Rule 23: Four-Ball: Play Together, Best Score Counts
What this is about
This rule explains how you play golf with a team of two players, a ‘four-ball’. You play together as one team against other players or teams. What matters is the best score of the two team members on each hole.
What you need to do
You play together with your partner as one team.
- Both partners play a ball on every hole.
- For each hole, the lower score of the two of you counts as the team score.
- If one of you doesn't finish the hole, the score of the partner who did finish counts.
- If neither of you finishes the hole?
- In match play: your team loses the hole.
- In stroke play: your team is disqualified (can't be included in the results).
- In stroke play, record the scores on one scorecard. Clearly note next to each score which partner made it. If you don't do this, your team will be disqualified.
Common mistake
A common mistake is writing only the combined team score on the card without noting who made which stroke. The rule requires that every recorded score is clearly linked to a specific player, otherwise the card is invalid.
Example
You and your partner, Jan, are playing a four-ball stroke play. On the first hole you score a 5 and Jan scores a 6. You write “You: 5” or “You: 5, Jan: 6” on the scorecard. The team score for that hole is a 5.
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23.1 Overview
Four-ball can be played as match play or stroke play. Each partner plays their own ball. The better score of the two partners on a hole is the side's score. In principle, one partner's play does not result in a penalty for the other partner.
23.2 Scoring in four-ball
23.2a The side's score per hole
The side's score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners. If one partner doesn't hole out, there's no penalty as long as the other partner holes out.
23.2b Scorecard in stroke play
Both partners fill in their scores on the scorecard. The Committee determines which score counts.
23.3 Beginning and end of the round
23.3a Start
The round begins when one of the partners makes a stroke on the first hole.
23.3b End
In match play, the round ends when the side wins the match or when the last hole ends all square. In stroke play, the round ends when both partners finish playing the last hole.
23.3c Hole completed
The hole is completed when both partners have holed out, or one partner chooses not to hole out anymore.
23.4 One or both partners may represent the side
Both partners don't need to be present on every hole at the same time. One partner can represent the side.
23.5 Actions that affect the partner's play
23.5a Actions on behalf of your partner
You may perform any action regarding your partner's ball that your partner is allowed to perform themselves (marking, lifting, replacing, etc.).
23.5b Responsibility
The partner is responsible for the actions of the player.
23.6 Order of play
Partners may play in any order they choose.
23.7 Partners can share the same clubs
As long as the total doesn't exceed 14 clubs.
23.8 Partner may not stand behind the other player
A partner may not stand behind the player making the stroke during the stroke.