Foursome
The foursome is the team format of play with only one ball, which both partners hit alternately.
In the foursome a two-player team plays a single ball. Partner A tees off on the odd holes, partner B on the even ones. Afterwards both alternate stroke by stroke until the ball is holed. The format is also called alternate shot. Internationally it is known from the Ryder Cup, where it is played on Friday and Saturday. It is considered the hardest team format, because every mistake of one hits the other directly.
An example shows the logic: on a par 4 you tee off and land in the rough. Your partner must play from the rough onto the green. You putt. If you hit a bad tee shot, not only you pay for it but the team. Therefore good foursome pairs agree on every situation in advance. Whoever plays the dogleg better from the left should take the matching tee shots. You fix the tee shot order before the round and cannot change it any more.
A common mistake is the wrong team building. Two long hitters are rarely the best pair. A safe fairway player and a strong short game player complement each other better. Also the right ball choice is important: you play the same ball model, because the ball may not be changed within a hole. The foursome belongs to the Matchplay family, but is also played as stroke play.
FAQ
Who on our team should tee off on the even holes, and who on the odd ones?
Look at the scorecard before the round and check on which holes the decisive drives fall. The longer or safer driver takes the side on which the difficult tee shots lie, the other one the rest. The split is binding — if the wrong partner tees off, there are penalty strokes.
May we change the ball in the foursome, for example at the putter?
No, within a hole the same ball is played through. Therefore it is sensible that both partners play the same ball model, so that the feel when chipping and putting does not differ. Only at the next tee a new ball may come into play.
How do we avoid conflict after mistakes in the foursome?
Agree before the round that mistakes are not commented on — silent reproaches destroy a team faster than any slice. Whoever lays the ball in the bunker leaves the difficult task to the partner; that belongs to the format. Whoever tries the team format for the first time is best off starting with a round of fourball.