A greensomes golf tournament is composed of two golfers who play alternate shot golf together. In this scenario, you would play your first shot, your partner would play the second shot, and you would play the third shot. That's all it takes, and you keep playing alternate shots until you complete every hole. Foursomes with Select Drive are often referred to as a Scotch Foursome, as well as a Canadian Foursome, Alternative Shot with Select Drive, or Alternate Shot with Select Drive. However, they are all essentially the same!
As with the Ryder Cup, it's a format similar to Foursomes golf. The only difference is that both players hit every tee shot in Greensomes. Once the shot is teed, you alternate from that point on depending on whose shot is better. Next, both of you start over from the same tee.
How to Play a Greensomes Game?
Step1: You must first work out the handicap allowance of your team. Take 60 percent of the shots from the lowest handicapper, plus 40 percent of the shots from the higher handicapper, following the instructions above.
Step 2: Hit the course! Greensomes require each player to tee off on each hole.
Step 3: From the tee, select your best shot and alternate shots. The next player will play the shot after Player A makes his first attempt, and so on.
Step 4: Upon completing the 1st hole, each of you tees off on the 2nd. You repeat the process until you reach the 18th hole (or whatever number of holes you agree to play).
Step 5: Once you have completed your round, add up your score and subtract your handicap as described in Step 1.
How to Win a Game of Greensomes
Greensomes is a format where you rely heavily on your partners. Moreover, it's fun because most golfers don't get to play with a team or have someone else hit half their shots. Choosing the right partner is therefore crucial to winning greensomes
Pick the Right Partner
Getting along with each other is the most important thing. When golfers play as a pair, they may feel under pressure, particularly if there's a difference in their handicaps - the lower handicapper feels the need to support the higher handicapper, and the higher handicapper does not want to let the lower handicapper down.
Pick a partner that isn't going to put more pressure on you than you, so you can enjoy the greensome format to the fullest. There is no such thing as playing badly on purpose, but if you miss putts that are within 3 feet and make duff shots into the bunker, you don't want to say "sorry" to your partner all the way around.
The Same Can be said for the Other Way
There are golfers I know who were each other's best men at their weddings, but if you put them on a golf course, it becomes a competition and they try to upset each other - even when they're on the same team! Whenever possible, play golf with someone who makes you feel relaxed.
It is ideal to have a golfing partner that complements your style of play as well. You will only get to play half the shots if you use the alternate shot format. You should, therefore, find a partner who likes the fairways and greens just as much as you do. A wild golfer who takes you to a new part of the course is the last thing you want to happen to you.
Don’t Always Pick the Longest Drive
Compared to the full ball format, Greensomes allows you to spend a little more time analyzing and discussing the approach shots. In between two clubs, 80 yards might seem like a nightmare distance to your playing partner, while 90 yards is the perfect distance for a sand wedge. You might want to consider picking the high handicapper's drive if both players have similar handicaps if they are in similar positions. From 150 yards, you'd want a 5-handicapper to have the best shot, just as you would want an 18-handicapper to be lucky from 140 yards.
Don’t tap it in!
Almost naturally, I reacted like that. A five-footer is missed, and you tap it in on the edge of the hole. That will not work! You must play your playing partner's next shot, even if it is from 1 inch from the hole, as it is an alternative shot format.
That's why you should always use your putter on the green. This is true even if the chip has reached two feet. A missing tee shot means having to trek 50 yards to fetch your putter as you’re playing partner is embarrassed!
Conclusion
The greensomes format is more forgiving than a foursome format in that a team gets two chances to hit their second shot to a good location rather than playing it from the one drive. In particular, the format negates the catastrophic effect of an out-of-bounds drive by giving the team an additional and perhaps superior option when it comes to attempting a second shot.
