The Chapman System is one of golf's most engaging formats, blending the individuality of hitting your own ball with the teamwork of an alternate shot, creating a fun, pressure-free round. This article will walk you through exactly how to play Chapman - from the step-by-step rules and scoring to the on-course strategy that will help you and your partner win.
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What Exactly is the Chapman Format?
Unlike a standard Scramble or a traditional Foursomes (also known as Alternate Shot) game, Chapman is a unique two-person team format that cherry-picks features from both. It's often called "Pinehurst Foursomes," but there can be a slight variation between the two depending on who you ask. For our purposes, we'll focus on the most commonly played Chapman rules.
Here’s the simple version of how a hole works:
Both you and your partner hit a tee shot.
For the second shot, you switch balls. You play your partner’s drive, and they play yours.
After those second shots, you compare the two outcomes. You select the single ball you want to play for the rest of the hole.
From that spot, you play alternate shot until you hole out.
The format is brilliant because it takes the heat off the tee shot. If you happen to hit one sideways, your partner has a shot at redemption, and you have theirs. It promotes teamwork and constant strategic discussion, making it a perfect format for a casual weekend game, a club tournament, or a member-guest event.
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Understanding the flow is the most important part of playing Chapman. It sounds more complicated on paper than it is on the course. Once you play one or two holes, you'll have it down. Let's break down a single hole, assuming a team of Player A and Player B.
Step 1: The Tee Shots
Both Player A and Player B hit their own tee shots. Just like a normal round, you both tee it up and smash it. There are two golf balls in play from your team.
Example: Player A hits a beautiful drive down the middle of the fairway. Player B hooks theirs into the left rough.
Step 2: The Second Shot (The Swap)
This is where the magic happens. After the tee shots, you switch. Player A walks over to Player B's ball (the one in the rough) and hits the second shot. Player B walks over to Player A's ball (the one in the fairway) and hits their second shot.
Example: Player A, playing from the left rough (Player B's ball), punches it out and lands it just short of the fairway, still about 170 yards out. Player B, playing from the middle of the fairway (Player A's ball), hits a pure iron shot that lands 15 feet from the hole.
Step 3: The Selection
Now, with two second shots completed, your team has two balls in different positions on the course. You walk up and evaluate both outcomes. You must choose the one best ball to continue with. The other ball is picked up and is out of play for the rest of the hole.
Example: This is an easy choice. The team picks up the ball that Player A advanced from the rough. They decide to play from Player B's second-shot location, just 15 feet from the cup.
Step 4: The Alternate Shot Finish
After selecting your ball, the format becomes a straightforward alternate shot. The key rule here is this: the player whose second shot was not chosen hits the next shot.
From that point forward, you alternate strokes until the ball is in the hole.
Example: The team chose the ball hit by Player B. Therefore, it is now Player A's turn to play the third stroke, which in this case is a 15-foot birdie putt. If Player A misses, Player B would hit the fourth shot.
This is the detail that trips up most new Chapman players. Just remember: whoever hit the shot you decided to pick up, it's their turn to hit next. Once you get that, the rest is easy.
How to Score in Chapman Format
Scoring an individual hole is simple: you just write down the single score your team made using the alternate shot sequence. The more interesting part, and where the strategy really comes in, is managing handicaps.
Using Handicaps in Chapman Stroke Play
Chapman is a fantastic format for players of differing abilities, and handicaps help level the playing field. The USGA provides an official recommendation for calculating a team's handicap in the Chapman System.
The lower-handicap player (Player A) receives 60% of their Course Handicap.
The higher-handicap player (Player B) receives 40% of their Course Handicap.
You add these two numbers together to get your total team handicap for the round. You'll then apply these strokes on the hardest holes, as indicated by the handicap line on the scorecard (1 through 18).
An Example of Handicap Calculation:
Let's say Amy is a 10 handicap and her partner, Ben, is a 24 handicap.
Ben (Player B): 24 Course Handicap * 0.40 = 9.6, which rounds up to 10 strokes
Team Handicap: 6 + 10 = 16 strokes
Amy and Ben's team gets 16 strokes for the round. They will mark a dot on their scorecard on the holes handicapped 1 through 16. If they make a 5 on one of these dotted holes, their net score is a 4.
Chapman in Match Play
Chapman is also a terrific match play format. In this case, you'd calculate both teams' handicaps using the 60%/40% formula. Then, you subtract the lower team handicap from the higher team handicap. The higher handicap team gets strokes on the hardest holes based on the difference.
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Now that you know the rules, let's talk about how to actually win. This format isn't just about good shots, it's about smart teamwork and thinking one step ahead.
1. Create a Balanced Partnership
The best Chapman teams often have complementary skill sets. If you can, pair a long, aggressive driver with a partner who has a superb iron game or short game. The long bomber's job is to get the ball as far down the fairway as possible. Even a slightly wayward shot is okay, because the skilled iron player playing the second shot is often just trying to advance the ball to a good "third-shot" position for the team.
2. Be Smart with the Second Shot
The second shot is arguably the most strategic in the entire format. You're not just playing your partner's ball, you're trying to set the team up for the easiest possible third shot - which will be hit by your partner. Don't be a hero. If your partner hit a monster drive but you have a 220-yard shot over water from their position, the smart play is often a simple layup to a comfortable wedge distance for your partner. Always ask, "What shot do I want my partner to have next?"
3. Constant Communication is a Must
A quiet team is a losing team in Chapman. You should be in constant dialogue.
On the tee: "This is a tight par 4, I'm just going to hit an iron to the 150-marker to be safe."
For the second shot: "You're in good shape here. I feel confident I can get this on the green." or "This is a tricky lie, my main goal is to get you back in the fairway with a good angle."
When selecting the ball: Discuss all the factors - lie, distance, angle to the green, and most critical of all, who is due to hit next.
4. 'Best Ball' Isn't Always Closest to the Hole
A classic mistake is automatically choosing the ball that is nearest to the green after the second shots. The "best" location is the one that gives your team the highest probability of a good score. A ball sitting 100 yards out in the middle of the fairway might be a far better choice than one 75 yards out sitting in deep greenside rough - especially if the partner due to hit the third shot excels with their full wedge shots rather than delicate touch shots.
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One of the great things about Chapman is its versatility. It's a perfect choice for many different situations.
It shines in events where players of widely different skill levels are paired together. It prevents a higher-handicap player from feeling like their bad shots are ruining the team's chances, as there's always a second ball in play off the tee. This takes away a lot of pressure and makes the game more enjoyable for everyone.
The format also keeps a good pace of play, as one ball is taken out of play after the second shot. It’s slightly faster than a Four-Ball (Best Ball) but doesn't feel as intense or punishing as traditional Alternate Shot. If you're looking for a new game to try with your regular group that rewards teamwork and good decisions, give Chapman a try.
Final Thoughts
The Chapman System is a fun and engaging team format that truly tests golf strategy beyond just hitting good shots. It brings teamwork to the forefront, asking you and a partner to communicate, plan, and execute a strategy on every single hole in a relaxed, low-pressure way.
Knowing the rules is one thing, but making the right call under pressure - like choosing the best tactical 'leave' for your partner - is what really separates good teams from the pack. These are the kinds of strategic puzzles we built Caddie AI to solve. Having on-demand, expert-level course strategy in your pocket helps you evaluate tough lies, generate shot plans for unfamiliar holes, and make smarter decisions with confidence, letting you and your partner focus on playing your best golf.
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.
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