Team formats · 2 per team players
Chapman: how to play
Also known as Pinehurst, American Foursomes
Both drive, swap balls, pick one, then alternate shots to the hole.
Chapman, also called Pinehurst or American Foursomes, is the thinking golfer's pairs format. Both partners tee off, then each plays a second shot with their partner's ball. The team chooses the better of those two positions, and the partner whose ball was not chosen plays the third shot. From there you alternate until the ball is holed.
It mixes the freedom of Four Ball on the first two shots with the pressure of Foursomes on the rest, and the decision after the second shots is where matches are won. Golf Daddy keeps one team score per hole with the right team handicap.
Score Chapman in Golf Daddy
Pick Chapman on the first tee and the app applies the strokes, keeps the live leaderboard and settles the points for the whole group. Free on iPhone and Android.
Chapman rules
- 1.Both partners tee off.
- 2.Each partner plays a second shot with the other's ball.
- 3.The team picks the better of the two balls after the second shots.
- 4.The partner whose ball was not chosen hits the third shot; partners then alternate until holed.
- 5.One team score per hole; lowest total wins, gross or net.
How handicaps work
Golf Daddy uses a team handicap of 60% of the lower course handicap plus 40% of the higher, the WHS allowance for Chapman. Chapman rounds do not count towards your individual handicap.
Worked example
Partners off 8 and 16: team handicap is 60% of 8 (4.8) plus 40% of 16 (6.4) = 11.2, rounded to 11.
Tips and variations
- Think ahead when choosing the ball after the second shots: the player who did not hit it plays next, so pick the position that suits their game.
- The format rewards two straight hitters over one bomber.
- Agree the order of play for putting before you start; it is fixed by whose ball was chosen.
Chapman FAQs
What is the Chapman format in golf?
Both partners drive, each plays the other's ball for the second shot, the team picks one, and then partners alternate shots until the ball is holed.
Is Chapman the same as Pinehurst?
Yes. Chapman, Pinehurst and American Foursomes all describe the same format.
What is the handicap allowance for Chapman?
60% of the lower course handicap plus 40% of the higher, which is what Golf Daddy applies.
Related formats
All golf formats and games →Play Chapman this weekend
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