Foursomes in Golf: A Confusing Name for a Simple Format

Foursomes is a golf format with a very confusing name but a pretty simple principle. A foursomes match consists of two sides of two players who each play one ball, alternating who hits each shot until the ball is holed. 

In foursomes, one player tees off on all the odd-numbered holes, and the other player tees off on all the even-numbered holes.

Foursomes is a prominent format in the world’s most popular team events, including the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup, where it is played as a match-play game. However, foursomes can also be played as stroke play just as easily.

Foursomes is also referred to as alternate shot, which is a much more descriptive and significantly less confusing name. The confusion stems from foursomes’ vague title coupled with the fact that another format in those prominent team competitions, fourball, goes by a very similar name.

Once your foursomes match begins, here’s how to play:

1. One player from each side tees off on the first hole.
2. Playing the ball their partner hit as it lies, the other player on each side hits that side’s next shot. Continue this process of alternating shots, using the same ball in its lie for each shot, until each team has holed out.
3. Count the strokes (including penalties) for each team to hole out; these are the team scores for the hole. 
4. If you’re playing stroke play, record the actual scores. If playing matchplay, the winning side is scored as 1-up. There are no individual scores.
5. The even-number players tee off on hole 2. The players who teed off on hole 1 then hit the second shot for each side. The hole is played as described above for hole 1.
6. Add up the total team scores after 18 holes for stroke play, or track the status of the match throughout the round for match play to determine the winner.