What Are the Rules of Greensomes in Golf?

Greensomes is one of the most popular and enjoyable team formats in golf, blending individual skill with fun, collaborative strategy. It's a fantastic game for club competitions or a weekend round with friends, and this guide will walk you through exactly how to play. We’ll cover the step-by-step process, how to calculate handicaps, and smart strategies to help you and your partner come out on top.

What Exactly is Greensomes Golf?

At its core, Greensomes is a two-person team game that is a variation of Foursomes (also known as Alternate Shot). The format gives you a little bit of a "best ball" advantage right at the start of the hole, making it a bit more forgiving and often a lot more exciting.

Here’s the basic idea:

• Both players on the team hit their own tee shot.
• They walk down the fairway, look at both drives, and decide which one is in the best position.
• They pick up the "worse" ball and then play the "better" ball for the second shot.
• From that point on, they play alternate shot until the ball is in the hole.

It's important not to confuse Greensomes with a Scramble. In a Scramble, both players hit from the best spot on every shot. In Greensomes, you only get to choose the best ball after the tee shot. After that second shot is played, the a-b-a-b sequence takes over and you have to play the ball where it lies, just like in regular Foursomes.

This simple twist makes all the difference. It reduces the pressure of hitting a perfect tee shot every time and allows teams to take advantage of their combined strengths off the tee, setting up a fun and strategic challenge for the rest of the hole.

The Step-by-Step Rules of Playing Greensomes

Once you get the flow of the first few holes, Greensomes becomes second nature. It’s a very rhythmic format. Let's break down how a hole is played from start to finish.

Step 1: On the Tee Box

Both Partner A and Partner B hit a tee shot. Each player uses their own ball. There's no specific order, you can decide who hits first on each tee. Many pairs will stick to one person teeing off on odd-numbered holes and the other on even-numbered holes to keep a good rhythm.

Step 2: Selecting the Best Drive

After both shots are hit, you and your partner walk (or drive) up to survey the results. You evaluate the two positions and choose which one you want to play your second shot from. The ball that's not chosen is picked up and taken out of play for that hole.

A good tip: "Best" doesn't always mean longest. Consider the angle to the green, the lie of the ball (fairway vs. rough), and any obstacles like trees or bunkers. It's often smarter to take the slightly shorter shot from the middle of the fairway than the longer one sitting in the first cut.

Step 3: Playing the Second Shot

This is the most important rule to remember. The player whose tee shot was not chosen hits the second shot.

• If you choose Partner A's drive, then Partner B must play the second shot.
• If you choose Partner B's drive, then Partner A must play the second shot.

Getting this right is fundamental to the format. It prevents one player from dominating the hole just because they hit a great tee shot.

Step 4: Alternate Shot to Finish the Hole

After the second shot, you continue playing that same ball, alternating shots until you’ve holed out.

Let’s follow the sequence if Partner A’s drive was chosen:

1. Partner A hits the tee shot (Shot 1).
2. Partner B hits the second shot from Partner A's drive location (Shot 2).
3. Partner A then hits the third shot (Shot 3), which might be a pitch or the first putt.
4. Partner B hits the fourth shot (Shot 4).

This a-b-a-b sequence continues until the ball falls into the cup.

How to Calculate Handicaps in Greensomes

Calculating handicaps for Greensomes is designed to make the game fair when teams with different skill levels compete. While clubs can set their own formulas, there is a widely accepted standard method that you'll see in most competitions.

The Standard Formula

The most common calculation for a Greensomes handicap is:
(Lower Handicap x 0.6) + (Higher Handicap x 0.4)

The combined result is your team's handicap for the round. You then subtract this number from your gross score to get your net score.

Let’s walk through an example:

Imagine Team 1 is playing against Team 2.

Team 1:

• Player A has a handicap of 10.
• Player B has a handicap of 20.

Following the formula:

• Lower Handicap (10) x 0.6 = 6
• Higher Handicap (20) x 0.4 = 8
• Team 1 Handicap = 6 + 8 = 14

So, Team 1 gets 14 strokes for the round. They will mark these shots on the 14 most difficult holes (stroke index 1 through 14) on the scorecard. If they are playing match play, they would receive the difference in handicaps between them and their opponents. For example, if Team 2's handicap came out to 10, Team 1 would get 4 strokes on the 4 hardest holes.

Important Note: This is the standard, but it's not universal. Always, always check the competition rules or with the pro shop before you tee off. Some clubs use a simpler (though less equitable) formula like 50% of the combined handicaps. Knowing the correct rule for the day is part of the game!

Greensomes Strategy: Playing Smarter, Not Harder

Winning at Greensomes is about more than just hitting good shots, it’s about making smart decisions as a team. By thinking through your strategy, you can gain a serious edge over teams that just bomb it and hope for the best.

1. Thoughtful Drive Selection

As mentioned earlier, the longest drive isn't always the smartest play. Before you automatically pick up the shorter ball, ask these questions:

• What’s the lie like? A flat lie in the fairway is almost always better than a ball sitting down in the rough, even if it's 20 yards further up.
• Who is playing the next shot? If your partner is fantastic with their 150-yard 7-iron but less consistent with a 115-yard wedge, maybe the longer drive that leaves them a half-wedge shot isn't the best choice. Play to your partner's strengths.
• What is the best angle? Sometimes a shorter drive on one side of the fairway opens up a much better angle to a tucked pin, taking bunkers or water out of play.

2. Teeing Order Strategy

It can be very helpful to have a set player for even and odd holes. But you can be more strategic than that if the competition allows.

• Tough Driving Holes: On a hole with a tight fairway or trouble on one side, have your more accurate driver go first to hopefully get one in play. This takes the pressure off the second player, who can then play more aggressively.
• Par 3s: Who is the better iron player? Let them tee off on most of the par 3s.
• Reachable Par 5s: Let your longest hitter swing away with confidence, knowing their partner will be there to put a safe one in the fairway if needed.

3. Master the Team Mentality

The mental side of team golf is massive. A positive and supportive partnership can often overcome a more skilled but fractured team.

• Never Apologize: Bad shots happen. It’s golf. Don't say "sorry" after hitting a poor tee shot. It heaps pressure on your partner and brings negative energy into the team. Just move on and trust that your partner will hit a good one, or you'll have another chance on the next hole.
• Communicate Clearly: Discuss every strategic decision. Why are you choosing this ball? What's the plan for the next shot? Getting on the same page builds confidence.
• Stay Positive: If your partner leaves you a tricky second shot, see it as a challenge, not a burden. Compliment their good shots and forget the bad ones. Your job is to lift your partner up, not critique their swing.

Common Rulings and Situations

A few situations can cause some head-scratching. Here’s how to handle them.

What If Both Tee Shots are Awful? (Lost or Out of Bounds)

If you fear both tee shots might be lost or out of bounds, both players should hit a provisional ball. You then proceed down the fairway.

• If you find one of the original balls in play, you must play it.
• If both original balls are lost or O.B., you then choose the better of the two provisional balls and play from there, taking the stroke-and-distance penalty. The third shot will be played by the partner whose provisional was *not* selected.

How Do Penalties Affect Order of Play?

Let's say Partner A's drive is chosen, and Partner B hits the second shot into a penalty area. The act of taking a drop does not count as a stroke in the alternate shot sequence.

The team takes the penalty stroke, and it's then Partner A's turn to hit the next (now fourth) shot from wherever the ball was dropped. The order of play (A-B-A-B) is determined by who hit the last stroke, not by who takes a drop.

Final Thoughts

Greensomes is a truly fantastic format that brings a tactical and social element to the game we all love. It lightens the pressure, encourages teamwork, and gives every golfer a chance to contribute on every hole. The key is to understand the flow, play to your partner's strengths, and above all, have fun with it.

As you get more into team formats like Greensomes, course strategy and tricky rule situations become part of the experience. With our app, Caddie AI, you can get instant clarity on any rule or strategic question, right from the fairway. When you and your partner are standing over a ball in a tough lie and debating the best play, you can snap a photo and get immediate, unemotional advice, helping your team make smarter decisions without the guesswork.