Bloodsome Golf: Rules, Strategy and How to Play
Bloodsome takes the standard alternate-shot format and adds a twist that changes everything: your opponents choose which ball you have to play. Both teammates drive, the other team picks the worse position, and you alternate shots from there. It is psychological warfare dressed up as a golf format, and it produces some of the most memorable moments you will ever have on a course.
What Is Bloodsome?
Bloodsome (sometimes spelled "Bluesome" in polite company, though the original name captures the spirit better) is a team golf format for four players -- two teams of two. The format follows three steps on every hole: both teammates hit tee shots, the opposing team selects which drive the team must play, and the team finishes the hole with alternate shots from the selected ball.
The name comes from the visceral experience of watching your opponents study your two drives and deliberately choose the worse one. A ball that is just barely in the rough, a drive that leaves a blind approach, a tee shot that found the fairway but left an awkward yardage -- the opponents will find the weakness and force you to play from it.
Bloodsome is related to Greensome (also called Scotch Foursomes), where the team chooses their own best drive. The formats are mirrors of each other. In Greensome, you play from strength. In Bloodsome, you play from whatever disadvantage your opponents can find. This difference sounds small on paper but transforms the experience entirely. Greensome is cooperative and optimistic. Bloodsome is adversarial and tactical.
How to Play Bloodsome
- Form two teams of two. Balance the teams by handicap or draw randomly. Each team needs a mix of driving ability and short-game skill because both will be tested.
- Both teammates hit tee shots. On every hole, both players on each team tee off. All four players hit drives, just like in a scramble. The difference comes after the drives land.
- Opponents select the ball. After all four drives are in, the opposing team looks at your two tee shots and chooses which one your team must play for the rest of the hole. They will almost always pick the worse position. The decision must be made promptly -- no extended deliberation or gamesmanship.
- Determine who hits the second shot. The standard rule: the player whose drive was NOT selected hits the second shot. If the opponents chose Player A's drive, Player B hits the approach. This matters because the opponents can factor in who they want hitting the approach when making their selection.
- Alternate shots to finish. From the second shot onward, the teammates alternate until the ball is holed. The player who hit the approach does not putt if there is only one putt remaining -- the other player does (since shots alternate).
- Score the hole. Record the team score and compare to the other team. Most groups play Bloodsome as match play (win/lose/halve each hole), but it can also be played as stroke play over 18 holes.
Ball Selection: Etiquette and Tactics
The ball selection is the moment that defines Bloodsome, and getting the etiquette right keeps the game fun for everyone.
Timing
The selection should happen promptly after all four tee shots are hit. Walk to the general area of the drives, assess both balls, and make a decision within 30 seconds. Extended deliberation -- walking back and forth, measuring exact yardages, or conferring at length -- slows the pace and crosses the line from strategy into gamesmanship. Look, decide, announce.
What to Consider
The obvious choice is not always the right one. Here is what experienced teams evaluate:
- Position vs. distance. A shorter drive in the fairway might be better for the opponents than a longer drive in the first cut. The opponents want to leave you with the most difficult second shot, not just the longest approach.
- Who hits next. Remember that the player whose ball was NOT selected hits the second shot. If Player A is a better iron player but Player B hit the worse drive, selecting Player B's ball means the weaker iron player (A) hits the approach. Sometimes picking the "better" ball is actually worse for the team because of who it forces into the next shot.
- Lie and stance. A ball in the rough is obviously worse than one in the fairway, but subtle differences matter too. A ball on a downhill lie, a ball behind a tree, or a ball in a divot are all worse than they appear from a distance.
- Green angle. On holes with tucked pin positions or hazards guarding the green, the angle of approach matters as much as the distance. A drive that leaves a straight shot at the pin might be better than one that requires a difficult draw or fade to find the target.
Bloodsome is meant to be adversarial in a fun, competitive way. Selecting the worse ball is the whole point of the format -- nobody should feel bad about making the strategic choice. That said, the selection should be made with sportsmanship: announce it clearly, do not gloat, and keep the pace moving. If both drives are essentially equal, pick quickly and move on.
Scoring and Settlement
Most groups play Bloodsome as match play, where each hole is won, lost, or halved. This pairs naturally with the head-to-head team format and allows players to pick up after a hole is decided.
For gambling, Bloodsome match play works well with a Nassau bet layered on top: one bet on the front nine match, one on the back nine, and one on the overall 18-hole match. Pressing rules apply just like in a standard Nassau. See the Nassau guide for full pressing details.
An alternative is to play Bloodsome as stroke play over 18 holes. Add up the team scores and the lower total wins. This works well when combining Bloodsome with skins -- award a skin to the team with the lower score on each hole, with ties carrying over.
Strategy Tips
- Both drives must be in play. The single most important principle in Bloodsome. If one player hits a great drive and the other finds trouble, the opponents will always choose the trouble. You need both balls in playable positions to neutralize the selection. This means playing conservatively off the tee -- fairways matter more than distance.
- Split your approach if possible. If both teammates can hit different parts of the fairway -- one left-center, one right-center -- the opponents' selection becomes less impactful because both positions offer reasonable approaches. Two drives to the same spot gives the opponents nothing to choose between, which is also fine.
- Know your alternate-shot partner. Understand each other's strengths. If your partner is a better putter, try to set up holes so they are the one putting. If you are the better iron player, the team benefits when you are hitting the approaches. Sometimes the opponents' ball selection inadvertently gives you the rotation you want.
- When selecting the opponent's ball, think two shots ahead. Do not just look at which drive is worse. Consider who will be hitting the approach from that position and what the third shot (chip or putt) will look like. The best selections create difficulty not just on the next shot but on the one after that.
- Communicate with your teammate. Before the tee shots, briefly discuss strategy for the hole. If one of you is going to play safe (3-wood or iron off the tee), say so. If the hole demands driver from both, acknowledge the risk. Brief alignment before each tee prevents the kind of miscommunication that gives the opponents an easy selection.
Variations
Serious Bloodsome
The opponents can select the ball at any point -- they do not have to wait until both drives have landed. If one player hits a terrible drive, the opponents can immediately say "we'll take that one" before the second player even tees off. This speeds up play and adds pressure because a bad drive is instantly punished.
Friendly Bloodsome
The opponents must select the ball from a position that is at least in the semi-rough or better -- they cannot choose a ball that is clearly unplayable, out of bounds, or in a hazard. If one drive is lost, the other drive is automatically selected regardless of its position. This keeps the game competitive without the possibility of one terrible tee shot ending a hole before it starts.
Bloodsome with Swap
Once per nine holes, each team gets a "swap" token that forces the opponents to reverse their ball selection. If the opponents choose Ball A, you play the swap and force them to accept Ball B instead. The timing of when to use the swap adds another decision point to the format.
Bloodsome Scramble Hybrid
Rather than alternate shot after the ball selection, the team plays scramble-style: both players hit from the selected position, and the team chooses the better result. Then both play from that spot, and so on. This is less punishing than pure alternate shot and works well for groups with large handicap differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ball selection tactics, team strategy, and etiquette tips for your foursome.