Greensomes Golf Format
Also known as: Modified Pinehurst, Canadian Foursomes, Foursomes with Select Drive
Greensomes is a popular 2-person team golf format that blends the strategy of selecting the best tee shot with the challenge of alternate shot play. Both players tee off on every hole, the team picks the better drive, and then the player whose drive was not chosen hits the second shot. From there, the team alternates shots until the ball is holed. It rewards both players for contributing off the tee while keeping the strategic tension of alternate shot.
At a Glance
- Type
- Team game (2 players per team)
- Team size
- 2 players (fixed)
- Scoring
- Stroke play or Stableford
- Handicaps
- Off by default; 60% / 40% split when enabled
- Wins
- Lowest team score
The Rules
- Teams consist of two players.
- On each hole, both players tee off.
- The team chooses the best of the two drives.
- The player whose drive was not chosen plays the second shot.
- From the second shot onward, the teammates alternate shots until the ball is holed.
- The team records one score per hole. The team with the lowest total score wins.
Step-by-Step Example Hole
Player A and Player B are partners on a par 4:
How It Differs from Chapman & Foursomes
Greensomes is often confused with Chapman (Pinehurst) and traditional Foursomes (Alternate Shot). Here is how they compare:
| Format | Tee shot | 2nd shot | 3rd shot onward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensomes | Both tee off, pick best drive | Player whose drive was NOT chosen | Alternate shot |
| Chapman (Pinehurst) | Both tee off | Each plays the OTHER player’s ball | Pick best ball, then alternate shot |
| Foursomes (Alternate Shot) | One player tees off (alternates per hole) | Partner hits | Alternate shot |
The key advantage of Greensomes over traditional Foursomes is that both players get to tee off on every hole. Compared to Chapman, the format is simpler because the decision point happens immediately after the drive rather than after the second shot.
Handicap Options
By default, Greensomes in Squabbit is played without handicaps (gross scoring). When you enable handicaps, each player’s handicap is weighted to produce a combined team handicap.
Default Handicap Percentages
| Player | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Lower-handicap player | 60% |
| Higher-handicap player | 40% |
For example, if Player A has a handicap of 8 and Player B has a handicap of 20:
These percentages are fully customizable in Squabbit to match your club’s local rules.
VS Games
When playing Greensomes as a head-to-head VS game (team vs team), the handicap percentages change to an equal 50% / 50% split. You can also use Compare With Lowest handicap usage, which strokes off the lowest handicap in the group so the best player plays at scratch.
Scoring Options
Greensomes supports the following scoring methods:
Stroke Play (default)
The team’s total strokes over all 18 holes are added up. Lowest total wins. This is the standard and most common way to score Greensomes.
Stableford
Instead of counting total strokes, the team earns points on each hole based on their score relative to par. Higher point total wins. This can speed up play since a team can pick up the ball once they can no longer score points on a hole.
Match Play (VS games only)
When playing team vs team, each hole is won, lost, or tied. The team that wins the most holes wins the match. This option is only available when playing a VS game.
Setting Up in Squabbit
To create a Greensomes game in Squabbit:
- Create a new tournament or casual game.
- Under format, choose Greensomes.
- Teams are automatically set to 2 players (the only supported size for Greensomes).
- Optionally enable handicaps and adjust the percentages.
- Optionally change the scoring type from Stroke Play to Stableford.
- Add players and assign them to teams.
During the round, only one score needs to be entered per hole — the team’s score. Both players on the team share the same scorecard.