Greensome · Match play¶

What it is¶

A greensome is a friendlier foursome, and this is the head-to-head version. Within each side both partners tee off, the side takes the better of the two drives, and from there the partners alternate shots with a single ball into the hole. The two sides' team scores are matched hole by hole, and whoever wins more holes wins the match. You get two cracks at a drive but still share one ball — alternate-shot match play without the fear of a single bad tee shot.

How scoring works¶

1. Within each side, both partners tee off; the side picks the better drive, the partner whose drive wasn't used plays the next shot, and they alternate shots with that one ball until it's holed.
2. Record one team score per hole for each side.
3. Each side plays off a single team handicap; the standard allowance for a greensome is 60% of the lower handicap plus 40% of the higher, which gives each side's net per hole.
4. Compare the two sides' net on the hole: the lower wins the hole; equal halves it.
5. The match is tracked as holes up. When a side leads by more than the holes remaining, the match is won early (for example "3&2"). Level at the end is "all square".

Worked example¶

Side 1 versus Side 2, each side's net team score per hole shown:

After three holes the match is all square — Side 1's win on the 1^st was pegged back by Side 2 on the 3^rd. Over a full eighteen, the side more holes up at the finish wins.

When to use it¶

A sociable alternate-shot match — gentler than a strict foursome because you choose the better drive first, but still a true one-ball partnership contest. A group holds four players — two pairs — which is exactly one match. Good for mixed pairs and friendly team contests. For strict alternate shot from the tee, see Foursome · Match play.

Variations¶

None for the greensome match itself. For pairs scored as a running total instead of hole-by-hole, see Greensome · Stroke.

Last updated: 2026-05-07