Golf Glossary
Chapman Foursome
In short
The Chapman foursome is a format for teams of two. Both partners tee off, then each plays the second shot with the other’s ball. The team then chooses one of the two balls and plays it with alternate shots until it is holed. There is one team score per hole. It is also called Pinehurst or the Chapman system.
What is a Chapman foursome?
A foursome in golf is a format in which two partners form a team and play one ball together. In classic foursomes the partners alternate shots from the start. The Chapman foursome is a popular variation: it starts with two balls and finishes with one.
The appeal lies in the mix. At the start of each hole the team has two chances of a good start. The partners then decide together which ball to continue with, and from that moment strict alternate shot applies, just as in classic foursomes.
This makes the Chapman more forgiving than classic foursomes. One poor tee shot does not ruin the hole. At the same time the format calls for teamwork and good communication, which is why it is popular for club competitions, pairs events and mixed competitions where women and men play together.
Chapman foursome rules: order of play shot by shot
The sequence is always the same and has four steps.
- Step 1: Both partners tee off, each with their own ball.
- Step 2: The partners swap balls. Player A plays the second shot with player B’s ball, and B plays the second shot with A’s ball.
- Step 3: The team chooses the better of the two balls. The other ball is picked up and no longer counts.
- Step 4: The chosen ball is played with alternate shots until it is holed.
Who plays the third shot? This is the most common question. The third shot is played by the partner whose second shot was not chosen, in other words the player who teed off with the chosen ball. That keeps the alternation going with that ball.
The team score includes every stroke with the chosen ball: the tee shot, the second shot and all further strokes, plus any penalty strokes.
Worked example: a par 4 played as a Chapman
Anna and Ben play a 340-metre par 4 as a team.
- Anna tees off and finds the fairway, 150 metres from the green.
- Ben tees off into the rough, 170 metres out.
- They swap. Ben plays Anna’s ball from the fairway onto the green. Anna plays Ben’s ball from the rough to just short of the green.
- The team chooses the ball on the green, the one Anna teed off with and Ben hit onto the green.
- Anna plays the third shot, because her second shot was not chosen. She putts to half a metre.
- Ben holes out with the fourth stroke.
The team records 4, a par. Had they chosen the ball short of the green, Ben would have played the third shot. Some teams use this tactically: if both balls lie equally well, they choose the one that gives the stronger player the next shot.
Chapman handicap allowance
Because the team only plays one ball into the hole, it does not receive the full sum of both handicaps. The terms of the competition set the allowance. The World Handicap System gives a recommendation for this format in Appendix C.
- The partner with the lower handicap contributes 60 per cent of their handicap.
- The partner with the higher handicap contributes 40 per cent.
- Both values are added together and only then rounded.
Example: Anna plays off 12, Ben off 28. 60 per cent of 12 is 7.2, 40 per cent of 28 is 11.2. Together that makes 18.4, so the team plays off 18.
In friendly games people often simplify this, for example by halving the combined handicaps. In official competitions the terms of the competition always apply. A Chapman is not an individual round, so it does not count towards your personal handicap.
Origin: Dick Chapman and Pinehurst
The format is named after the American amateur golfer Dick Chapman, who won several major amateur titles in the 1940s and 1950s, including the US Amateur and the Amateur Championship in Britain. Chapman spent a great deal of time in the golf town of Pinehurst, North Carolina. The format developed there, which is why it is also known as Pinehurst in the USA. In the early 1950s Chapman worked with the USGA to formalise the format and set suitable handicap allowances.
In Germany the name Chapman-Vierer is standard. In English-language competition terms you will usually see Chapman, Pinehurst or American foursomes. They all describe the same sequence. Still, check the details in the terms of the competition, because some clubs use small house variations.
Common mistakes and tips for your team
Most mistakes in a Chapman concern the order of play. After the ball has been chosen, alternate shot applies as in classic foursomes, and a stroke in the wrong order is penalised in the same way. In stroke play the team receives two penalty strokes and must correct the mistake. In match play it loses the hole.
These tips help:
- Agree who plays before the third shot. Rule of thumb: whoever teed off with the chosen ball plays the third shot.
- Mark your balls differently so you do not get mixed up when swapping.
- Do not choose the ball on distance alone. A good lie on the fairway is often worth more than ten metres closer in the rough.
- Pick up the unused ball promptly to keep play moving.
- Use your team’s strengths. If one partner putts better, the ball choice can influence who plays on the green.
Chapman vs greensomes vs classic foursomes
Golf has several foursome formats that are easily confused.
- Classic foursomes: the partners alternate from the start. One tees off on the odd holes, the other on the even holes.
- Greensomes: both tee off, the team chooses the better drive, then alternate shot follows. The second shot is played by the partner whose drive was not chosen.
- Chapman: both tee off, both play a second shot with the partner’s ball, and only then is a ball chosen.
- Canadian foursomes: the term is not used consistently. It often describes a format similar to greensomes, so check the terms of the competition.
So the Chapman gives the team two shots of leeway before choosing, greensomes one and classic foursomes none. Four-ball better ball is different again: each partner plays the whole hole with their own ball and the better score counts.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Alongside the Resort Cup and fun competitions, Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg in Moorfleet also runs team competitions in which you play as part of a team. The format for each event is set out in its competition terms. To practise as a pair, try the par 33 Black 9-hole course. It is open from April to December to players with the DGV Platzreife (course permit), and you book tee times online for up to four players.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Chapman foursome work?
Both partners tee off. Each then plays the second shot with the other’s ball. The team chooses one ball and finishes the hole with alternate shots, while the other ball is picked up. There is one team score per hole, which includes every stroke played with the chosen ball.
Who plays the third shot in a Chapman?
The third shot is played by the partner whose second shot was not chosen, which is the player who teed off with the chosen ball. After that, strict alternate shot applies. Playing in the wrong order costs two penalty strokes in stroke play and loss of the hole in match play.
How is the Chapman handicap calculated?
The World Handicap System recommends 60 per cent of the lower handicap plus 40 per cent of the higher handicap, added together and then rounded. With handicaps of 12 and 28 that gives 7.2 plus 11.2, which is 18.4, so the team plays off 18. The terms of the competition always take precedence.
What is the difference between a Chapman and greensomes?
In greensomes both partners tee off and the team chooses the better drive straight away, then plays alternate shots. In a Chapman both partners also play a second shot with the other’s ball, and only then does the team choose. The Chapman therefore gives one more shot of leeway.
As of: October 2026