- What Is the Foursomes Golf Format?
- How Does Foursomes Golf Work?
- How Is Foursomes Scored?
- How Do Handicaps Work in Foursomes?
- Foursomes vs Four-Ball: What's the Difference?
- How to Play Foursomes Better
- Conclusion
- FAQs
If you’ve heard golfers talk about foursomes and wondered why four people are somehow playing just one ball per team, you’re not alone. The foursomes golf format, also known as alternate shot, is actually pretty simple once you see how the turns work. It’s a team game that puts a little more pressure on every shot—and makes having the right partner a lot more interesting.
What Is the Foursomes Golf Format?
Foursomes is a team golf format where two golfers share one ball and take turns hitting it until the hole is finished. One partner tees off, the other takes the next shot, and they keep alternating from there—so every shot you hit sets up the next one for your partner.
That back-and-forth is why foursomes is often called alternate shot in the U.S. Under Rule 22, partners also take turns starting each hole, so the rotation continues throughout the round rather than resetting after every hole. Foursomes can be played as either match play or stroke play.
How Does Foursomes Golf Work?
Once you know the order, foursomes is pretty easy to follow. The main thing to remember is that you and your partner play one ball together, so you hand the ball to the other person after every shot.
How the Alternate-Shot Order Works
Say Player A and Player B are partners. A typical hole might look like this:
| Shot | Player |
|---|---|
| Tee shot | Player A |
| Second shot | Player B |
| Third shot | Player A |
| Fourth shot | Player B |
| Next shot, if needed | Player A |
If Player A drives into a bunker, Player B plays the bunker shot. If B knocks it onto the green, A takes the putt. You keep alternating until the ball is holed—there’s no reset based on who hit the better or worse shot.
Who Tees Off on the Next Hole?
The teeing order is separate from the shot-by-shot rotation. One partner takes the odd-numbered holes, and the other takes the even-numbered holes. So if Player A tees off on No. 1, Player B starts No. 2, Player A is back up on No. 3, and so on.
Who made the final putt on the previous hole doesn’t change who tees off next—the odd/even order stays the same throughout the round. The easiest way to keep it straight is to decide who has the odd and even holes before you start and stick with that order.
A Few Rules Worth Knowing
- Penalty strokes don’t change the playing order.
- Either partner can mark, lift, replace, drop, or place the ball when allowed.
- Provisional balls still follow the alternating order.
- Playing out of turn results in a penalty.
How Is Foursomes Scored?
You can play foursomes as either match play or stroke play, and the alternate-shot part works the same either way. The only thing that changes is how you keep score and determine the winner.
| Scoring Format | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Match Play | Each hole is won, lost, or tied. The side that wins more holes wins the match. |
| Stroke Play | Every stroke counts toward the side’s total score for the round. The lowest total wins. |
How Do Handicaps Work in Foursomes?
Foursomes handicaps work a little differently depending on whether you’re playing stroke play or match play. Here’s the easiest way to work out each one.
Foursomes Handicap in Stroke Play
Under the current USGA Appendix C Handicap Allowances, the recommended allowance for foursomes stroke play is 50% of the partners’ combined Course Handicaps. Here’s what that looks like with an 8-handicap and a 12-handicap playing together:
| Player | Course Handicap |
|---|---|
| Player A | 8 |
| Player B | 12 |
| Combined | 20 |
| Playing Handicap at 50% | 10 |
Foursomes Handicap in Match Play
For match play, you start with the difference between the two sides’ combined Course Handicaps, then take 50% of that number. So if one side totals 20 and the other totals 12:
20 − 12 = 8 → 50% = 4 strokes
The lower-handicapped side plays from zero, while the other side receives 4 strokes. For an organized event, always check the Terms of the Competition, since the Committee can specify the handicap allowance being used.
Foursomes vs Four-Ball: What's the Difference?
Foursomes and Four-Ball may sound similar, but they play very differently. Under Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf, each golfer in Four-Ball plays their own ball, while in Foursomes, partners share one ball and alternate shots. That makes Four-Ball more forgiving—if you have a bad hole, your partner can still bail you out. In Foursomes, your bad shot becomes your partner’s next shot.
| Foursomes | Four-Ball | |
|---|---|---|
| Balls per side | 1 | 2 |
| Alternate shots | Yes | No |
| Each golfer plays own ball | No | Yes |
| Side’s hole score | Shared ball score | Lower partner score |
How to Play Foursomes Better
Foursomes is less about hitting perfect shots and more about making the next one easier for your partner. A few simple decisions can make a big difference.
- Choose the tee order with the course in mind. Check the odd and even holes before deciding who goes where. The par 3s, par 5s, and tougher tee shots can matter more than simply giving the longer hitter a certain set of holes.
- Leave your partner a shot they like. More distance isn’t always better. If your partner is comfortable with a full wedge from 100 yards, leaving that number can be smarter than handing them an awkward half-shot.
- Don’t turn one bad shot into two. You’ll eventually get left behind a tree or in a bunker. Skip the hero shot, get the ball somewhere playable, and give your partner a chance to keep the hole alive.
- Stay comfortable through the round. Foursomes gives you enough to think about without your clothes getting in the way. A breathable golf polo keeps things easy on warmer days, while a lightweight quarter-zip gives you an extra layer when the temperature drops.
Conclusion
Once you’ve played a few holes of foursomes, the format starts to feel pretty natural. The fun part is figuring out how to play as a team—setting up your partner, recovering from each other’s misses, and hopefully not blaming them for that bunker shot. If your regular weekend round is starting to feel a little predictable, foursomes is an easy way to change things up.
FAQs
Is foursomes the same as alternate shot?
Yes. Foursomes is the name used in the Rules of Golf, while “alternate shot” is the term you’ll hear more often in the U.S. Either way, two partners share one ball and take turns hitting it.
Who tees off on the next hole in foursomes?
You and your partner alternate tee shots from hole to hole. So if you tee off on No. 1, your partner takes No. 2, you’re back up on No. 3, and so on. Who made the last putt has nothing to do with it.
What happens if you play out of turn in foursomes?
It depends on how you’re playing. In match play, hitting out of turn means you lose the hole. In stroke play, it’s a two-stroke penalty, and you’ll need to go back and correct the mistake from the right spot.