I'm playing in my first fourball tournament in a few weekends--it's team match play, two players per side. Having never played this format, I don't want to embarrass myself too much by not knowing very basic rules about order of play.
First question: Say my team (Player A and Player B) has the honour on the first hole. Player A tees off. Does Player B tee off next, or do the teams switch back-and-forth?
Second question: After all players from both teams (A&B and C&D) tee off, A's shot is furthest from the pin, followed by C, then B, and D is closest to the pin. What is the order of play from here? Does it follow the same order of play as if it was stroke play (furthest away hits, then the next furthest away, and so on)? Or do both players from the team whose ball is furthest away both hit first, followed by the players from the other team?
I hope these questions make sense. I read the Rule 23 of the Rule of Golf, and it doesn't seem to cover this topic.
Do any veterans of this format have any other advice to share?
Thanks.
Just seen McIlroy and Olesen are playing together today. Both big United fans go well lads!
Next month, I'll be playing in a member-guest tourney with a new colleague who recently joined my company. Format is a pretty standard 4 ball match play net event, earning points for won/halved holes in 9 hole matches.
Typically when I've done these net Fourball events over the years, I'm in the A flight paired with an extremely capable partner so we're playing against strong competition. Few strokes are given, and it's really just going shot for shot with their best player, which usually helps me play better.
Based on partners cap of 28.7, I expect we'll be in the middle or towards the back of the flights because I'm currently hovering at scratch.
Only played with partner once, and checking the scorecard he made 2 pars, 1 birdie, 3 bogeys, 4 doubles, 4 triples, and 4 quads for a 110 on a round he said "Wasn't good but wasn't terrible".
Partner is convinced I'm his golden ticket based on my skill, but I'm a little skeptical of the reality and trying to set the right expectations with him so we can have fun.
If we draw a pair of 14 caps who will each get roughly 6-7 strokes per 9 from me but I have the 28 cap on my team, who do you think comes out on top most? Have you been in my current situation, and what happened?
It's reasonable to think I'll get to see everyone's first approach shot on all par 4's and par 5's because I'm a long hitter. I card anywhere from 2-4 birdies every 18 holes depending on my putter. I will be exerting pressure as often as I can, but there is only so much I can do if the putter goes cold. 0 birdies in a 9 hole match would be a big failure for me.
The title is fairly obvious but hear me out....
Recently we played an away fourball match against Clober FC, Scotland. My teammate is 30 years old with a handicap of 10 and I'm 23 years old with a handicap of 11 with about 6 years of golf experience between us. Our opponents handicaps were 12 and 13.
My teammate and I both hit around 250 yards up the middle of the first. One opponent topped his tee shot and the other big right only going around 180 yards. My teammate and I looked at each other, not saying a word but both expressing that we had this match in the bag.
An enjoyable match although we were defeated 3&2. Our opponents holed every putt over 40 ft, got the 'lucky' bounces, had around 6 birdies between them and we struggled. They helped us every hole where to put our tee shots, where the danger was, how the greens read etc.
Why did I find it enjoyable you ask? Our opponents were 72 years old and 69 years old with around 100 years of golfing experience between them. They were very polite and well mannered men with a lot of stories to tell. We enjoyed the company and spirit of the match.
The silver lining for me is that in 50 years time I will still be enjoying the beautiful game as much as I do now.
