I know they play it more than one would expect at Muirfield but day in and day out does any club or group of golfers play foursome golf more often than the other two formats?

You should read the debate that convulsed the early Lesley Cup regarding whether to play foursome competition of individual match play.

Very popular in the UK, I think to keep things moving along.  When my wife and I visited Alwoodley in Leeds last summer, our host and his wife suggested we play a match under what he called "Pinehurst" rules, which turned out to be a modified Chapman.  We all drove, each played his partners drive for the second shot, picked the best result, and finished the hole alternate shot.

We had a great match, as we built a 3 up lead through 12, they came back to square the match on 16, and we won it when my wife chipped in for birdie from behind #17 and our hosts got messed up in the fairway bunker on 18.  What fun.  We should be playing more golf like that.

I'm looking forward to at least one round of foursome play at Hoylake in the upcoming Buda Cup.  Go Yanks!  

Rich

Deal (Royal Cinque Ports) is another of the two-ball only clubs.  Get around quick, or else!  They walk very quickly between shots.  They also (apparently) play a lot of foursomes - get around quicker (I think they like 2 hours 40 minutes).

There is a course on the Monterey Peninsula where early morning two-balls are played.  I think foursomes may occur when there are more than two guests.  Only going on what I thought I saw, rather than what I know at this club.

James B

The Northumberland has a foursomes knock-out matchplay competition each year and we also have three of four foursomes strokeplay or Stableford competitions in our competition diary.

It certainly occurs to me that one facet of perserving the prevalence of foursome golf in GB is that apparently the handicap system over there doesn't even allow for the posting of scores in rounds played recreationally in the match play or stroke play format. The only rounds permitted for handicap purposes seem to be what they call the monthly medal (for handicap purposes).

Over here all recreational rounds are allowable for handicap purposes and even if golfers over here were inclined to play foursome golf they might refuse to do it because there could be no handicap posting as a result of it.

Don't worry Rich, I doubt Americans would want to play foursome golf anyway but there seems little question our handicap system serves to prevent it if they did.  

It certainly occurs to me that one facet of perserving the prevalence of foursome golf in GB is that apparently the handicap system over there doesn't even allow for the posting of scores in rounds played recreationally in the match play or stroke play format. The only rounds permitted for handicap purposes seem to be what they call the monthly medal (for handicap purposes).

Over here all recreational rounds are allowable for handicap purposes and even if golfers over here were inclined to play foursome golf they might refuse to do it because there could be no handicap posting as a result of it.

Don't worry Rich, I doubt Americans would want to play foursome golf anyway but there seems little question our handicap system serves to prevent it if they did.  

Tom

You still don't understand the CONGU handicapping system, or this "monthly medal" thing, even though I try to educate you every 6 months or so........

OK, just one more time.......

1.  Most clubs in the UK have from 4-6 "monthly medals" (i.e. proper rounds played under the Rules of Golf, with a Committee, proper peer review, etc.
2.  Each club also holds from 2-5 "Open" competitions every year, which anybody from any club can play in (even You!).
3.  So, an active golfer, who plays all his club medals and a good number of open competitions at other clubs, can easily post 10 rounds/month over the spring/fall season.

Corollary--The reason people in the UK like foursomes is the speed of play, and the fact that it is much more sociable than any four-ball, whether the latter is played over match play or medal play.

Slainte

Rich
2.  

Rich:

OK, so if somebody plays every single medal round he can play he can turn in 10 rounds in a month. Big deal. What if he decided to turn in one round in a month? Would he have a legitimate handicap?  

See what I mean?

"Corollary--The reason people in the UK like foursomes is the speed of play,...."

Rich:

What are they in such a hurry for over there? Are they trying to subsidize the bar business or something?

Foursomes are not a part of the US fabric of golf...and won't be.

At some private clubs, foursomes are played perhaps once or twice a year in events. Regional golf associations usually have some foursomes as well, usually couples competitions. Is there a national foursomes event sponsored by the USGA?



I have yet to see foursomes played at a public courses.

The decline (in percentage terms) in club membership in favour of pay as you play golf means that more golfers nowadays play at multiple venues. Golfers who play 10-40 rounds per year but rarely more than once or twice a year at any single course are more likely to insist upon playing their own ball, as they otherwise have little opportunity to see much of that course.

We play a mini Ryder Cup style event twice per year, and so I twice per year play nine holes of foursomes. Otherwise, I'd need to play most of my golf at one place to be interested to do so far more often.

Tom

If I read your posts closely enough, I could probably post your scores for you!  Shirley you have played a USGA postable round of golf since August 25, 2005?

Ricardo

Rich:

I guess given the latitude of the USGA's handicap system I sure could've posted a few scores (I do have four scores to post from the PV senior member/guest) but the thing about me now is it doesn't seem I really need a handicap. What would I be using it for if I'm not playing? Obvioiusly you do because you play a lot and you need it for that but what am I using mine for now? So what would I be posting for? So you can look it up on the Internet and comment on it?  

When I played a lot my handicap was probably about as representative as a handicap can get because everything I posted were tournament scores.

By the way, who is Shirley? Or does she spell her name Surely?

Rich:

I guess given the latitude of the USGA's handicap system I sure could've posted a few scores (I do have four scores to post from the PV senior member/guest) but the thing about me now is it doesn't seem I really need a handicap. What would I be using it for if I'm not playing? Obvioiusly you do because you play a lot and you need it for that but what am I using mine for now? So what would I be posting for? So you can look it up on the Internet and comment on it?  

When I played a lot my handicap was probably about as representative as a handicap can get because everything I posted were tournament scores.

By the way, who is Shirley? Or does she spell her name Surely?

Shirley they wouldn't let you play in the PV Member-Guest if your real handicap was 24?  Or maybe they'd make you play off the ladies tees.  How do they know?

Rich

BTW, you penultimate paragraph tells me you are a CONGU man by heart!

It was really something to see a threesome of kids, about 10 years of age playing a single ball at Brora in the Highlands of Scotland.  One would hit a shot and run ahead to be there when the second boy hit his shot.  They would total their score on each hole against the other groups.
This is a lot better way to teach them the game of golf than running the youngsters around in a golf cart.