Foursomes
Foursomes is a golf format in which two players compete as a side, sharing one ball and taking alternate shots until each hole is finished. Partners also alternate tee shots, with one player driving on the odd-numbered holes and the other on the even-numbered holes.
What is foursomes in golf?
Under Rule 22 of the Rules of Golf, foursomes is a two-against-two team format in which each side plays one shared ball. The two partners take turns hitting that ball until it is holed, and they rotate tee duties as well: one partner hits the opening drive on every odd-numbered hole, the other handles every even-numbered hole. The format is widely known as “alternate shot,” especially in American coverage.
The R&A describes it as a partnership format in which a side plays one ball in alternating order, in either match play or stroke play. That single shared ball is what sets foursomes apart from almost every other format in golf.
It helps to clear up a common mix-up early. Casually, golfers often call any group of four players a “foursome.” Foursomes, the format is something different. Two pairs, one ball each, alternating shots. The four players are still on the course together, but the scoring and play look nothing like a regular round.
How foursomes works
The pattern is straightforward. Player A tees off on the 1st, Player B plays the second shot, Player A plays the third, and so on, until the ball is holed. On the 2nd tee, Player B drives, and the alternation continues. Penalty strokes do not change whose turn it is. If Player A hits a ball into a hazard and a drop is taken, Player B still plays the next shot for the team.
Both partners can act for the side at any point: either player can mark the ball, lift it, replace it, or concede a hole. Caddies can also assist either partner under the standard caddie rules. Partners can use their own clubs or share with each other, although a shared set cannot exceed 14 clubs in total.
Foursomes can be contested in match play or stroke play, although match play is far more common, particularly at the elite level.
Foursomes vs four-ball
Foursomes and four-ball sit side by side at the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup, and the Presidents Cup, and they sound similar enough that broadcasters often have to explain the difference. The clearest contrast comes down to how many balls are in play and how scores are counted.
| Element | Foursomes | Four-ball |
|---|---|---|
| Balls in play per team | 1 | 2 |
| Shot order | Partners alternate | Each player hits their own ball |
| Team score per hole | Total strokes on the shared ball | Lower of the two individual scores |
| Rule of golf | Rule 22 | Rule 23 |
| Also called | Alternate shot | Better ball, best ball |
| Pace of play | Faster | Slower |
In four-ball, a player can take a risk knowing their partner is in safely with their own ball. In foursomes, every shot lands directly in the partner’s hands, which puts the partnership under far more pressure.
Where foursomes is played
Foursomes has been part of the Ryder Cup in every edition since the first match in 1927, and it has been part of every Solheim Cup since 1990 and every Presidents Cup since 1994. The amateur Walker Cup and Curtis Cup also use the format. On the PGA Tour, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has used alternate-shot foursomes for two of its four rounds since the event became a team competition in 2017, and the World Cup of Golf has used foursomes alongside four-ball since 2000.
Europe has historically dominated the format at the Ryder Cup. At the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Europe led 8.5 to 3.5 after the Saturday morning foursomes session, equalling the largest such lead by an away team since the cup adopted its current five-session format in 1979, and went on to retain the cup with a 15-13 victory. Tommy Fleetwood finished that week with six career wins from six career foursomes appearances at the Ryder Cup.
At club level, foursomes is much more common in Britain and Ireland, where the pace of play is highly valued, than at clubs in the United States.
Variations of foursomes
Several formats build on the alternate-shot idea:
- Greensomes, also called Scotch foursomes. Both players tee off, the team picks one of the two drives, and alternate shots continue from there.
- Chapman, also known as the Pinehurst System or American foursomes. Both partners drive, then swap balls for the second shot, then pick the better of the two and play alternate shots from there. The format was created by amateur golfer Dick Chapman.
- Bloodsomes, sometimes called gruesomes. The format is the same as greensomes, except the opposing team chooses which of the two drives the side has to play.
- Threesomes. A single golfer plays against a pair, with the pair alternating shots between them. This is a separate format defined under the same rules and is rare today.
Foursomes handicaps
For amateur play, the team’s handicap allowance is half the combined course handicaps of the two partners. If one player has a course handicap of 8 and the other has 20, the team handicap is 14 (28 ÷ 2). The USGA Handicap Manual sets this allowance at 50 percent of the combined total in stroke play. In match play, the difference between the two team handicaps determines how many shots are conceded, with the lower-handicap side typically playing off scratch.
Related Golf Terms
- Four-ball — A match play format where each player plays their own ball and the better score counts.
- Fried egg — A ball buried in a bunker with sand splashed around it like a fried egg.
- Foursome — A group of four golfers playing together.
- Alternate shot — The American name for foursomes.
- Free drop — A drop without penalty, taken from conditions like GUR or immovable obstructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called foursomes?
The name comes from the four players on the course: two on each side. It is a two-against-two format, but the four golfers playing together is what gives the format its name.
Is “a foursome” the same as foursomes?
No. “A foursome” in casual conversation simply means any group of four golfers playing together. Foursomes is a specific competitive format with two-player teams sharing one ball.
Can partners share clubs?
Yes. Partners can carry separate bags or share one set, but a shared set cannot exceed 14 clubs.
What happens if the wrong player hits a shot?
The team is penalised under Rule 22, and the correct partner must play the next stroke. The wrong-order shot does not count.
Is foursomes match play or stroke play?
Both formats are allowed under Rule 22, but match play is much more common, especially in major team events such as the Ryder Cup.
Sources
- R&A. “Rule 22: Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot).” Accessed May 2026.
- USGA. “Rule 22 – Foursomes.” Accessed May 2026.
- Ryder Cup. “2025 Ryder Cup Foursomes Reports, Bethpage Black.” Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “Foursomes.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “What Is Foursomes In Golf? Ryder Cup Format Explained.” Accessed May 2026.
- USGA Handicap Manual.
