Greensome Golf Format: The Rules Explained
Greensome is the perfect middle ground between a scramble and Foursomes: on every hole, both partners tee off, the team keeps the better ball… then shots alternate until the ball is holed. Two chances off the tee, then just one ball. You get all the flavour of alternate shot — every stroke commits your partner, every hole is built by two — without the harshness of Foursomes, where a poor tee shot costs you straight away. The format is played by 4, in two teams of 2, and scored either as match play (1 point per hole won) or as stroke play (the lowest total of strokes wins). It is perfect for pairs of different abilities: the steady player makes sure there is a ball in play, the other can attack. The only subtlety to watch is the order of play, which depends on the ball chosen — if the team keeps A's ball, B plays the next shot, then A, and so on.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play Greensome, hole by hole
- Form 2 teams of 2 players. On every hole, both players on the team tee off.
- The team picks the better tee shot — the other ball is abandoned.
- Shots then alternate from the chosen ball, until the ball is holed.
- Stick to the order: if player A's ball is the one chosen, B plays the 2nd shot, A the 3rd, and so on.
- Score with the format you chose: in match play, 1 point for the team with the lower score on the hole; in stroke play, the lowest total of strokes over the whole round wins.
Par 4 — Léa and Bastien tee off: Léa finds the fairway, Bastien the trees → the team keeps Léa's ball. So Bastien plays the 2nd shot: onto the green, 3 m away. Léa holes the putt: 3, a birdie. Facing them, the opponents' better tee shot only yields a 4 → the hole goes to Léa & Bastien (1 pt). End of the game in match play: Léa & Bastien 8 holes won, their opponents 6, four holes halved — victory.
Where does Greensome sit between a scramble and Foursomes?
| Format | Off the tee | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Scramble | Everyone tees off | Everyone plays on from the best ball, shot after shot |
| Greensome | Both partners tee off, the better ball is kept | Alternate shot until the ball is holed |
| Foursomes | A single tee shot per team | Alternate shot until the ball is holed |
Less brutal than Foursomes — two chances off the tee forgive the poor tee shot — but far more demanding than a scramble: after the tee shot, every stroke really counts, and there is no second chance.
Two ways to score
- Match play (by holes): 1 point for the team with the lower score on the hole.
- Stroke play (by total): total strokes over the whole round — 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.
Strategy tip
On the tee, the first player plays it safe and the second attacks: a ball in play frees up your partner. And think about the order of play before you choose the ball: keeping your own tee shot means handing the approach to your partner — so choose with the next shot in mind too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Greensome and Foursomes?
In Foursomes, the team plays a single ball from the tee to the hole, in strict alternation. In Greensome, both partners tee off, the team keeps the better ball, and only then do the shots alternate. Greensome therefore forgives a poor tee shot.
Who plays the second shot in Greensome?
The partner of the player whose ball was chosen. If the team keeps player A's tee shot, B plays the 2nd shot, A the 3rd, and so on until the ball is holed.
Is Greensome played as match play or stroke play?
Both. In match play, the team with the lower score wins the hole and scores 1 point; in stroke play, the strokes are added up over the whole round and the lowest total wins. Both variants can be set up in the Game of Swing app.
How many players is Greensome for?
4 players, in two teams of 2. Each team plays two tee shots on every hole, then plays just one ball, in alternate shots, until it 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; Greensome 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 Greensome with no arguments over the score
Enter each team's score: the Game of Swing app counts by holes or by total, whichever you choose, and keeps the leaderboard live. The order of play stays between you: once the ball is chosen, it is the other player's turn — a rule two players can keep without entering anything mid-hole. Greensome is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
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