You’ve likely heard the term 'foursome' during a Ryder Cup broadcast or tossed around at your local club, but there's a good chance it means something different from how you and your buddies play on a Saturday morning. The real foursomes format, also known as alternate shot, is one of golf's most thrilling and strategic team games. This article will break down exactly what a foursome match is, how the rules work, how to build a winning strategy, and why you should absolutely give this classic format a try.
In its simplest form, a foursome match pits two teams of two against each other. The twist, and what makes this format so unique, is that the partners on each team take turns hitting the same golf ball until it's holed. If your partner tees off, you hit the second shot, they hit the third, and so on. Team A plays their ball in this a alternate-shot manner, while Team B does the same with their ball. The team with the lower score on the hole wins that hole, just like in standard match play.
Here’s the most common point of confusion for many golfers. When most amateur players book a "foursome," they're simply referring to a group of four golfers. The game they typically play is called a Four-Ball match (or Better Ball). In Four-Ball:
Foursomes, or alternate shot, is a totally different animal. There are only two balls in play at any time - one per team. Its pure, unfiltered teamwork, which is why it's a staple of high-pressure professional team events like the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup. It exposes every weakness but also showcases incredible partnership.
The mechanics of a foursome match are straightforward once you grasp the concept. Let's say Team A is made up of Player 1 and Player 2, and they are competing against Team B, made up of Player 3 and Player 4.
The turn to hit is based on whose shot is next for your team, not who is "away" on the green in a traditional sense. The order is locked in: Player 1, Player 2, Player 1, Player 2, etc.
As mentioned, this is a strategic choice made before the first tee. You can't change it mid-round. When deciding, have a real conversation with your partner about your strengths and weaknesses.
Sometimes, walking through an entire hole makes everything click. Let's invent two teams and play out the 5th hole, a 400-yard par 4.
1. Tee Shots: It's the 5th hole, an odd number. Anna steps up for Team 1 and hits a perfect tee shot, finding the middle of the fairway, 150 yards from the green. Carmen from Team 2 steps up, unleashes a huge drive, but pulls it slightly into the left rough, leaving a tricky angle to the green from about 130 yards out.
2. Second Shots: Now, it's the partners' turns. Ben addresses Team 1's ball in the fairway. He hits a solid 7-iron that lands on the front edge of the green, about 30 feet from the hole. Dave heads to the left rough to play Team 2's ball. Due to the tricky lie and angle, he can't get much on it and his shot comes up short, landing in the greenside bunker.
3. Third Shots: The rotation continues. It's Anna's turn again. Her partner left her a long-but-makeable birdie putt. She studies the line and hits a great lag putt, cozying it up to just two feet from the cup––a tap-in par. Now all eyes are on Carmen, who has to play her team's third shot from the bunker Dave left her in. She makes a good swing, splashing the ball out to about 10 feet past the hole.
4. Finishing the Hole: It’s Dave's turn to hit the par putt for Team 2. He gives it a good roll, but it just misses. So, Ben steps in and confidently taps in Team 1's short putt for par (a score of 4). Team 2's Carmen then taps in for a bogey (a score of 5).
The result: Team 1 wins the hole and officially goes "1 Up" in the match.
Foursomes is less about raw talent and an more about chess-like strategy, communication, and managing your partner. Great teams know how to play to their strengths and, more importantly, how to avoid big mistakes.
This is the golden rule of foursomes strategy: your primary job is to not leave your partner in a bad position. This changes how you approach every shot. That "hero" shot through a tiny gap in the trees? Forget it. In foursomes, you punch out sideways to the fairway every single time, giving your partner a clean look for their next shot. A boring bogey is infinitely better than a disastrous double or triple that crushes morale.
Think two or three shots ahead. If you're teeing off on a tight hole, maybe a 3-wood or a hybrid is the better play, even if it leaves a longer approach shot. A ball in the fairway is a massive advantage in this format. You give up individual glory for team success.
Silent partners are losing partners. You should be in constant communication about club selection, shot shape, and strategy. But even more important is how you handle the inevitable poor shots.
The word "sorry" should be banned. Everyone is trying their best, and everyone will hit a bad shot. Apologizing just adds unnecessary pressure and acknowledges a mistake that both of you want to forget immediately. The proper response after your partner hits a poor shot is positive and forward-thinking: "Don't worry, we're still fine," or "Okay, I think I've got a play from there." Be an encourager, not an accuser. This resilience is what separates good teams from great ones.
This format has some unique quirks that can catch even experienced players off guard. Here’s what to look out for:
Foursomes is a fantastic format that tests your skills in a completely new light. It prioritizes strategy, course management, and partnership over purely bombing it off the tee. When you're ready for a delightful and fast-paced challenge that will test your relationship with your golf buddy in the most fun way imaginable, give true alternate shot a try.
Foursomes puts a premiuem on smart decision-making, since you always have to consider your partner's next shot. Making the right call under pressure can be tough, which is why we built our app, Caddie AI. It can help you think through those tricky team situations, suggesting strategies to avoid trouble and set your partner up for a better next shot. Taking some guesswork out of your course management in high-pressure games like Foursomes will greatly help you play with far more confidence and clarity whether you’re on the course or off it
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