Golf formats

Greensomes

Also called Scotch foursomes, modified foursomes

Greensomes is foursomes with the misery taken out. Both partners drive, you pick the better tee shot, and then you alternate to the hole from there.

How it works

1. 1Both players on a side hit a tee shot.
2. 2The side chooses which drive to keep, and the player whose drive was NOT chosen plays the next shot.
3. 3From there the partners alternate strokes until the ball is holed.

Handicaps

The common allowance is 60% of the lower handicap plus 40% of the higher, giving one figure for the side. Check what your organiser has set — greensomes allowances vary more between groups than any other format.

Playing it well

• The safe drive is often worth more than the long one, because your partner has to play it.
• Both of you should still commit to the tee shot. Two tentative drives leaves you no choice at all.