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Four-ball match play. It uses all 16 players neatly as four groups of four, so each player has a partner while still competing hole by hole against another side. The WHS recommendation gives four-ball match play a 90% allowance, and match-play strokes are then applied relative to the lowest Playing Handicap in each match.
What to agree before play
Sixteen players cannot play as one Rules-defined group; use separate tee times or four groups of four and publish the schedule. Do not apply the 85% four-ball stroke-play allowance to four-ball match play, or use a generic team percentage for a house game without the Committee's Terms of Competition. Pairs and teams need a clear draw, handicap source, and tie procedure; a casual side game may use house rules but should not be presented as a WHS competition format.
Table
| Game or arrangement | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Four-ball match play | Run four simultaneous four-player matches, with each side's better net score deciding each hole and the WHS 90% four-ball match-play allowance. |
| Four-ball stroke play | Make eight pairs into four sides and rank their best net score on each hole, using the recommended 85% allowance. |
| Individual Stableford | Send the 16 players out in several tee groups but score everyone individually on points against each hole's par, using the recommended 95% individual Stableford allowance. |
| Individual match play | Use a seeded knockout or staged round-robin schedule, with pairs playing separate matches and the lowest Playing Handicap set to zero against the opponent. |
| Foursomes | Form eight pairs and schedule four head-to-head matches per wave, with partners alternating shots and using 50% of each side's combined handicap. |
| Greensomes or Pinehurst/Chapman | Form eight pairs, retain the better drive and then play the selected-ball sequence under agreed format rules, using 60% of the lower handicap plus 40% of the higher. |
| Four-player scramble | Make four teams of four and use the recommended 25%/20%/15%/10% low-to-high handicap allowance, with the competition specifying its selection and scoring rules. |
Worked example
Illustrative four-ball match-play calculation: in one match, Alex and Ben play Chris and Dana; their Course Handicaps are 10, 16, 12 and 20. Applying the recommended 90% allowance gives Playing Handicaps of 9, 14, 11 and 18 after rounding, so Alex plays off zero and Ben, Chris and Dana receive 5, 2 and 9 strokes respectively relative to Alex; the other three matches use the same method with their own four players.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.2c and Rule 3.3; Rule 22; Rule 23; WHS Appendix C; WHS Rule 6.2a/1
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
Can all 16 golfers play one handicap match?
Not as one ordinary group. Split the field into four groups of four for four-ball, or schedule separate two-player matches; the group size is an event field, not a single playing group.
What handicap allowance should 16 players use for four-ball?
The WHS Appendix C recommendation is 90% for four-ball match play and 85% for four-ball stroke play or Stableford. The Committee should state the allowance in the Terms of Competition, and local or event policy may differ.
How do strokes work in a four-ball match?
Calculate each player's Playing Handicap using the match's allowance, then make the lowest Playing Handicap zero and give the other players the difference from that lowest figure. Strokes are allocated by hole, and the lower net score for the side wins the hole.
Is a four-player scramble a standard WHS handicap format?
WHS Appendix C provides a recommended four-player scramble allowance of 25% low, 20%, 15% and 10% high handicaps. The Committee still needs to define the scramble's team, drive-selection, ball-placement and scoring conditions.
Should the allowance be applied to Handicap Index or Course Handicap?
Apply the allowance to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap, then round the result. Do not multiply the Handicap Index directly.
Can we use a house handicap for a casual 16-player game?
You can agree a house method for a casual game, but label it clearly as a house rule. Do not describe an unverified percentage as the governing WHS allowance, especially for a non-standard team arrangement.