Has the fourball gone out of fashion?

Roger_007

I joined a new golf club this year and discovered that apart from the club matchplay competition, they don't run any fourball* or foursomes competitions at all. (This includes 2man team comps which are really fourballs with full handicap). Virtually all comps are either strokes or stableford singles.
This was in complete contrast to my previous club where apart from the major club comps, (capts, presidents, scratch cups and monthly medal) virtually all regular weekly comps were fourballs, 2man team, rumbles, foursomes etc). Singles comps were very much the exception.
When I enquired from some of the established members as to why there were no fourball comps, I was told that they fell out of favour because there were too many complaints about players 'minding' handicaps and the same handful of players seeming to figure in the 'winners enclosure' much too often.
I must say I am a bit disappointed with this policy as I enjoyed playing fourballs and if there is a suspicion about handicaps, surely that is the job of the clubs handicap committee to sort out.
Is this a general trend or is my club peculiar?

*by fourball I mean fourball-betterball

big_drive

I think sometimes as well there is problems with players pulling out late and leaving one player without a partner. Or on a line on timesheet having a pair but nobody opposite them

Singles comps seem to run more smoothly

Also as mentioned the "bandits" can turn people off these formats

SnowDrifts

My club unfortunately has a fourball every 2nd week or so. Committee members have told me they are trying to reduce the amount of them because a lot less people play in them compared to singles competitions. Less people = less revenue.

Personally, I much prefer singles. I am not interested in winning lamps and glassware - the only prize I want is to get my handicap down and although players should get cuts for fourball comps, it has never happened.

Almaviva

In general, the fourball has been in decline for decades. Historically the match was the normal amateur's game. And playing a fourball for a few shillings or whatever was as competitive as it got outside club championships and a monthly medal competition.
Forces promoting the growth of singles golf have been :
- the advent of the Congu handicap formula which added a competitive challenge and motivation for golfers to want to put in singles scores
- the spread of the Stableford system which gave the handicapper some respite from the punishing nature of stroke competitions - and increased his appetite for the above challenge
- less settled club memberships making arranging partners less easy
- financial pressure encouraging committees to go with whatever format produces the highest entry fee revenue
- a trend towards week-in-week-out competitions being held rather than just a monthly one plus whatever specials: Captains, matchplays etc.
- a lack of a real of handicap adjustment for fourballs allowing bandits to hide and prize gather too easily encouraging more singles

The trend is seen also if you look at the range of matchplay comps in old clubs. Newer clubs will likely have a fourball matchplay trophy. But possibly only that. Old clubs will have a fourball, a foursomes, a scratch fourball, and even handicap category fourball matchplays, etc still played these days from that old tradition.

GreeBo

We do both, Wednesday is four ball semi open, Sat is singles strokes.

The odd Sat might be fourball but rare.

Singles strokes is what competitive golf is all about for me, get your handicap down.
I associate fourball with fun golf, let's see how low we can go.

Roger_007

GreeBo wrote: »

We do both, Wednesday is four ball semi open, Sat is singles strokes.

The odd Sat might be fourball but rare.

Singles strokes is what competitive golf is all about for me, get your handicap down.
I associate fourball with fun golf, let's see how low we can go.

What's wrong with a bit of fun now and again?
I note that you did not mention foursomes. I assume that, apart from the club matchplay comp, (and the occasional mixed), no foursomes are played at all. At least this seems to be the case with most clubs. It is a form of golf that most players seem to detest. Yet, apart from the senior and junior cups,the GUI national comps are played as foursomes. This puts a lot of players off playing in these comps. I played in the Pierce Purcell 3 times and I would not play in it again because of the foursomes format. However, if it was played in fourball or singles format, I would have no problem.

GreeBo

Roger_007 wrote: »

What's wrong with a bit of fun now and again?
I note that you did not mention foursomes. I assume that, apart from the club matchplay comp, (and the occasional mixed), no foursomes are played at all. At least this seems to be the case with most clubs. It is a form of golf that most players seem to detest. Yet, apart from the senior and junior cups,the GUI national comps are played as foursomes. This puts a lot of players off playing in these comps. I played in the Pierce Purcell 3 times and I would not play in it again because of the foursomes format. However, if it was played in fourball or singles format, I would have no problem.

Nothing is wrong with it, like I said, we play it every week?
We have a couple of foursomes events during the year alright.
The problem is that no one is getting cut but they are playing competitive golf.

Foursomes is a great but tough format, I like it actually, you can't just rely on you own usual style of golf.makes you a better singles player imo.

OilBeefHooked2

Singles comps for the summer when most competitions are counting, fourballs and other team events are better played in the winter when counting singles comps can't really be run.
Also some people tend to forget golf is an individual sport and is best played as such.

Almaviva

I like foursomes as well - very underrated I think, with not enough people having enough experience of it to appreciate it.

The key change was the new handicap system in 1984 (?) which effectively made foursome and fourball irrelevant to the maintenance of someones handicap, and increased player interest in singles with their own handicap as a personal challenge in its own right rather than a victory on a given day in whatever format. And it was a mistake flaw in the system in my view.

Again, the history is seen in the fact that the old GUI interclub comps are foursomes or fourball dominated. Showing what was played in clubs of that era.

Gin77

I played 2 fourball comps this open week and it was very enjoyable. If you lose concentration for a hole or 2 you have your partner as a backup.
On the flip side as a new member its difficult to find a partner. I played the last 2 matches as a last minute backup.
I'd like to play more in this format if only the made it easier to get a playing partner, maybe random draw?

Senna

All single comps at my club, I've never even playing in a fourball/foursome comp, occasionally there are classics, charity days etc run in those formats but I've just never had the opportunity to play in one. My home course is a fairly quiet club and I would imagine running fourballs would cost them a huge amount of revenue and because I'm new to the club I'm glad its all single comps. Just looking at the time sheet for today, there are ten 4 balls and eight 3 or less balls booked. Makes it much easier for me to join in with other players.

Wichita Lineman

We are almost totally singles competitions but we do have 2 matchplay competitions in 'fourball' format and also we play scrambles every now and again.

BraveDonut

Personally I dislike foursomes/scotch foursomes because I only play once a week.
While I do enjoy the change in how you have to think about your game, when I get out I want to play a full round, not a half round of golf

spacecoyote

Yeah, other than the matchplay comps during the summer months we only really see 4 ball comps in the out of season months.

To be honest I prefer it that way, I enjoy playing a team comp the odd time but I generally play once a week & want to spend that time working on my handicap whenever possible.

D Hayes

For years, our club has had single comps on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. And fourballs on Saturday.

This summer, for the first time, we now have the option of playing fourball or singles on Saturday.

So far, it seems that more people are opting for the singles.

As mentioned earlier, it's easier to get paired up in singles, if you arrive on your own.

Personally, I love playing fourball, usually play with the old man against my uncle and cousin, so there are bragging rights up for grabs.

Although now, if I can only play once per week, it'll be singles to try and get the hcp down.