Foursomes

Setup

Handicaps

Optional. Each team plays off 50% of its two partners' combined course handicap; the difference between the teams is given to the higher team by stroke index.

Points

Match play. Win a hole to go up; a tie halves it. No points, just holes.

How to play Foursomes

1. Four players in two teams of two.
2. Partners share one ball and alternate every shot.
3. One partner tees off on the odd holes, the other on the even.
4. Record one team score per hole.
5. The lower team score wins the hole; equal scores halve it.
6. Win more holes than the other team to win the match.

Partners alternate tee shots by hole parity and alternate every shot in between.

Scoring

Ties: A tied hole is halved and counts for neither team.

The team that has won more holes when the match ends.

Strategy

• Play position for your partner, not just the pin.
• Talk through who takes which tee so the stronger driver fits the hole.
• A steady par usually wins the hole in alternate shot.
• Keep the ball in play; a scramble hole costs the whole team.

Example

• Ana8 HCPTeam 1
• Ben12 HCPTeam 1
• Cara10 HCPTeam 2
• Dan14 HCPTeam 2

Par 4, hole 7. Each team plays one ball, alternating shots.

What happens

1. Team 1 (Ana off the tee, Ben approach): par (4).
2. Team 2 (Dan off the tee, Cara approach): bogey (5).
3. Team 1's 4 beats Team 2's 5, so Team 1 wins the hole and goes 1 up.

Team 1 score 4, Team 2 score 5. Lower score wins: Team 1 wins the hole.

One shared score per team decides the hole; Team 1 goes 1 up.