The game of Foursomes golf where a team of two players take alternative shots is the most difficult and to some the most enjoyable form of the game.
It requires that extra layer of thinking psychology as to how to help your partner play well, on top of playing well yourself.
It also often makes it more difficult to get your own game into a rythmn when perhaps you don’t have a long putt or use a driver for many holes.
The majority of golfers prefer fourball play. Foursomes is often regarded as only playing half the course and thereby missing out on the utilitarian ‘value for money’ test.
For those who prefer playing quickly and the sociablity of foursomes, I have drawn up a list of clubs where foursomes is the favoured game. It is interesting to note that they nearly all also welcome dogs as well as being some of the ‘finest’ golf clubs in the UK!
Royal West Norfolk at Brancaster, Aldeburgh, Swinley Forest, Muirfield, Rye, West Sussex, Royal Ashdown, Royal Worlington and Newmarket, Ganton, New Zealand, Woking, Royal St Georges, Royal Cinque Ports at Deal, Prestwick, Huntercombe, Littlestone.
The Berkshire, Sunningdale, Walton Heath and Frilford Heath, rotate their two/three courses between 2 and 4 ballplay.
Royal County Down , Hunstanton, and Piltdown I am told reserve a decent amount of Tee-time for 2-ball matches.
The accuracy of the above is not guaranteed! and we would welcome further information on other clubs. Do send a comment below
1) Always carry your putter on to the green irrespective of the length of your partner’s putt, thereby saving them further embarrassment, as you go off to get your putter, when they miss it!
2) If playing scratch foursomes, restrain your curiosity as to the opponents handicaps. To know they are higher or lower than your own, will not help your psychology in beating them. Perhaps over a beer afterwards they can be divulged!
I think you have missed one of the most important features of foursomes golf and that is that every shot counts. Don’t forget that “it takes two to win and one to lose!”
For those who think they are only playing half the course. may I suggest they play the other half pm? Most good clubs charge a per diem green-fee.
Hi lorne, at my club, Frilford Heath, we always have one of the three courses reserved for two balls and foursomes. The course will be changed on a daily bases. This is great especially at weekends. Sometimes some of our members who are “above the rules” will go out in a three or four ball but this selfish practice should cease, as we have just started to employ a course marshall.
Sounds good news , for the long term, from the EU. Just leaves the small task of re-educating a generation of golfers,brought up watching those lush golf courses on their televisions. Thanks and keep up the good work