and Nate win holes 1, 5, and 11, while all other holes are tied, putting them 3 Up. After both sides tie hole 16, Eric and Nate win the match 3&2, earning one match point. On hole 17, Alex and Sam win, and both sides tie hole 18.

Points Distribution:

Nate and Eric: 1 match point + 3 points for winning 3 holes + 7 points for tying 14 holes = 11 total points
Alex and Sam: 1 point for winning 1 hole + 7 points for tying 14 holes = 8 total points

Event Schedule

The following dates are the windows in which matches are to be completed. Matchups will be sent out at the beginning of each round. Each team has two months to complete their three Pod Play matches and approximately one month to complete each Bracket Play Match.

Pod Play:

Bracket Play Round One:

Bracket Play Round Two:

Bracket Play Round Three:

Bracket Play Round of 16:

Final Weekend at Gamble Sands:

Quarterfinals: Friday, October 16th

Semifinals: Saturday, October 17th*

Finals: Sunday, October 18th*

*Teams that lose in quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be able to play in optional consolation matches against other losing teams, Saturday and Sunday at Gamble Sands

FAQs and Important Information

Event Manual

View the event manual for a complete guide on the 2026 WA Golf Men’s Net Four-Ball Match Play.

View Event Manual

Golf Genius Mobile Scoring

Scoring for the event will be done directly through the Golf Genius app on your mobile device. Click here to view an explainer video for mobile scoring instructions. Click here to view PDF instructions.

Scheduling and Playing of Matches

All matches are to be played at 85% handicap allotment. View a guide on how to calculate handicaps using the GHIN Mobile App.

Pod Play:

At the start of Pod Play, WA Golf Staff will email all four teams in the pod to exchange contact information. Teams will have from April 1st to May 31st to schedule, play and report their three Pod Play matches.

Each team will play one match against each other team in their pod. The top two teams with the most points in each pod after the completion of all matches and after tiebreaker scenarios are ran will advance to bracket play.

Bracket Play:

At the conclusion of Pod Play, the top team from each pod will advance to the Bracket Play rounds. The bracket and matchups will be randomly set and selected.

At the start of each Bracket Play round, WA Golf Staff will email the teams facing each other to exchange contact information. Teams will have approximately one month to schedule, play and report their match from each round. The winning team will advance to the next round and the losing team will be eliminated.

Eligibility and Team Requirements

Entries are open to all active WA Golf male members over 18 years of age with an established handicap. Players must reach their 18th birthday by April 1, 2026.

PLEASE NOTE: Players will register as a team. Each golfer can be on a maximum of one team at a time, there is no switching of teams.

Handicap Calculator Guide

The GHIN Mobile App Handicap Calculator must be used to determine each player’s stroke allotment. Please use the document below for a guide on how calculate team handicaps using the USGA GHIN Mobile App.

Handicap Calculator Guide

How to Play Match Play

Match play is a form of play where a player (or players) plays directly against an opponent (or opponents) in a head-to-head match. You win a hole by completing it in the fewest number of strokes, and you win a match when you are winning by more holes than remain to be played. You (or your opponent) may concede a stroke, a hole, or even the match to each other. If your next stroke has been conceded, you are permitted to putt out, unless this will help your partner (for example, by showing them the line for their putt).

View Match Play Rules

Mobile Apps

Prior to playing your first match, we encourage all players to download the following apps onto their mobile devices:

GHIN Mobile App:
App Store | Google Play
Golf Genius Mobile App:
App Store | Google Play
USGA Rules of Golf:
App Store | Google Play

Contact Staff

For questions about the 2026 WA Golf Men’s Net Four-Ball Match Play, please contact WA Golf Assistant Manager of Championships & Golf Operations Brittany Kwon at [email protected].