How is a hole scored in Four-Ball

In Four-Ball, your side's score for each hole is the lower of the two partners' scores. If only one of you holes out, that score stands and the other partner can pick up. If neither finishes, you lose the hole in match play or get disqualified in stroke play unless you fix it in time.

How the hole score is decided

You and your partner each play your own ball. At the end of the hole, the side's score is simply the better (lower) of the two. If you both hole out, take the lower number. If only one of you finishes — say your partner makes par and you're lying six in a bunker — the par counts and you can pick up. No need to grind it out once the team score is set.

When nobody finishes the hole

If both of you pick up or get disqualified on a hole before holing out, the side has no score. In match play that means you lose the hole, unless your opponents already conceded or lost it themselves. In stroke play it's more serious: the side is disqualified unless the mistake gets corrected before you turn in the card under Rule 3.3c.

The scorecard rules in stroke play

You turn in one card for the side. At least one partner's gross score must be written down for every hole, and it has to be clearly labeled with that player's name — "Side 4" isn't enough. You can write both scores if you want, no penalty. Only one partner needs to sign the card. The committee then picks which score counts, applies any handicap strokes, and if the counting score isn't tied to the right player, the side is disqualified.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Your partner has already holed out and your ball only needs to drop to lower the side's score by one stroke → If someone deliberately stops or deflects your ball when it has no real chance of going in, there's no penalty to that person and your ball simply doesn't count for the side (Rule 23.2c).
• In match play, neither side completes the hole → The side whose player was last to pick up or be disqualified from the hole actually wins the hole (Interpretation 23.2a/1).

Frequently asked questions

Do both partners have to hole out in Four-Ball?

No. Once one partner holes out, that score becomes the side's score and the other partner can pick up. Only if you need the second score to beat the opponents or set the team total does the other player need to finish.

What happens if we both pick up in stroke play Four-Ball?

The side is disqualified unless the mistake is corrected before the scorecard is returned. You have to go back and finish the hole properly under Rule 3.3c.

Can I write both our scores on the scorecard?

Yes, you can enter both partners' gross scores for any hole. There's no penalty for doing so, but each score must be clearly identified to the individual player who made it.

Who signs the Four-Ball scorecard?

Only one partner needs to certify the hole scores on the side's scorecard. The other partner doesn't have to sign.

What if the committee can't tell which partner made which score?

The side is disqualified. Every score on the card must be clearly labeled with the individual player's name — a generic "side score" isn't enough.