Tired of the pressure of individual stroke play every time you go out? Chapman golf might be the perfect, strategic, and fun format for your next round with a friend. This article breaks down exactly how to play Chapman, from the step-by-step rules and scoring to the clever strategies that will give your team an edge.
The best AI golf app: Caddie is your personal AI golf coach. Get expert-level golf advice instantly, 24/7 to help you play like a pro. Try it free →
What Exactly is Chapman Golf?
Chapman is a two-person team format that brilliantly blends an a-little-bit-of-everything style of play. You might also hear it called Pinehurst or American Foursomes, and it’s a brilliant game for mixing players of different skill levels. In short, both players get to hit tee shots, both hit second shots with their partner's ball, and then the team picks the one best ball to finish out the hole playing alternate shot. If that sounds a bit complicated, don’t worry. It's actually quite simple once you walk through a hole, and it creates some fun and compelling strategic choices along the way.
Unlike a pure scramble where you always pick the best shot, Chapman forces you to play a mix of good and not-so-good lies. But it’s also kinder than a traditional alternate shot format, as a single bad tee shot doesn’t automatically penalize the team. It’s a wonderful sweet spot that requires teamwork, communication, and good decision-making.
Get pro-level golf advice instantly, 24/7
Ask Caddie anything. From “what club should I use?” to “how do I play this shot?” and get instant answers.
Let's break down how a hole of Chapman works. Understanding this sequence is all you need to get started.
Step 1: On the Tee Box
This part is simple. Both players on a team (let's call them Player A and Player B) hit their own tee shots. Just like in a scramble, you both get a chance to put a ball in play.
Step 2: The Second-Shot Switch
This is the twist that defines Chapman. After hitting your drives, you switch balls for the second shot. Player A walks over to Player B’s drive and hits their second shot from there. At the same time, Player B walks over to Player A's drive and hits their second shot. At this point, both players have hit two shots, and there are now two different balls sitting on the course.
Step 3: Choose the Best One
Now, as a team, you walk ahead and look at the results of those two second shots. You compare the two positions and decide which one is better. Which one gives you the better chance to score well on the hole? Once you decide on which ball to play, you pick the other one up. Your team will play one ball from this point forward.
Step 4: Alternate Shot to the Hole
From the location of the selected ball, your team plays alternate shot until the ball is in the hole. But who hits the crucial third shot? The answer is simple:
The player whose second shot was NOT chosen hits the third shot.
So, if Player A and Player B hit their second shots, and the team decides to play from where Player B’s shot landed, it will be Player A who takes the next swing (the third shot for the team).
After that, you just alternate hitting: Player A, then Player B, then Player A, until you hole out.
Chapman Golf: An Example on a Par 4
Sometimes a real-world example makes things clearer. Let's see how our team, Sarah and Tom, plays a 400-yard par 4.
Tee Shots (1st Shot): Sarah hits her drive down the middle, 230 yards out. Tom smashes his drive 260 yards, but it lands in the light rough on the right side.
Second Shots (2nd Shot): Sarah walks to Tom’s ball in the rough (140 yards from the green) and hits a beautiful 8-iron that lands just on the front edge of the green. Tom walks to Sarah’s ball in the fairway (170 yards from the green) and hits a 6-iron that ends up 20 feet from the hole.
The Choice: Both balls are on the putting surface! However, Tom’s shot is 20 feet away, while Sarah's is on the fringe about 60 feet away. The choice is easy. They pick up Sarah’s ball and decide to play Tom's.
Alternate Shot (3rd Shot): Because they chose the ball Tom just hit, it is Sarah’s turn to play. She now has a 20-foot putt for birdie.
Finishing the Hole: Sarah putts and leaves it 1 foot short of the hole. It's now Tom’s turn (the 4th shot), and he taps it in for a par. Their score for the hole is 4.
How Do You Score in Chapman?
Chapman can be scored in two main ways: match play or stroke play. In match play, teams simply compete hole by hole, and the team with the lower score on a hole wins that hole. The team that wins the most holes wins the match.
In stroke play, you simply count your total score for the round and compare it to other teams. For stroke play, you’ll need a team handicap. There isn't an official USGA rule for a Chapman handicap, but a widely accepted formula is:
Take 60% of thecourse handicap of the better player (Player A).
Take 40% of the course handicap of the other player (Player B).
Add them together to get your team handicap for the round.
Always double-check the specific rules with your golf course or tournament director, as they can sometimes use a different formula.
Plan every shot like a pro
Describe your situation and Caddie AI helps you pick your target, shot shape, and club with confidence.
Chapman is more than just hitting and chasing. It’s a game of strategy, placing your partner in good positions, and clear communication. Here are a few tips to help your team find a winning advantage.
Play to Your Strengths
This is the most fundamental piece of Chapman strategy. Know what you and your partner do best. Is one of you a steady driver who always finds the fairway? Is the other a fantastic iron player from 150 yards and in? Use that knowledge! The steady driver's job is not just to hit the fairway, but to ideally leave the ball at your partner's favorite distance. You're not just playing your shot, you're setting up your partner's shot.
Think "Second Shot Forward" on the Tee
Distance off the tee isn't everything in Chapman. Pounding a drive 280 yards into the deep rough isn’t helpful if your partner has an impossible second shot from the trees. A ball resting nicely in the fairway, even if it's 30 yards shorter, gives your partner a much better platform to hit a good second shot. Before you tee off, quickly discuss the ideal "leave" for your partner.
Communication Is Your Most Important Club
Talk through every key decision. After a couple of holes, you’ll get a feel for how your partner is playing that day. Before they step up to hit their second shot, a little chatter helps. Maybe something positive like, "I know you've been working on your wedges, this is a perfect spot for you." Or something strategic like, "The pin is tucked left, anything on the middle of the green is a huge win here." This cooperative spirit makes the game more fun and often leads to smarter shots.
Master the "Who Hits the Third Shot" Rule
Remember, the player whose second shot you didn't select hits the third shot. This is a massive strategic element. You might have two second shots to choose from: one is a chip from just off the green, and the other is a 30-foot putt. Let's say your partner is an amazing chipper but struggles with long-distance putting. Even though the putt is "closer," maybe choosing the chip is the smarter play because it puts your partner (the expert chipper) in charge of the all-important third shot. This kind of planning ahead is how you win at Chapman.
Embrace the Team Spirit and Have Fun
Chapman is designed to be a social and enjoyable format. It takes some of the sting out of a poor shot because you know there's a backup. Did you hit a bad drive? No sweat, your partner gets to take a crack at it, and even if their shot isn't great, maybe your second shot (from their drive) will be the one you end up using. This built-in forgiveness should help you relax, play freely, and enjoy the experience of working together on the course.
Play Golf like a Pro with Caddie
Learn and improve your golf game as you play. Get pro-level tips, strategy and guidance anytime.
In short, Chapman is a uniquely fun and social game that combines the best parts of individual play, scrambles, and alternate shots. It encourages great communication and smarter decision-making, offering a refreshing break from the usual grinds of medal play.
While discussing strategy is a huge part of Chapman, there are times you and your partner might get stumped by a tough situation. When you're both staring at a ball nestled in thick rough or can't decide on the right club for a critical approach, getting an unbiased opinion is priceless. This is where using a tool on my phone like Caddie AI becomes incredibly useful. You can snap a photo of a challenging lie for an instant strategy, or get a smart club recommendation, removing the guesswork so you and your partner can make a confident, committed decision together and focus on pulling off the shot.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
Other posts you might like
How to Not Duff a Golf Shot
Nothing sours a good round of golf faster than the dreaded duff. You've picked the perfect club, pictured the perfect shot, and taken a confident swing - only to bury the club in the turf a few inches behind the ball, watching it pathetically hobble a few feet forward. It’s frustrating, and it kills your momentum. But it doesn't have to be a permanent part of your game. I’m going to show you exactly why you duff your shots and provide a clear, step-by-step guide to help you start making clean, crisp contact every single time.
Trying to change your golf swing can feel like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. You groove the perfect move on the driving range, only to have your old, high-maintenance swing show up uninvited during your weekend round. This article will show you the exact process for making those swing changes stick, transforming your range practice into lower scores on the actual golf course.
To unlock real power and consistency in your golf game, you need to stop swinging with your arms and start using your body. The golf swing is an athletic, sequential motion, and your body - from your feet to your shoulders - is the engine that drives it all. This guide will walk you through each phase of the swing, explaining exactly what your body should be doing to create an efficient, powerful, and repeatable motion.
Lining up a golf drive a few feet off-center is the difference between splitting the fairway and reloading on the tee box. It’s an unbelievably simple but powerful part of the game that even experienced golfers can get wrong. We are going to break down a simple, repeatable process for laser-like alignment, giving you the foundation you need to feel confident and committed over every single tee shot.
Your scorecard says 95, but the score you post for your handicap might be 91. This isn't cheating, it's a core part of the game called an adjusted golf score, and it’s what keeps the handicap system fair for everyone. This article will show you exactly how to do it, breaking down the simple, step-by-step process of turning your actual score into the official one you submit for your handicap.
Keeping score in a golf game of Wolf shouldn’t be a headache, but its dynamic nature can look confusing from the outside. Wolf is one of the most engaging and strategic betting games you can play with a foursome, where allegiances change on every hole. This guide will walk you through exactly how the game works, from the rotating roles and point values to a simple method for tracking it all on the scorecard, turning you into the group’s resident expert.
