Modified Alternate Shot, often called Greensomes, is a popular two-person team format that blends strategy, teamwork, and a unique rhythm that’s different from your typical four-ball or scramble. It's a fantastic game that reduces the pressure of a bad tee shot while still demanding smart planning and execution from both partners. This guide will walk you through exactly how the format works, how it differs from similar games, and the best strategies to use so you and your partner can come out on top.
So, what sets this format apart? At its core, Modified Alternate Shot is designed to give both players on a team an active role on every hole, starting at the tee box.
The fundamental premise is simple: it’s a two-person team game where both players hit a tee shot. From there, the team chooses the one ball they want to play for the remainder of the hole. The player whose tee shot was not selected picks up their ball and hits the team's second shot. From that point on, the two partners continue hitting alternating shots until the ball is holed.
This "modified" approach is what makes the format so appealing. Unlike traditional Foursomes (or Alternate Shot), where a single bad tee shot can put a team in a terrible position, this format gives you two chances to find a good spot in the fairway. It creates a fun dynamic of risk and reward and places a heavy emphasis on partner communication.
Let's walk through an entire hole to see how the flow of play works in practice. Imagine you and your partner, Alex, are on the tee of a par 4.
Both you and Alex hit your drives. You slice yours slightly into the right rough, but it’s sitting up nicely. Alex hits a perfect draw that lands in the middle of the fairway but is about 20 yards behind your ball.
After both tee shots are complete, you and Alex walk up and look at the two balls. This is the first critical strategic moment. Your ball is further down the hole, but it's in the rough and has a tree partially blocking the direct line to the green. Alex’s ball is in a pristine lie in the fairway with a perfectly clear shot.
You decide Alex’s shot, though shorter, gives the team the best chance for a successful second shot. It’s the higher percentage play.
Since Alex's ball was chosen, you are the one who has to play the second shot. Alex picks up their ball but leaves their chosen ball there for you. You step up and hit the approach shot onto the green.
The ball is now on the green, about 20 feet from the hole. Since you hit the second shot, it's Alex's turn to putt. Alex putts the ball to about one foot from the cup. It’s now your turn again, and you tap in to finish the hole.
You score a 4 on the hole. The rotation is complete, and you move to the next tee, ready to do it all over again.
One of the reasons golfers sometimes get formats mixed up is due to subtle differences in the rules. Let's clarify how Modified Alternate Shot stands apart from other popular team games.
In a standard Foursomes format, partners decide ahead of time who will tee off on the odd-numbered holes and who will tee off on the even-numbered holes. If your partner tees off on hole #1, you hit the second shot, they hit the third, and so on. You don't get two chances at a drive.
The Chapman System is another two-person format that can seem similar on the surface but has one major twist after the tee shot. Like Greensomes, both players hit a drive. But this is where it changes.
In Chapman, the partners switch balls for the second shot. Player A hits Player B’s ball, and Player B hits Player A’s ball. After both second shots are hit, the team then chooses the single best ball to play from that point, and they play alternate shot from there to finish the hole. The player who hit the ball that was picked up hits the team's third shot.
A scramble is perhaps the most common team format in charity and social outings. In a two-person scramble, both players tee off, choose the best shot, and then both players hit their second shot from that spot. This process continues all the way to the green - best shot is chosen, both players hit from there, and so on.
This format is more than just hitting good shots, it’s about playing smart team golf. Here are a few coaching tips to help you and your partner score well.
When selecting which tee shot to play, don't automatically pick the one that's farthest down the fairway. You need to consider several factors:
Good teams talk constantly. Before you decide on a ball, have a quick chat. Say your drive is sitting perfectly but would require your partner to hit a long hybrid they despise. Your partner’s ball is 25 yards back, but the second shot would be with a 7-iron, which they hit with confidence. Taking the shorter drive is the clear choice.
By a similar token, if one of you is a wizard from the sand and the other struggles, this can influence your strategy. You might be more comfortable taking an aggressive line over a fairway bunker if the "miss" sets up the better bunker player for the next shot.
Great Modified Alternate Shot strategy involves thinking about the third shot, not just the second. On a par 5, for instance, you have two drives in play. Drive A is long but in the rough. Drive B is shorter but in the middle of the fairway.
If you take Drive A, your partner will have a difficult second shot from the rough just to advance the ball, likely leaving you with a long, awkward third shot. If you take Drive B, your partner can easily lay up to a great yardage, setting you up for a simple wedge into the green. Thinking about setting up your partner for success on the next shot is the hallmark of a smart team.
There isn’t a single, universally mandated rule for handicapping in a Greensomes event, and tournament organizers will set their own standards. However, a common method is to use a percentage of each partner’s course handicap. For example:
Always be sure to check the specific rules of the competition you are playing in.
Modified Alternate Shot is a brilliant format that offers the perfect blend of teamwork, strategy, and individual contribution. By giving you two chances off the tee, it removes some of the harshest penalties of traditional alternate shot while still requiring you to think and play like a true team.
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