Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
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When each fits
Choose Chapman when partners should both drive, play each other's second shot, then select one ball and complete the hole with alternate shots. Choose foursomes when a side wants one ball throughout, alternating shots and teeing order, with no Chapman-style second-ball choice.
Chapman in brief
Two partners swap second shots, choose one ball, then finish with alternate shots.
foursomes in brief
Partners share one ball and alternate shots, including alternating who tees off on each hole.
Table
| Comparison | Chapman | foursomes |
|---|---|---|
| One line | Two partners swap second shots, choose one ball, then finish with alternate shots. | Partners share one ball and alternate shots, including alternating who tees off on each hole. |
| Players | Two players per side. A single pair can enter a stroke-play field; four players, in two pairs, make a head-to-head contest. Ideal: four in a playing group, or a larger event made up of two-player sides. | Minimum: 4 for a head-to-head match (two sides of two); ideal: 4. A two-player side can also play foursomes in a stroke-play field, but two people alone cannot create a head-to-head match. |
| Scoring unit | Strokes per hole and total team strokes; the lowest net total wins in stroke play. A club may instead specify a match-play or side-bet settlement, but that is a competition choice. | Holes in match play; total strokes in stroke play. |
| Handicap method | For standard Chapman/Pinehurst stroke play, use the WHS recommended team allowance of 60% of the lower Course Handicap plus 40% of the higher Course Handicap. Apply the percentages to each player's unrounded Course Handicap before rounding the resulting team Playing Handicap. The Committee or competition Terms should state the allowance; do not automatically reuse this stroke-play recommendation for an unstandardised match-play version. | WHS Appendix C recommends 50% of the combined team Course Handicaps for foursomes. The allowance is applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap; the Committee or relevant national association sets the competition terms. Illustrative calculation: Alex 10 plus Ben 18 gives a combined 28, and 50% gives a team Playing Handicap of 14 before any competition-specific rounding or conditions. |
| Money settles how | No inherent money settlement. If Alex and Ben play Chris and Dana for an agreed dollar stake, the Terms should state whether the stake is settled on the winning net total, each hole, or another agreed side game; Chapman itself does not prescribe betting. | No money settlement is part of the Rules of Golf. If stakes are agreed, partners can settle a match bet at the end of the match, or use an agreed per-hole side bet; write the house terms down before starting. |
| Pace | Usually slower than ordinary four-ball and potentially similar to foursomes, because all four players hit a tee shot, then each plays the partner's ball before the team selects one ball and continues with alternate shots. This is an editorial tendency, not a measured rule or timing claim. | Often faster than individual stroke play because a side plays one ball, but not guaranteed: alternating turns and partner decisions can create delays. Treat this as an editorial tendency, not a measured rule or promise. |
| Best for | A four-player team competition where partners want both players involved on every tee shot and an alternate-shot finish that rewards joint decisions. It suits a club day or friendly event with written Terms covering handicaps, ties and any stakes. | Four players who want a genuine team match with shared responsibility for every shot. It suits a head-to-head contest where communication and a fixed teeing order matter as much as individual ball-striking. |
| Weakness | The format can feel slow and awkward at the second-shot selection: both partners must play the partner's ball, and the team then loses one of the two balls before alternating to the hole. Uneven team handicaps or unwritten house rules can also cause disputes. | One poor shot belongs to the side and can leave the partner an awkward next shot, so the format can feel unforgiving and less suitable when players want independent scores. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. Alex and Ben both tee off, swap balls for their second shots, select one and alternate to finish in 4; Chris and Dana finish in 5. The event must specify the scoring and handicap terms. Alex and Ben alternate strokes at one ball and complete the hole in 4; Chris and Dana complete it in 5. The first side wins a scratch foursomes hole.
Rule reference: Rule 22 (Foursomes); WHS Appendix C; Chapman/Pinehurst sequence in USGA handicap guidance
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
How do Chapman and foursomes score differently?
For Chapman: Strokes per hole and total team strokes; the lowest net total wins in stroke play. A club may instead specify a match-play or side-bet settlement, but that is a competition choice. For foursomes: Holes in match play; total strokes in stroke play.
How do handicaps apply in Chapman vs foursomes?
Chapman: For standard Chapman/Pinehurst stroke play, use the WHS recommended team allowance of 60% of the lower Course Handicap plus 40% of the higher Course Handicap. Apply the percentages to each player's unrounded Course Handicap before rounding the resulting team Playing Handicap. The Committee or competition Terms should state the allowance; do not automatically reuse this stroke-play recommendation for an unstandardised match-play version. foursomes: WHS Appendix C recommends 50% of the combined team Course Handicaps for foursomes. The allowance is applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap; the Committee or relevant national association sets the competition terms. Illustrative calculation: Alex 10 plus Ben 18 gives a combined 28, and 50% gives a team Playing Handicap of 14 before any competition-specific rounding or conditions.
When should I choose Chapman instead of foursomes?
Choose Chapman when partners should both drive, play each other's second shot, then select one ball and complete the hole with alternate shots. Choose foursomes when a side wants one ball throughout, alternating shots and teeing order, with no Chapman-style second-ball choice.