{"id":6,"date":"2026-08-24T04:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T04:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/learn\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2026-08-24T04:37:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T04:37:24","slug":"fourball","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/fourball\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourball Golf Format: Scoring, Order of Play and Common Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fourball is played by two sides of two players. Each golfer plays their own ball, and the lower score made by either partner on a hole is the side’s score for that hole.<\/p>\n

How fourball scoring works<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. All four players play their own ball from tee to hole.<\/li>\n
  2. Compare the two scores made by each side.<\/li>\n
  3. The lower score counts for that side.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Example: if one partner makes 4 and the other makes 6, the side records 4. In match play, the side with the lower score wins the hole. In stroke play, the lower score is entered for the side.<\/p>\n

    Order of play<\/h2>\n

    Partners may play in the order that helps their side. One player can play first to give information; the other can play later with that information in mind. Always follow the format and competition conditions set by the Committee.<\/p>\n

    Common questions<\/h2>\n

    Does both partners’ score count?<\/h3>\n

    Both players complete the hole, but only the better score counts for the side unless a competition condition says otherwise.<\/p>\n

    Can a player pick up?<\/h3>\n

    In match play, a player may generally pick up when their score cannot help the side. In stroke play, follow the competition conditions and make sure the side has a valid score.<\/p>\n

    Before you play<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Confirm whether the competition is match play or stroke play.<\/li>\n
    • Check handicap allowances and the scorecard procedure.<\/li>\n
    • Agree how you will communicate when one ball is already in a strong position.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Rules note:<\/strong> This guide is educational. For a ruling, consult the current official Rules of Golf and the Committee’s competition conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      A practical English guide to fourball: two-player sides, best-ball scoring, order of play and common mistakes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/golficial.ai\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}