Match Play Teaches Mental Resilience (Without the Scorecard Pressure). Match play is the ultimate format for building a short memory—a crucial skill in both golf and life. Because players are competing hole-by-hole rather than counting total strokes, a terrible score on the 3rd hole doesn’t doom the rest of the day. Once that hole is over, the score resets to zero for the next tee box. Kids learn to stay present, focus on the immediate challenge, and keep a positive attitude.