Handicap Allowance in Foursomes (Alternate Shot) Golf

What is foursomes (alternate shot)?

In foursomes, two players form a team and share one ball. They alternate hitting it — one player tees off on odd-numbered holes, the other on even-numbered holes, then they alternate shots until the ball is holed. It's the format used in the Ryder Cup team matches and one of the most demanding formats in golf.

Because two players share a ball and neither plays every shot, the handicap calculation works differently from individual or four-ball formats.

The foursomes handicap formula

The R&A recommended allowance for foursomes is 50% of the combined team Playing Handicap:

Team Playing Handicap = (Player A Course Handicap + Player B Course Handicap) × 50%

Round to the nearest whole number.

Why 50%? Because each player only hits approximately half the shots. Over 18 holes, each team member plays roughly 9 shots (the tee shots on their designated holes, then alternate from there). Giving the full combined handicap would overcompensate significantly.

Stroke play vs match play

In match play foursomes, calculate each team's combined allowance at 50%, then take the difference between the two teams. The higher-handicap team receives the difference as strokes on the hardest holes.

Worked example (stroke play)

Player A: Course Handicap 12 Player B: Course Handicap 20

Combined = 12 + 20 = 32 50% of 32 = 16 → Team Playing Handicap: 16

The team receives 16 strokes, allocated to the 16 hardest holes (SI 1–16). On those holes, subtract 1 from the team's gross score to get net.

Worked example (match play)

Team 1: Player A (CH 8) + Player B (CH 14) → combined 22 × 50% = 11 Team 2: Player C (CH 16) + Player D (CH 24) → combined 40 × 50% = 20

Difference = 20 − 11 = 9. Team 2 receives 9 strokes on the 9 hardest holes (SI 1–9).

Who tees off on which holes?

This is agreed before the round starts and must stay fixed. The typical approach:

• Decide which player tees off on hole 1 (odd-numbered holes)
• The other player automatically tees off on all even-numbered holes
• If you go to extra holes in match play, the rotation continues

Strategic consideration: Think about par-3s and long par-5s when deciding who hits the odd/even holes. If your shorter hitter is on the even holes, they'll tee off on the long par-5s — or not, depending on the course's layout. Check the scorecard before you decide.

Common mistakes

Adding full handicaps instead of 50%: The most frequent error. If two players with handicaps of 18 and 22 add them together (40) and apply that to 18 holes, they're getting almost double the correct allowance.

Using Playing Handicap from another format: The Course Handicap is the base — not a Playing Handicap already adjusted for four-ball or Stableford play. Always start from Course Handicap when calculating foursomes.

Choosing who tees off mid-round: You can't change the rotation once play has started. Fix it on the first tee.

Frequently asked questions

Does the better player always tee off on the harder holes? That's the usual strategy, but not a rule. You decide the rotation based on the course layout and your relative strengths. A longer hitter on the longer par-5 tee shots, a more accurate player on the narrow par-4s — but it depends on who hits odd vs even.

What if one player gets injured and can't continue? In stroke play, the team must withdraw. In match play, the team concedes the match. There's no provision for substituting a player mid-foursomes.

Can we change who tees off if we reach a playoff? No — the rotation that started on hole 1 continues through any playoff holes.

Is foursomes the same as a scramble? No. In foursomes, you alternate shots on a single ball, every shot counts, and you can't choose the better ball each time. A scramble lets everyone hit and the team chooses the best shot — completely different format.