Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Four-Ball is one of the most common forms or partner golf; however, “Four-Ball” is one of the most unknown terms in golf. Most people mistakenly call it “best ball” which is not correct.
Four-Ball is where two players play as partners, each player plays their own ball, and the lowest score on each hole between the two players count towards their side’s total.
The term “side” is used in golf when two or more partners are competing as a single unit.
Four-Ball can be played as match play or stroke play. It can also be played with or with or without handicaps. If handicaps are used, the USGA recommended handicap allowance is 90% if playing match play and 85% if playing stroke play. There is no longer an additional reduction if the partners have a large range between the two partners’ handicaps; however the Committee could impose a limit. See more on handicap allowances here.
The reason I picked this topic is that this weekend the 72nd Four-Ball Championship and the 31st Women’s Four-Ball Championship. The top men and women amateur golfers of all ages will be competing for the championship trophy and stamping their names in the records books. The men are playing at Bradenton Country Club just south of Tampa while the women are competing at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens.
Follow the action at www.fsga.org
Below are a few Rules that are unique to Four-Ball:
- Only one partner is needed to represent the side. The missing player may join the side between any two holes during the round.
- Partners and their caddies may give advice to each other.
- In stroke play, partners must not agree with each other to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help either of them or any other player.
- Partners may play in order they choose. During the play of a hole if one of the partners is farthest from the hole, the partner who is closer to the hole may play first.
- When playing Four-Ball Match Play, if a shot is conceded by the opponents, the player must not play the shot if it will assist or help their partner. If the player does make a stroke at a conceded ball and it helps his or her partner, the partner that is still to play receives a loss of penalty and the side's score is the score made with the ball that was conceded.
- Partners may share clubs, but only if the combined amount of clubs between the two does not exceed 14.
If you have not played Four-Ball before, I encourage you to try it with some friends next time you plan to tee it up.
