Page type: Regional rules guide
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Regional conventions and their limits
In the UK, four-ball is governed by Rule 23 of the R&A Rules of Golf. Two partners form a side, each plays their own ball, and the side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the partners’ scores. In match play, the side with the lower score wins the hole; in a handicap match, net scores are compared after strokes are applied. For a competition using handicaps, the R&A’s WHS Appendix C recommends 90% for four-ball match play. The allowance is applied to each player’s unrounded Course Handicap to calculate a Playing Handicap. In the normal match-play procedure, the lowest Playing Handicap plays from zero and the other three receive the difference from that lowest figure. The committee should state the allowance in the Terms of the Competition, because national associations or committees may set or adjust allowances for the event. England Golf describes Playing Handicap as a competition-only calculation and says the applicable allowance is mandatory in competition play. A club’s social-game arrangement, stake, order of play or any extra local condition should be agreed before starting and must not be presented as a national UK rule.
Table
| Item | Regional reference |
|---|---|
| Format | four-ball |
| Region | UK |
| Local name | Four-ball (the R&A Rules term); England Golf writes the format as “Fourballs” in its WHS competition table. “Better ball” is a descriptive label used in golf, not asserted here as a separate UK rule or universal UK name. |
| Rules context | R&A Rules of Golf Rule 23; Rule 3.2c; WHS Appendix C |
Worked example
Illustrative only, not historical player data: Alex and Ben play Chris and Dana in four-ball match play. Their Course Handicaps are 10, 20, 10 and 20. Applying the recommended 90% allowance gives Playing Handicaps of 9, 18, 9 and 18; the two 9-handicap players play off zero, and each 18-handicap player receives 9 strokes relative to them. The committee’s Terms of the Competition control the event’s allowance and rounding procedure.
Rule reference: R&A Rules of Golf Rule 23; Rule 3.2c; WHS Appendix C
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.englandgolf.org
Common questions
Is four-ball the same as better ball in the UK?
Four-ball is the R&A Rules name for the format in which partners each play their own ball and the lower partner score counts. “Better ball” is a common descriptive label, but this record does not treat it as a separate or universally mandated UK name.
What handicap allowance is recommended for UK four-ball match play?
WHS Appendix C recommends 90% for four-ball match play. Apply it to each player’s unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap, then normally set the lowest Playing Handicap to zero and give the others the relative difference. Check the competition terms.
How is a four-ball match-play hole won?
Each side compares its lower net score for the hole with the opposing side’s lower net score. The side with the lower score wins the hole; equal scores halve it. This follows the four-ball and match-play rules, subject to any valid competition terms.