Golf foursome

Golf foursome: What is a foursome in golf?

The foursome, also known as alternating strokes (“alternate shot” in English) is a format played by teams of two. The two partners form a camp and play a single ball: Each player takes a turn hitting the ball until it goes into the hole. The team's score is therefore the number of strokes taken with that ball.

The formula is enclosed by the Rule 22 the Rules of Golf. It is played in both match play and stroke play.

How is a foursome played?

• Every other start: The partners take turns teeing off from hole to hole. In practice, one tees off on all the odd-numbered holes, and the other on all the even-numbered holes, regardless of who made the last putt on the previous hole.
• Alternating strokes: After the tee shot, each player takes a turn hitting the ball until they reach the hole.
• Choosing the First Player: The team decides which of the two partners starts the round, unless the event rules specify otherwise.
• A provisional ball is played by the partner whose turn it is, and a canceled or replayed move is replayed by the same partner.

Partners can give each other advice and share their clubs, provided they do not exceed 14 clubs between them. To mark, pick up, or drop the ball, either player may act on behalf of the team, even if it is not their turn to play.

What happens if you play in the wrong order?

Playing a move when it was your partner's turn results in a general penalty (Rule 22.3):

• in match play, the team loses the lead;
• in stroke play, the team incurs two penalty strokes and must correct the error: the correct partner must replay the shot from the spot where the incorrect shot was played. Shots played out of order do not count. If the error is not corrected before playing the next hole (or before turning in the scorecard on the last hole), the team is disqualified.

Foursome, greensome, or four-ball: What's the difference?

Foursomes is the most demanding format of the four: each player takes only every other shot and must often play from where his partner left the ball. At the Ryder Cup, foursomes matches alternate with four-ball matches on the first two days.

Watch out for this false friend: in everyday English, “a foursome” simply refers to a four-player group. In the Rules of Golf, however, the term does indeed refer to alternate shots.

How do you calculate the total strokes in a foursome?

The World Handicap System (WHS) recommendations specify the following for a foursome: 50% of the sum of the game handicaps of both partners. The tournament committee is free to establish a different rule in its regulations. Scores played in foursomes are not used to calculate the handicap.

How do you play a foursome well?

• Schedule departures by route: Before the round, take a look at which holes each player will be playing—especially the par-3s—and decide who goes first based on that.
• Think about your partner's move: Leaving the ball where he likes to play is often better than moving it a few meters further.
• Playing from a set position: In alternating turns, a mistake is costly because it's up to your partner to make up for it.
• Let's Stand Together: No hard feelings after a bad play—it takes two to make it work.