Two players, one ball, alternate shots. Foursome is golf's most stripped-down team format, and at the same time the one that puts the hardest pressure on the cooperation between two people. You share the ball throughout the entire hole, and every missed shot your partner hits is also yours to sort out.
It is precisely that mutual dependence that makes the format so special, and also why it shows up in everything from the Ryder Cup to club matches on a perfectly ordinary Saturday. Here we go through exactly how the ball is moved around the course, how the order of play works and what sets foursome apart from the other team formats you come across.
How foursome works: one team, one ball, alternate shots
The basic principle behind how foursome is played in golf is simpler than many think. Two players form a team and play together with one and the same ball. You take turns hitting the shots, regardless of where the ball lies. If you hit the first shot from the tee, your partner takes the next shot, then you again, and so on until the ball is in the hole.
Because only one team plays one ball, the round is often faster than ordinary stroke play with four separate balls, which is one of the reasons the format is appreciated on busy courses and in competitions with tight schedules. You share the ball and share the responsibility, and it shows in every decision you make together along the way.
Who tees off on which hole? The order of play on the tee
Here lies the detail that beginners most often miss. Before the round begins, the team decides who tees off on the odd holes and who tees off on the even holes. One player takes the tee on holes 1, 3, 5 and so on, while the other takes the tee on holes 2, 4, 6.
That order stays fixed the entire round, regardless of who made the last shot on the previous hole. If your partner putts in on hole 1 and it happens to be your turn to tee off on hole 2, then you do it. The teeing order therefore has nothing to do with how things went on the previous hole, and it is precisely that rule that sets foursome apart from freer formats. A common strategy is to let the player with the most reliable drive take the toughest teeing holes, while the one who is strongest on the par 3 holes takes those.
What happens after the tee? The shots out on the course
Once the ball is in play, you continue to take turns independently of the teeing order. Say you teed off on hole 1. Then your partner hits the second shot, you hit the third, your partner the fourth, and the pattern continues all the way onto the green and into the cup. The order of play is not broken by bunkers, water hazards or failed shots.
A penalty stroke does not change whose turn it is to hit either. If the team has to drop after the ball ended up in a penalty area, the drop does not count as a shot with the club, and the same player who would have hit the next regular shot still does so. That means a single bunker hit can shift the entire rhythm of play between the two of you, which is one of the subtleties that makes foursome mentally demanding in a completely different way than individual play.
Foursome, fourball and scramble: what is the difference?
The three formats are often mixed up, but they work completely differently. Understanding the difference is crucial before you sign up for a team competition, because your role on the course changes dramatically depending on which format applies.
Foursome
One team, one ball, alternate shots. This is the format we go through here. It places the highest demands on consistency between the two players, because no one can hide behind their partner's good day. A bad shot always has to be rescued by someone, and the one who rescues it is precisely your teammate.
Fourball
Here too two players play per team, but the difference is big: each player has their own ball all the way. The team counts the best of the two scores on each hole. The format is more forgiving because you can play aggressively and take chances, well aware that your partner can take care of the hole if it goes wrong for you.
Scramble
Here both players hit their own shots, but after each shot the team chooses the best ball position and continues from there with both balls. Scramble is the most social and relaxed format, often used for corporate golf and charity days, precisely because weaker players are protected by the team's best shot all the way around.
Why foursome is the Ryder Cup's most dramatic format
Foursome has a natural place in team competitions such as the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup, where it is played as matchplay between two teams. It is in this very format that the partnership is tested hardest. A player can hit a perfect drive and then be forced to watch their partner miss the green, and the next shot is then back in the first player's hands under maximum pressure.
The captains place great importance on which two players are paired together, because the rhythm of play and the tempo must match between them. Two players with complementary strengths, one who is strong on long shots and one who putts coolly, can together become considerably stronger than on their own. It is the human chemistry as much as the technique that decides, and that is why the format often provides the most emotionally powerful moments during an entire competition weekend.
Dress for team play: the right garments when the tempo is high
Because foursome presses on with a fast tempo and you rarely stand still for long, you want clothes that move with you without getting in the way. A polo that breathes and sits cleanly through a swing is important when you switch between focused shots and a brisk walk to the next ball. Local Rule's collection of golf polos is built for exactly that combination of mobility and a tighter, more elegant silhouette that lasts the whole round.
A change in weather in the middle of a match can decide the outcome when the margins are small, and then a smooth mid-layer is worth gold. A light midlayer with a quarter zip is quick to pull on when the wind picks up and just as quick to tie around your waist when the sun comes out, without you having to interrupt the team's rhythm. If you then have trouble finding the right grip feel on the decisive shots, a well-fitting glove like the LR Players Glove is the small detail that gives stability on putts and drives where the whole team rests on your shot.
Come prepared: practical details ahead of a foursome round
Decide the teeing order already in the parking lot, not on the first tee. Knowing who takes the odd and even holes means you avoid hesitating unnecessarily and can put your energy into the game itself. Also talk through how you handle the difficult holes, so that neither of you is caught off guard by suddenly standing with the ball in a tricky situation.
Bring plenty of water and something to wipe the clubs with between shots, because when the tempo is high you do not want to lose focus on small things. A sturdy golf towel and a Nalgene water bottle are part of the basic equipment that keeps you sharp throughout the round. If you want to fine-tune your entire setup ahead of the season's team competitions, you can see the full range at Local Rule and build a wardrobe that handles both the high tempo and the long days on the course.
