Greensome · Stroke¶
What it is¶
A greensome is a friendlier foursome. Both partners tee off, the side chooses the better of the two drives, and from there the partners alternate shots with a single ball into the hole — the partner whose drive wasn't used plays the next shot, and they take turns from there. You get two cracks at a good drive but still share one ball the rest of the way, so it keeps the partnership test of alternate shot without the dread of one wayward tee shot. This is the stroke-play version: one team score per hole, lowest total wins.
How scoring works¶
- Both partners tee off. The side picks the better drive; the partner whose drive was not chosen plays the next shot, and the two then alternate shots with that one ball until it's holed.
- Record one gross score for the side on each hole.
- The 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 earns strokes on the hardest holes by stroke index to give the team's net.
- Add the side's scores across the round; the lowest total wins (gross for a scratch result, net once the team handicap is applied).
- Level sides are separated on countback — the better back nine, then the last six holes, then the last three, then the final hole.
Worked example¶
Two sides, one team gross per hole (after choosing the better drive, then alternating):
| Hole | Par | Side 1 | Side 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Total | 12 | 12 | 14 |
Side 1 leads, 12 to 14. There's a single score per side each hole — after the tee, the partners share one ball.
When to use it¶
A sociable middle ground between a scramble and a strict foursome: quicker and kinder than alternate-shot-from-the-tee, but still a genuine team game with one ball. Popular for mixed pairs and club pairs days. A group holds up to four, so two pairs can play together.
Variations¶
- Gross or net. Play for the lowest team gross, or apply the team handicap (60% of the lower handicap plus 40% of the higher) and play for net.
- For head-to-head see Greensome · Match play. For strict alternate shot from the tee, see Foursome · Stroke.
Last updated: 2026-05-07