What’s your preferred type of 4-ball game format?

[Orikoru]

On a similar vein.....if one of your 4 ball withdraws, are there any decent options for a 3 ball?
We have a few options, including Perch and Barracuda/6 points split, but interested to hear other's opinions.

I've occasionally done skins with 3 people. No actual money, just keeping count of how many skins each player gets. But there is a very possible case of someone winning 4 skins on a hole despite having not played well, so an element of randomness.

 

[nickjdavis]

I've occasionally done skins with 3 people. No actual money, just keeping count of how many skins each player gets. But there is a very possible case of someone winning 4 skins on a hole despite having not played well, so an element of randomness.

Yep....you can play a couple of shots under handicap in Skins and walk away with nothing. The larger the field the more it is all about scoring well (gross birdies) on your shot holes.

 

[ger147]

I almost never play in 4 balls and I don't have regular playing partners.

My normal golf is 3 ball medal play comps and playing on my own on weekday evenings in the summer.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

AS a teenager in the mid 1960's a group of about 6/8 of us usually played late evening summer games
One night someone suggested our 4 play a 3d skins accumulator we were all low handicap so off scratch
We had a run of 11 or 12 halved holes, so we stopped talking and started to feel pretty nervous [£3 was a weeks wages for me then]
Next hole someone suggested that he could not afford to play on the other three very gladly agreed with him.

 

[Springveldt]

Usually chuck the balls in the air and 4BBB matchplay. Losers buy the pints.

If we are down to 3 we’ve just played stableford with the lowest buying the pints.

If down to 2 just matchplay and again loser buys the pints.

It’s been an expensive month for me.

 

[Hobbit]

AS a teenager in the mid 1960's a group of about 6/8 of us usually played late evening summer games
One night someone suggested our 4 play a 3d skins accumulator we were all low handicap so off scratch
We had a run of 11 or 12 halved holes, so we stopped talking and started to feel pretty nervous [£3 was a weeks wages for me then]
Next hole someone suggested that he could not afford to play on the other three very gladly agreed with him.

I subbed in a 4 ball about 40 years ago. One of the other players said, “the usual?” I went along thinking it was a pound & bits. A very tight game followed, and my partner and I sneaked a tight win on the 17th. We played for a ‘bit’ on the 18th.

I was handed £19 after the game. £5, £5, £5 & 4 bits. The thought still shocks me!

 

[clubchamp98]

4BBB throw the balls up two nearest the tee are together.

We have a 82 yr old player off 32 and on his day he’s unplayable.
5 for 3 is very common.

He’s a great lad to have on your side.

Me off 11
One off 2
One off 6.

We just enjoy our golf and take the Mickey out of each other.

Me Liverpool
One Man Utd
Two Everton
Makes for some great banter.
No money involved just bragging rights.

 

[Klimski]

For our annual match we play Greensomes. We match the best player with the worst, and then the middle two together. This is fairest. We all tee off, then each team picks the best drive, and continue alternate shot until holing out. This is a very quick format, which helps us play difficult courses in good time - whilst allowing players to put some focus and effort into each shot that they are taking. Now that everybody in our group is improving, we are considering a 2v2 scramble instead. But that would likely favor the team with the single best player in it. So we are also looking at straight up alternate shot - as that is quicker still. I really enjoy the alternate shot element although (or perhaps because) it can be extremely frustrating: watching your teammate duff a chip after you have hit the most beautiful approach shot hahaha. I quess I enjoy this mental challenge.

 

[LincolnShep]

We'll throw the balls up and do pairs betterball, losing pair buys the coffees.

 

[Orikoru]

For our annual match we play Greensomes. We match the best player with the worst, and then the middle two together. This is fairest. We all tee off, then each team picks the best drive, and continue alternate shot until holing out. This is a very quick format, which helps us play difficult courses in good time - whilst allowing players to put some focus and effort into each shot that they are taking. Now that everybody in our group is improving, we are considering a 2v2 scramble instead. But that would likely favor the team with the single best player in it. So we are also looking at straight up alternate shot - as that is quicker still. I really enjoy the alternate shot element although (or perhaps because) it can be extremely frustrating: watching your teammate duff a chip after you have hit the most beautiful approach shot hahaha. I quess I enjoy this mental challenge.

Surely you're not playing foursomes or greensomes at somewhere you've paid a green fee are you??

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Saturday

Balls thrown up - 4bbb matchplay for £1 front 9 and then back 9 and overall


Same on Sunday except it’s either for the swindle entry fee or first round

 

[Klimski]

Surely you're not playing foursomes or greensomes at somewhere you've paid a green fee are you??

Surely we do. Although I wouldn't play that format at The Old Course or similar. But on an interesting, yet affordable course, we enjoy it. So far our matches have been on the Eden Course (St Andrews), Mullion Golf Club, and Cleeve Hill. None of those are courses I would necessarily need to play solo. And each was around 35-60 quid green fee at the time.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Surely you're not playing foursomes or greensomes at somewhere you've paid a green fee are you??

Some courses you can only play in foursomes if four of you want to play

 

[Beezerk]

Can’t beat a bit of pairs match play imo, get some friendly needle going

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I subbed in a 4 ball about 40 years ago. One of the other players said, “the usual?” I went along thinking it was a pound & bits. A very tight game followed, and my partner and I sneaked a tight win on the 17th. We played for a ‘bit’ on the 18th.

I was handed £19 after the game. £5, £5, £5 & 4 bits. The thought still shocks me!

The first club I joined had people regularly playing for money, whether in a two ball or 4. The unwritten rule was, 50p, never more than that. It didn't matter the amount of bluster or comments before you went out, that was just for show. 50p was the amount. It stopped any nastiness from happening.

The most we do now is pay for the coffees, none of us drink beer after a round, and that evens itself out. No way would I want to play for proper money, and 40yrs ago £19 was a fair chunk

In answer to the question, 4BBB. It just works, it's easy.

 

[Hobbit]

The first club I joined had people regularly playing for money, whether in a two ball or 4. The unwritten rule was, 50p, never more than that. It didn't matter the amount of bluster or comments before you went out, that was just for show. 50p was the amount. It stopped any nastiness from happening.

The most we do now is pay for the coffees, none of us drink beer after a round, and that evens itself out. No way would I want to play for proper money, and 40yrs ago £19 was a fair chunk

In answer to the question, 4BBB. It just works, it's easy.

As for 4-balls, any format for me, even Greensomes & Foursomes.

My regular 4-ball back in the day played for a £1 & 20p bits. Only the losers paid the bits. A £1 was contributed by all 4 players, and an overnighter with two games was paid for from the accumulated pot.

 

[Orikoru]

Surely we do. Although I wouldn't play that format at The Old Course or similar. But on an interesting, yet affordable course, we enjoy it. So far our matches have been on the Eden Course (St Andrews), Mullion Golf Club, and Cleeve Hill. None of those are courses I would necessarily need to play solo. And each was around 35-60 quid green fee at the time.

I would never pay a full green fee to only play half a round!

Some courses you can only play in foursomes if four of you want to play

I would not be interested in that at all. Unless it was half price!

 

[Mel Smooth]

Foursomes is my least favourite format - the notion of me paying a green fee then playing alternate shot doesn't compute with this Yorkshireman..

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I would never pay a full green fee to only play half a round!


I would not be interested in that at all. Unless it was half price!

You can play as a 2 ball but if you want to be with 3 others then a lot of top clubs will mainly only allow foursomes

 

[rulie]

You can play as a 2 ball but if you want to be with 3 others then a lot of top clubs will mainly only allow foursomes

It's like that at Muirfield after lunch, only two balls in play per group. If the group is 4, it's alternate shot. If the group is 3, it's alternate shot for 2 players and a single playing his ball.
You adhere or you don't play.