Why do club golfers hate foursomes?

For some enthusiasts, foursomes represents the pinnacle of golf—a challenging blend of mental strategy and precise execution, often considered the game's ultimate test. However, much like Marmite, this format elicits strong, divided opinions: deeply cherished by a select few, but largely disliked by the majority.

Many golfers instinctively perceive it as an unproductive use of a round. Consequently, foursomes often remains sidelined at numerous clubs, typically relegated to a minor winter competition, if it features on the calendar at all.

Despite its general unpopularity, some golf commentators and players, like Tom Irwin and Nicola Slater, express strong admiration for the foursomes format. After competing in the prestigious Sunningdale Foursomes—a significant event marking the start of the European golf season—Irwin returned enthusiastically praising its merits.

Irwin stated, "I would personally choose to play foursomes continuously, as I believe it encapsulates the true essence of golf."

He elaborated on the social aspect, noting, "The quality of conversation improves, as players often walk with an opponent while their partner interacts with the other player in their pair. This setup naturally fosters a convivial atmosphere."

Irwin humorously reflected on the sport's inherent absurdity: "Golf is, by its very nature, a somewhat ridiculous game. Essentially, we're hitting a ball across a manicured field with a stick. It's a whimsical activity, almost designed for laughter."

"We don absurd attire, navigate archaic rules, and so on. Foursomes amplifies this eccentricity because your game's trajectory suddenly depends on your partner's actions. They might land your ball in a bush, an impossible lie, or a bunker, and you simply have to accept that outcome."

"Acceptance, especially with a sense of humor, is crucial, as you often find yourself in preposterous positions not caused by your own play."

"It's an art form with a distinct rhythm, where the paramount concern is always: 'What kind of shot am I setting up for my partner?'"

Irwin further elaborated, "Foursomes fundamentally alters your mental approach. Instead of solely focusing on your own shot, you think, 'How can I position this ball favorably near the green?' or 'How can I best set up a birdie opportunity?'"

"However, the underlying thought is always, 'I must avoid leaving my partner in a difficult situation. I need to ensure they have a manageable shot.'"

"This represents a significant shift in how one approaches the golf course, introducing a comprehensive strategic element often absent in many other golf formats."

Why Do Club Golfers Often Dislike Foursomes?

Yet, how frequently does foursomes truly feature in club competitions? Summer schedules are predominantly filled with fourball events, whether stroke play or match play.

While some clubs might occasionally offer greensomes—a variant where both partners drive, the best ball is selected, and then alternate shots continue—this is usually a sporadic occurrence rather than a regular fixture in club competition.

Most club calendars are packed with Stableford competitions, and even Texas Scrambles appear more frequently. This is ironic, given that foursomes was historically considered the core of golf.

Reflecting on the era of golfing legends like Old and Young Tom Morris, their focus wasn't on accumulating points, nor did they frequently engage in stroke play. Instead, alternate shot was their common format.

So, why does this format remain such a hard sell to contemporary golfers?

From my perspective, a primary reason is that many golfers dislike the notion of playing only half the shots in a round.

I've always found this reasoning somewhat peculiar, considering the frequency with which dedicated members play. Is it truly such an inconvenience to embrace a different format occasionally?

However, it's clear that players generally prefer to play their own ball when visiting the club.

Another factor contributing to its resistance must be the format's inherent difficulty. In my view, it represents the purest form of the game precisely because it is the least forgiving.

At our level, how many golfers possess complete confidence in consistently keeping the ball in play? This is a central challenge in foursomes.

Success in foursomes largely hinges on hitting the ball reasonably straight and safeguarding your partner from difficult situations—essentially, avoiding egregious errors will lead to favorable outcomes more often than not.

Personally, I find the tactical aspects immensely appealing. Although I only execute half the shots, my engagement remains absolute throughout the round.

Foursomes introduces strategic considerations that are seldom encountered in fourball play, where the primary objective is almost always to get the ball as close to the hole as possible.

In foursomes, the thought process involves questions like: Which ball offers the best advantage for our team? What is the optimal playing order? Which holes favor which partner's strengths? What are my partner's capabilities and vulnerabilities, and what are my own?

I thoroughly enjoy this entire strategic process, constantly analyzing the game. The dramatic shifts a match can undergo due to a single slice or hook are particularly captivating.

I acknowledge that this format isn't universally appealing, and that many golfers may not wish to approach a round with the intense strategic rigor of a chess match.

Nevertheless, I'm keen to understand why more club golfers don't embrace foursomes. While you might only play half the shots, your involvement is constant in every aspect of the game.

To me, this represents golf at its absolute best.