With the 2018 Ryder Cup approaching, it is time to start looking at the different formats of golf available to you on the course. While it is tempting to stick to your usual round of golf with friends, why not mix it up and try something different?
The opening round of matches at the 2018 Ryder Cup between Europe and the USA will be foursomes.
To play foursomes, you will need four players who split into two teams, each consisting of two players. The basic rule you must follow when playing foursomes is each team of two players only uses one ball and the players must take it in turns to play a shot.
You will sometimes hear foursomes referred to as ‘alternate shot’ as this best explains the format of the game. As a player in a pair playing foursomes golf, you will play every other shot, regardless of where your partner has hit the ball on the previous shot.
However, if you hole a putt but your partner hit the drive on that hole, you will tee off on the next hole. The golfers on a team always alternate who tees off when playing foursomes and again, this is why the format is also known as ‘alternate shot’.
So, despite being unable to control who will be making the most putts during a round, you can control which players will be teeing off on which holes. Therefore, study the course and decide which holes suit which players best off the tee and decide who is going to tee off first.
You should never enter a foursomes tournament in golf and select which of your pair will hit the first tee shot at random. This is the one aspect of the format you can control, so make sure you do a little research and take advantage of deciding who will hit the first tee shot.
When playing foursomes, it pays to have plenty of practice on the putting green before you begin your round.
Due to the way the game develops, it could be possible one player does not make a putt for a few holes. By using the time to hit some putts before the round, at least you will have had the putter in hand before making your first putt on the course, which could come as late as hole 4 or 5.
As you are playing with a partner and it is they who are left with the shot following your own, pressure can build. If you hit a couple of bad shots, do not keep apologising. Likewise, if your partner hits a bad shot do not criticise or try and control the way they play their next shot.
You are both trying to play your best golf, support each other and you will have a great time playing foursomes.
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