[Goose]

I'm fine with match play and think it makes spectating a whole lot more fun.  However, I think stroke play with cumulative scores is clearly much more of a "team" concept.  An analogy would be a 4 x 400 relay race where the first three of a relay team's runners each complete their laps 1 second faster than the other team's runners, while the fourth gets beaten by five seconds by his/her counterpart.  Viewed in "match play" terms, that team wins 3-1.  On the other hand, viewed in "stroke play" terms, that team loses by two seconds. 

It seems to me that the total TEAM score in stroke play represents more of what the players accomplished as a whole unit [i.e., a team] than does adding up each individual player vs. player outcome as is the case for match play.

I think both points of view have merit. However, stroke play is in a way "pure" golf, you against yourself and the course. There is no particular individual you are competing with, no strategy except to go as low as you can. One might argue that match play should be approached the same way, but having your opponent right there with you makes a difference. You may choose to lay up instead of going for it because you think he is temporarily rattled and you can beat him on this hole without taking much risk. You may relax and just go through the motions on a hole you are pretty sure you have already lost. Lots of things are different in match play. It may be said it is not "pure" golf, but it sure can be interesting!

[Goose]

I'm fine with match play and think it makes spectating a whole lot more fun.  However, I think stroke play with cumulative scores is clearly much more of a "team" concept.  An analogy would be a 4 x 400 relay race where the first three of a relay team's runners each complete their laps 1 second faster than the other team's runners, while the fourth gets beaten by five seconds by his/her counterpart.  Viewed in "match play" terms, that team wins 3-1.  On the other hand, viewed in "stroke play" terms, that team loses by two seconds. 

It seems to me that the total TEAM score in stroke play represents more of what the players accomplished as a whole unit [i.e., a team] than does adding up each individual player vs. player outcome as is the case for match play.

I think both points of view have merit. However, stroke play is in a way "pure" golf, you against yourself and the course. There is no particular individual you are competing with, no strategy except to go as low as you can. One might argue that match play should be approached the same way, but having your opponent right there with you makes a difference. You may choose to lay up instead of going for it because you think he is temporarily rattled and you can beat him on this hole without taking much risk. You may relax and just go through the motions on a hole you are pretty sure you have already lost. Lots of things are different in match play. It may be said it is not "pure" golf, but it sure can be interesting!