Have you ever thought about how two golfers can play as one on the course? In foursomes golf, partners must share a single ball and take turns hitting it from the tee to the cup. This new take on golf makes teamwork, strategy, and communication just as important as each person’s skill. From understanding the rules, how to score, how to use handicaps, and how to plan smart strategies, knowing the ins and outs of foursomes can change your game. Read on to find out how to play, keep score, and win in this fun format.
What is Foursomes in Golf?
In golf, foursomes, also called alternate shot, is a team format in which two players play one ball per hole and take turns until the hole is finished (one ball in play for each team on every hole). Players take turns to hit tee shots with one player hitting the tee shot first on odd-numbered holes, and the other player hitting all even-numbered holes.
You can play foursomes golf as either match play or stroke play. This is a common game in big team events like the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup, as well as in amateur tournaments like the Walker Cup.
How Foursomes Works – Step-by-Step
Foursomes golf requires planning, trust, and making smart choices because every shot affects your partner’s next move. Here’s how the foursomes golf format works:
1. The Tee Shot
Partners choose who will tee off on odd-numbered holes and who will tee off on even-numbered holes before the round starts. The order stays the same for the whole round.
If Player A hits the ball on Hole 1 (a par 4), Player B will hit the ball on Hole 2, Player A on Hole 3, and so on.
2. The Rotation
Players take turns hitting the ball until it goes in the hole after the tee shot. The order must always stay the same, no matter whose shot it is.
For example, on a par 4, Player A drives, Player B hits the approach, Player A chips, and Player B putts.
3. Putting Out
Alternate shots keep going on the green. One player can’t finish the hole by themselves unless it happens to fall in order.
For example, if Player B hits the approach shot onto the green, Player A putts first. Player B takes the next putt if the ball doesn’t go in.
4. Provisional Strategy
In foursomes golf, if a team plays a provisional ball, the person whose turn it is to hit the next shot must play it. If the first stroke is canceled or replayed, the same partner must also make the next stroke.
For instance, if Player A drives into hazards, Player B must play the provisional ball to keep the correct rotation.
Note: In match play, if you play out of turn, your opponent may be able to recall the shot.
How Does Scoring Work in Foursomes?
Scoring in foursomes depends on whether you’re playing match play or stroke play. In both cases, partners must take turns hitting the ball. For instance, Player A may take all of the tee shots on odd-numbered holes and Player B on even-numbered holes (or vice versa). After the tee shot, they keep taking turns until the ball is in the hole.
Foursomes in Match Play (Winning the Hole)
In Match Play Foursomes, teams don’t add up all their strokes; instead, they compete hole by hole. The team that scores less on a hole wins that hole and goes 1-up. If both teams score the same, the hole is split in half. The team with the most holes at the end of the round, or before it ends, wins.
In foursomes match play, opponents may concede a short putt, which is often called a “gimmie.” After the ball is conceded, the ball is considered holed, and no more strokes are taken. This Concession is allowed only in match play.
If a team is 3-up with only two holes left, the match ends 3 & 2, which means they were ahead by three holes with only two left to play. When a match is tied after 18 holes in big team events like the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup, each team gets half a point.
Foursomes in Stroke Play (The Total Count)
In foursomes stroke play, partners work together to keep track of how many strokes they take during the round. The team records a single cumulative score for all 18 holes; the side with the lowest total net score wins. The score is the total number of strokes taken over 18 holes.
There are no conceded putts, which is different from match play. Every ball must be holed, and failing to complete a hole can result in disqualification.
Only one scorecard is used for the whole team in foursomes stroke play, recording the combined score for each hole.
This is how the scorecard works in the foursomes stroke play:
- Team Name/Players: The scorecard lists both partners’ names.
- Hole-by-Hole: One total score per hole is recorded, which is the combined strokes taken by the team.
- Markers: In a group, one player from the team marks the other team, or in professional events, an official scorer does this.
- Signatures: The card must be signed by both partners (or one authorized partner) to show the total score.
How Handicaps Work in Foursomes?
In foursomes golf, handicaps are generally calculated by taking 50% of the Course Handicaps of the two partners. This formula, recommended by the USGA and R&A, accounts for the fact that only one ball is in play, creating a fair net score for the team.
Under WHS, team handicaps in Foursomes are rounded to the nearest whole number (.5 rounds up) in match play, and 0.5 remains the same in stroke play.
Note: Some clubs may truncate or apply special rules; always check the competition noticeboard.
| Features | Foursome Stroke Play | Foursome Match Play |
|---|---|---|
| WHS Allowance | 50% of combined Course Handicaps | 50% of the difference between sides |
| Formula | (Hcp A + Hcp B) / 2 | ((Team 1 – Team 2) / 2) |
| Example | 10 + 20 = 30 → 50% = 15 strokes | 30 – 15 = 15 → 50% = 7.5 ≈ 8 strokes |
Example Calculation
- Team 1: Player A (10 Course Hcp) + Player B (20 Course Hcp) = 30
- Team 2: Player C (5 Course Hcp) + Player D (10 Course Hcp) = 15
Scenario: Match Play (Foursomes)
- Team 1 Allowance: 50% of 30 = 15
- Team 2 Allowance: 50% of 15 = 7.5
- Difference: 15 – 7.5 = 7.5
- Final Strokes Given: 7.5 rounds up to 8
- Result: Team 1 gets 8 shots (received on holes with stroke index 1-8).
Scenario: Stroke Play (Foursomes)
- Team 1 Allowance: 50% of 30 = 15 strokes
- Team 2 Allowance: 50% of 15 = 7.5 strokes
- Application: These allowances are deducted from the team’s total gross score after 18 holes.
- Example Outcome: Team 1 shoots a Gross Score of 85. Net Score: 85 – 15 = 70.0. & Team 2 shoots a Gross Score of 77. Net Score: 77 – 7.5 = 69.5
- Result: Team 2 wins by 0.5 strokes.
Stroke Index
- Stroke Play: Strokes are taken according to the stroke index (1–18) on the scorecard. If a team has a 14 handicap, they receive one stroke on each of the 14 holes with the lowest stroke index (SI 1–14).
- Match Play: The lower-handicapped team plays from scratch (0), and the higher-handicapped team receives the full difference between their team’s handicap and the lower team’s handicap.
- Mixed Foursomes: When men and women play together, strokes are usually awarded based on the men’s handicap distribution key.
Note: If the Course Rating differs from Par, the Course Handicap calculation = Handicap Index * Slope/113 + (Course Rating – Par); ensures that if you are playing from a harder tee (higher rating), you receive extra shots, and fewer on an easier tee, before applying the 50% formula.
Official Rules & Penalties (Rule 22)
Foursomes golf comes under Rule No. 22, which has certain clauses that are discussed below:
Playing Out of Turn
In foursomes golf, if you play out of turn (wrong partner hitting), you usually get a two-stroke penalty in stroke play (the General Penalty) or lose the hole in match play if you don’t fix the mistake right away before the next stroke. The side will be disqualified if they don’t fix the mistake before starting the next hole.
Making a Mistake on the Teeing Order
If you make a mistake in the teeing order (Rule 22.4) in the foursomes golf format, you need to fix it right away. In stroke play, the team gets a two-stroke penalty and has to fix the mistake by having the right partner tee off from the right spot. If they don’t fix it before teeing off on the next hole, they will be disqualified. There is no penalty in match play, but the other player can cancel the stroke and make the right partner re-tee.
Ball Moved or Touched by a Partner
In foursome golf, if a player touches or moves their partner’s ball while it’s in play, they usually get a one-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4, which means the ball has to be replaced. If the ball moves while you’re looking for it, on the putting green, or while you’re taking free relief, these rules don’t apply.
Penalties for Giving Advice
Rule 10.2a says that in golf, you can’t ask or give advice to someone who isn’t on your team (like what club to use or how to swing). If you do, you get a general penalty: two strokes in stroke play or a hole in match play. In a foursomes golf format, partners can give each other advice, but not to their opponents or other groups.
Equipment Penalties
In foursomes (alternate shot) golf, partners can share clubs as long as the total number of clubs they have is no more than 14. Rule 4.1b says that if you go over this limit, you will get a two-stroke penalty for each hole (up to four strokes). If one partner breaks the rules (for example, by using banned equipment or damaging a club), the penalty applies to the whole side.
Fun Variations of Foursomes
Under the Rules of Golf set by the R&A and the United States Golf Association, here’s a quick look at how each format is different from traditional Foursomes:
Scotch Foursomes (Greensomes)
Both players hit their drives off the tee on every hole and then pick the best one. They take turns hitting the ball they chose.
Difference: In a standard foursome, one player tees off and starts alternate shots with his/her partner. In a greensome, each player hits a drive before switching.
Chapman (Pinehurst)
The two players hit their balls off the tee and then switch and hit their partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shots, the team picks one ball and plays alternate shots until the hole is finished.
Difference: Both players are required to hit a tee shot and a second shot before they can choose a ball.
Mixed Foursomes
A standard alternate-shot format, but each team has one man and one woman, and they usually have their own tee boxes.
Difference: The format is the same as a regular foursome, but the teams are mixed-gender, and the tees are set up differently, which adds a strategic twist.
Strategies to Win Foursomes
To win in foursomes golf, you need to pair up strategically based on the layout of the holes, talk clearly, and take a conservative, “partner-friendly” approach to avoid putting your teammates in tough spots.
- Divide Odd/Even Holes: Give one player the odd-numbered holes and the other player the even-numbered holes to set the pace of the game.
- Analyze the Course: If par-3s or longer holes are more likely to have one set of numbers (for example, all par-3s on odd holes), give the more accurate iron player that set.
- Match Strengths: A long hitter who drives on longer holes should be paired with a partner who is consistent and focuses on the short game, and handles approach shots and putting well.
- Don’t Say “Sorry”: Apologizing creates pressure. Treat every shot as a new opportunity to bail out your partner.
- Pin Position Strategy: If a partner excels at approach shots, ensure they are taking the shot into the green.
- Play Safe (90% Swing): Don’t take shots that are too risky or aggressive. To keep your partner safe, keep the ball in play and don’t hit it into hazards or deep rough.
- Know the Rules: To avoid penalties, make sure both players know who is teeing off on which hole.
- Pre-match Routine: Discuss with your partner beforehand about who is better at what, like who is better at tough bunker shots or long putts.
Foursomes vs. Four-Ball
A lot of golfers want to know what the difference is between four-ball, better ball, and foursome golf. Both formats have teams of two players, but they play in very different ways. In 4BBB, each player on a team plays their own ball the whole time. The lower score between the two players on the team is the team’s score for that hole. In foursomes golf, on the other hand, each team only has one ball, and the partners take turns hitting it.
In general, 4BBB is seen as a more forgiving format because it lets each player recover from a bad shot. Foursomes, on the other hand, stresses accuracy and coordination as every shot affects both players.
FAQs
Can we change our “Odd/Even” order halfway through?
Once the first ball is hit on the first hole in a formal foursome golf game, you usually can’t change the order in which you tee off on “Odd/Even.” The USGA states that the partnership must choose before the match who will tee off on odd-numbered holes and who will tee off on even-numbered holes.
Is “Alternate Shot” the same as Foursomes?
Yes, “Foursomes” and “Alternate Shot” are the same in golf, where two partners play as a team using only one ball and alternating shots until the hole is completed.
What is a “Greensome”?
A Greensome (or Scotch Foursomes) is a two-person team golf format where both partners tee off on every hole, the best drive is selected, and the player whose shot was not chosen plays the second shot. From that point, the team plays alternate shots until the hole is completed.
What if my partner misses the ball?
If your partner makes a good swing in foursomes golf but misses the ball, it counts as a stroke. Your team doesn’t get a penalty, but the score for that hole goes up by one, and then it’s your turn to play from where the ball rests.
