Foursome · Match play¶
What it is¶
A foursome is true alternate-shot golf, and this is the head-to-head version. Each side is a pair sharing a single ball and taking turns hitting it — including the tee shots, with one partner driving on the odd holes and the other on the even — and the two sides' team scores are matched hole by hole. Whoever wins more holes wins the match. It's the tense, traditional pairs match of the Ryder Cup.
How scoring works¶
- Within each side, the partners alternate every shot through the hole — one ball between the two of them — with set drivers on the odd and even holes.
- Record one team score per hole for each side.
- Each side plays off a single team handicap; the standard allowance for a foursome is 50% of the partners' combined handicap, which gives each side's net per hole.
- Compare the two sides' net on the hole: the lower wins the hole; equal halves it.
- The match is tracked as holes up. When a side leads by more than the holes remaining, the match is won early (for example "2&1"). Level at the end is "all square".
Worked example¶
Side 1 versus Side 2, each side's net team score per hole shown:
| Hole | Par | Side 1 | Side 2 | Hole | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Side 1 | Side 1 1 up |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Side 2 | All square |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | Side 1 | Side 1 1 up |
After three holes Side 1 leads by one. Each side plays a single ball between its two partners, so there's one score per side to compare on every hole.
When to use it¶
The classic alternate-shot pairs match — fast, intense, and a real test of how well two players gel. A group holds four players — two pairs — which is exactly one match. A staple of team competitions. For a friendlier alternate-shot match where you pick the better drive first, see Greensome · Match play.
Variations¶
None for the foursome match itself. For pairs scored as a running total instead of hole-by-hole, see Foursome · Stroke.
Last updated: 2026-05-07