Chapman (Pinehurst) Golf Format: The Rules and Two Ways to Score
Chapman — also called Pinehurst — is the cleverest hybrid format in four-player golf: everyone tees off, then the two partners swap balls to play the 2nd shot, the team picks the better position… and the shots then alternate until the ball is holed. It is a perfect mix of scramble and Foursomes: the tee shot and the 2nd shot belong to each player, but as soon as the ball is chosen, strict alternate shot takes over. The result: nobody is ever a passenger — every player touches the ball in almost every phase of the hole, including their partner's ball. The format is scored either as match play (1 point per hole won) or as stroke play (the lowest total of strokes). A delicious format, but one that needs careful scoring: you have to keep track of who teed off, who plays the swap, which ball is kept, then who is next in the alternation — exactly what the app tracks for you.
How to play Chapman, hole by hole
- Form 2 teams of 2 players. Every player plays a tee shot.
- Swap the balls: each player plays the 2nd shot with their partner's ball, not their own.
- Pick the better ball after those 2nd shots — the other is abandoned.
- Alternate shot until the ball is holed from the chosen ball.
- Score with the format you chose: in match play, the team that wins the hole scores 1 point (score shown as UP / DOWN / All Square); in stroke play, the total strokes over the whole course decide the winner.
Hole 12, match play: Léa and Simon tee off. Swap — Simon plays Léa's ball, which landed on the fairway, and Léa plays Simon's, in the rough. Simon's shot finishes at the front of the green: the team picks that ball. Léa chips, Simon holes the putt: 4. Facing them, Nora and Pablo's best effort only yields a 5 → the hole goes to Léa and Simon (1 pt). End of the game: Léa and Simon win 2&1 (5 holes won to 3, 9 halved).
How a hole of Chapman unfolds
| Step | Who plays | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tee shot | Both partners, each with their own ball | 2 balls in play |
| 2. Swap | Each plays the other's ball | 2 new positions |
| 3. Choice | The team compares | The better ball is kept |
| 4. Alternate shot | In turn | Until the ball is holed |
Two ways to score
- Match play (by holes): 1 point for the team with the lower score on the hole, with the score shown as UP / DOWN / All Square.
- Stroke play (by total): total strokes over the whole course — fewest strokes wins.
Both variants can be set up in the app when you create the game: the same rules of play, only the way the winner is decided changes.
Why we love it
Everyone touches the ball on every hole — tee shot, 2nd shot, alternate shot: being a passenger is impossible. And playing your partner's ball on the 2nd shot creates situations, and fits of laughter, that no other format can offer.
Strategy tip
The swap on the 2nd shot is set up from the tee: drive so as to leave your partner the shot they like best — a long iron for one, a safe lay-up for the other. And when it is time to choose the ball, check who plays the next shot in the alternation before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Chapman and Greensome?
In Greensome, the team simply keeps the better of the two tee shots. In Chapman, before choosing, the two partners swap balls to play the 2nd shot: each plays the other's ball. Only after those 2nd shots is the better ball kept, and then the shots alternate.
How does the ball swap on the 2nd shot work?
After the two tee shots, each player plays the next shot with their partner's ball, not their own. The team then compares the two results and picks the better position for the rest of the hole.
Is Chapman played as match play or stroke play?
Either, your choice. In match play, the team that wins the hole scores 1 point, with the score shown as UP / DOWN / All Square. In stroke play, the total strokes over the whole course are added up and the lowest wins. Both variants can be set up in the Game of Swing app.
How many players is Chapman for?
4 players, in two teams of 2. Every player touches the ball in almost every phase of the hole: tee shot, the swap on the 2nd shot, then alternate shot until the ball is holed.
Every format on a single page: step-by-step rules, a worked example, the points scale and a strategy tip — to read the night before a round or to print. The free sample covers 10 formats, including the 5 you can play for free in the app; Chapman is in the complete guide.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
Your next Chapman without losing track
In the Game of Swing app, every hole walks you through the sequence — tee shots, swap, choice of ball — then the score is shown as UP / DOWN or by total, depending on the variant you picked. Chapman is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
Try the app for free → 5 free games, no account required — on your phone and computerGot a game in mind? A house variant to share? The app grows with every update — send us your idea, the best ones join the catalogue.