How do you play foursomes?
A team consists of two players who play one ball together. Beforehand you agree who tees off on the odd holes and who on the even holes. After the tee shot you take turns until the ball is holed. The team records one score per hole.
Example
Anna tees off on the odd holes and Bas on the even holes. On hole 1 Anna tees off, Bas plays the second shot, Anna the third, and so on. On hole 2 Bas tees off, even if Anna holed the last putt on hole 1.
Rules
Foursomes is covered by Rule 22 of the Rules of Golf. Penalty strokes count for the team but do not change the order of play. If the wrong player hits, the team gets the general penalty: loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.
Difference from a greensome
In a greensome both players tee off and the team chooses the best drive. Only then do they alternate shots. In foursomes only one player tees off per hole, which makes tactics and the split of tee shots more important.
Difference from a scramble
In a scramble every player hits every shot and the team keeps choosing the best ball. In foursomes each player hits only half of the shots.
Handicap in foursomes
Under the World Handicap System the recommended team handicap is 50% of the combined course handicaps of both players. If the players have course handicaps of 10 and 20, the team handicap is (10 + 20) x 50% = 15. The committee can set a different allowance in the terms of the competition.
Known from the Ryder Cup
Foursomes is a regular format in the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup, where two players from each side take on a pair from the opposing team.
