Rule 22 - Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot)

Purpose of Rule: Rule 22 covers Foursomes (played either in match play or stroke play), where two partners compete together as a side by alternating in making strokes at a single ball. The Rules for this form of play are essentially the same as for individual play, except for requiring the partners to alternate in teeing off to start a hole and to play out each hole with alternate shots.

22.1  Overview of Foursomes

FoursomesFoursomes (also known as “Alternate Shot”): A form of play where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.(...Continued) (also known as Alternate Shot) is a form of play involving partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. (in either match playMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) or stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued)) where two partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. compete as a sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.

Rules 1-20 apply to this form of play (with the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) playing one ball being treated in the same way as the individual player is treated), as modified by these specific Rules.

A variation of this is a form of match playMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) known as Threesomes, where an individual player competes against a sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) of two partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. who play alternating shots under these specific Rules.

22.2  Either Partner May Act for Side

As both partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. compete as one sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) playing only one ball:

In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), only one of the partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. needs to certify the side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) hole scores on the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) (see Rule 3.3b).

22.3  Side Must Alternate in Making Strokes

On each hole, the partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. must make each strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) in alternating order:

Any penalty strokes for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) do not affect the partners’Partner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. alternating order of play.

Penalty for Making a StrokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in the Wrong Order in Breach of Rule 22.3: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..

In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) must correct the mistake:

22.4  Starting the Round

a. Partner to Play First

The sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) may choose which partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. will play from the first teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) in starting the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., unless the Terms of the Competition say which partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. must play first.

The side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. starts when that partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) to start the side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) first hole.

b. Starting Time and Starting Point

Rule 5.3a applies differently to each partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. based on who will play first for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued):

If either partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. is not present in this way, the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) is in breach of Rule 5.3a.

22.5  Partners May Share Clubs

Rule 4.1b(2) is modified to allow partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. to share clubs, so long as the total number of clubs they have together is not more than 14.

22.6 Restriction on Player Standing Behind Partner When Stroke Made

In addition to the limitations in Rule 10.2b(4), a player must not stand on or close to an extension of the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) behind the ball while their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. is making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) to gain information for the side’s next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).

Penalty for Breach of Rule 22.6: General Penalty.General Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.