The foursome is golf's natural unit, and it's spoiled for choice: every classic team format was designed for exactly four. That's also the problem; "what are we playing?" on the first tee has more possible answers for four players than any other group size. Here's the field guide, organized by what kind of day your group wants.
The best golf games for 4 players are the 2v2 best ball Nassau (the classic foursome money game), Wolf, Vegas, a skins pot, and scramble or shamble formats for social rounds. The team games run 2v2; the individual games keep all four in one pot.
The quick reference
| Game | Teams | Type | Pressable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Nassau (2v2 best ball) | 2v2 | Match play ×3 | Yes, the standard |
| Best ball / four-ball | 2v2 | Team match | Yes |
| Wolf | Rotating | 1v3 / 2v2 by hole | No |
| Vegas | 2v2 | Team numbers | House rules |
| Skins | Individual | Per-hole pot | No (runs alongside) |
| Scramble / shamble | 2v2 or one team | Team stroke | Via segments |
| 6-6-6 (Sixes) | Rotating 2v2 | Three 6-hole matches | Yes |
| Dots / junk | Individual | Per-event points | No |
The default: a 2v2 best ball Nassau
If your foursome plays for anything, this is almost certainly the chassis: pick partners, play best ball, and score it as a Nassau (front, back, overall). Every hole matters to two matches minimum, partners cover each other's blowups, and because each leg is a true match it's fully pressable: 2 down on any leg and a press opens a fresh match. Handicaps fit naturally (90% allowances off the low ball). This game alone can carry a golf group for decades.
6-6-6: everybody partners everybody
Split 18 into three 6-hole matches (1-6, 7-12, 13-18) and rotate partners each segment, so all three pairings happen in one round. Each segment starts all square and settles separately, which caps the damage of one bad stretch, and each segment can carry its own presses. Also called Sixes or Round Robin; it's the fairest answer to "who's riding with whom" golf has produced.
Wolf: the ego game
The foursome classic. Rotate the Wolf by tee; the Wolf watches the others drive in order, then either picks that hole's partner or goes Lone Wolf against all three for multiplied stakes. It's a game of timing and knowing your buddies' games; the 3-player version is covered in the 3-player guide.
Vegas: the swing game
2v2, each team's scores combine into a number (4 and 5 becomes 45, low digit first), and the difference in numbers changes hands in points. A birdie flips the opponents' number high-side-first, producing the famous swings. Agree the point value carefully; Vegas is the fastest-moving money game on this page.
Skins: the individual layer
Four players, one pot, outright low score takes the hole, ties carry. Four-way skins produces long carryovers (outright wins are rare), which is exactly its drama. Most foursomes run it alongside the team match so a player having a career day gets paid individually; rules and variants in the skins guide.
Social rounds: scramble and shamble
When the day is about the group rather than the match (outings, trips, mixed abilities), play a scramble (2v2 or all four as one team against the course) or a shamble. Fast, forgiving, and the team-handicap math is in the scramble guide.
Stacking games for a full card
The complete foursome Saturday, run by thousands of groups: team Nassau (best ball, auto-presses) + individual skins + dots. Every shot matters to something: the team match, your own pot, and the junk. The only hard part has always been the bookkeeping; which is the solvable part.
Running a foursome in Press Tracker
Set your foursome up as a 2v2 match and Press Tracker runs the whole card: match play, stroke play, or Stableford on the best-ball scores (one score per team per hole), the Nassau legs as separate pressable side games with auto-presses at 2 down, a skins pot alongside, and the app's BRB format for the days you want variety: Best Ball holes 1-6, Scramble 7-12, Alternate Shot 13-18, each segment its own pressable game plus BRB Total across the round. One running net covers every game and press live, friends can spectate, and the finished round settles itself on the recap screen.
Press Tracker is a scorekeeping companion for entertainment use only. It does not accept, hold, or process money; dollar figures are illustrative. For other group sizes, see the 2-player and 3-player guides.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best golf game for 4 players?
- The 2v2 best ball Nassau is the classic foursome money game: partners cover each other's blowups, three matches run in one round, and every leg is pressable at 2 down. Wolf, Vegas, a skins pot, and 6-6-6 with rotating partners are the standard alternatives and add-ons.
- How does the 6-6-6 golf game work?
- Split 18 holes into three 6-hole matches (1-6, 7-12, 13-18) and rotate partners each segment, so all three pairings happen in one round. Each segment starts all square and settles separately, and each can carry its own presses. It's also called Sixes or Round Robin.
- How does Vegas work in golf?
- A 2v2 numbers game: each team's two scores combine into one number, low digit first (a 4 and a 5 make 45), and the difference between team numbers changes hands in points. A birdie flips the opponents' number high-side-first, which is how Vegas produces its famous swings.
- What golf games can a foursome play at once?
- The standard stack is a team best ball Nassau with auto-presses as the backbone, an individual skins pot alongside, and dots (greenies, sandies, birdies) as garnish. Every shot then matters to the team match, your own pot, and the junk, and the only hard part is the bookkeeping.
- What is the best foursome game for mixed skill levels?
- Best ball at net with 90% allowances: a partner covers your blowups and the strokes level the pairings. A scramble or shamble is the social-day answer, and net Stableford or a quota game works when the group wants an individual leaderboard that stays fair.