Foursomes & Greensomes

"During the winter we play greensomes knock-out competitions.  We can sometimes be confused about how to proceed if penalty shots are incurred or if provisional balls need to be played etc.  because in these formats alternate shots are played.   Judith Elborn has kindly provided the following information to help us all handle these situations correctly".

 

GUIDELINES FOR FOURSOME COMPETITIONS  (See Rule 29 in the Rule Book).

Partners play alternately from the teeing ground and then alternately during each hole until it is completed.  One player elects to play from the odd numbered holes and the other from the even numbers. Shots are then taken alternately until the ball is in the hole.
The handicap allowance is half combined handicaps for stroke play and the difference between the combined handicaps of the two pairs for match play.

Penalty strokes do not affect the order so if player A hits a ball that may be Out Of Bounds or lost, then player B hits the provisional ball. 

In mixed golf if a man hits a ball Out Of Bounds his partner must play from the men’s tee.

If a drop is taken for any reason then the player whose turn to play is the one who drops the ball.

If the players make a mistake and play out of turn, they lose the hole in match play.

In stroke play they incur 2 strokes penalty and must correct the error.

Rules infringements such as hitting the wrong ball usually mean loss of hole in match play and a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play.

 

GUIDELINES FOR GREENSOMES COMPETITIONS

These have the same rules except that the partners both tee off and then choose which ball to play. Players then play alternately until the ball is in the hole.

Handicap allowance is usually weighted in favour of the lower player by calculating 0.6 of the lower player’s handicap plus 0.4 of the higher player’s handicap.