Are your golf buddies boring? Do they talk a bunch of smack on the golf course and not back it up? If so, it sounds like your next round should include a golf betting game to help add another level of excitement to your friendly golf game.
Betting on the golf course is a fun way to keep things lively. These wagers can range from 25-cents to hundreds of dollars. Hell, I have read stories of PGA Tour pros betting more money on one round of golf then a year’s worth of mortgage payments for me. Whatever the dollar amount, betting on golf is a fun way to keep your golf game competitive.
But before we get into the list of top golf gambling games, I’d like to remind people that when deciding on which betting game is best for you, keep in mind your bills and family at home first. Don’t bet $25 per hole if you can’t even pay your mortgage or electric bill. And surely if you can’t make your car payment next month, don’t use betting on golf as a way to try and make enough money to make that car payment.
With that said, here are 9 golf betting games to help you take some cash from your golfing buddies:
Wolf
Wolf is probably one of the most popular foursome golf gambling games to play. It’s a game of strategy and your goal is to accumulate points throughout the round, typically in a team format with a selected playing partner.
Before the round, agree to the betting terms. Next, you need to establish your playing lineup for the round. You can do this by tossing a tee in the air to see who it points at, tossing golf balls over your shoulder, or any other grab ass game you can think of. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just establish a #1-4 tee off order. The fourth player to tee off is considered the “wolf.”
The wolf will now select a playing partner based on the tee shots. If player one hits it in the trees, the wolf can select to partner with #1 or pass. If player two hits it down the middle, the wolf can select #2 as his partner or pass again. This leaves player #3 to hit his tee shot. After player 3 hits his tee shot, the wolf can then choose #3 to be his playing partner or pass again. If the wolf chooses to pass on #3, then the wolf is playing the hold by himself.
Ties go to the non-selecting partners so you better make sure to select a good playing partner or you’ll owe some cash at the end of the round. On the next hole, player #3 will be the wolf and you repeat the process. At the end of the round, the player with the most points wins the cash!
Nassau
The Nassau golf betting game is also a very popular game to play. It’s very simple to track and can be played with 2, 3 or 4 players. A Nassau game is essentially three different bets within a round of golf – Front 9 scores, Back 9 scores, and 18-hole scores.
Determine your betting terms before the round. For this example, let’s say you’ve established a $5 Nassau. In the games simplest form, the most you can lose is $15, meaning $5 for front 9, $5 for back 9, and $5 for 18-holes. At the end of the round, the player with the lowest front 9 score wins, the players with the lowest back 9 wins and then the player with the lowest 18 hole score wins.
There are no real official rules in regards to handicapping these golf games, but if you’re a 25-handicapper playing with a 5-handicapper, there’s a distinct disadvantage, so establish some stroke rules before the round. For the sake of this list of golf betting games, we won’t talk about “pressing” the bets, but if you’d like to lose or win more money, that is something to definitely look into.
Nines
Nines is points-based golf game best played in a foursome. Simply put, there are nine points assigned to each hole – 5 for the lowest score, 3 for the second-lowest score, 1 for the third-lowest score and 0 for the highest score on any hole.
The best way to play this game is probably to establish betting terms based on a set amount. Say for instance $20 for the round. Whoever has the most points at the end of the round wins $20 from each of the other three players. You can also establish a dollar value per point, say for instance 25-cents per point. Since there are 9 points per hole, the most you will lose is $40.50 if you don’t win any points.
Skins
A Skins golf game is another simple betting game on the golf course. Each hole is assigned a dollar amount, which is determined before the round. While you’re playing, think of a Skins game as sort-of a match play like setup. You are playing each other in the group on an in individual basis.
With a Skins game, there are no ties. If three players score a five and the fourth player scores a six, then the “skin” for that hole roles over to the next hold. This adds more value to the next hole, and so-on if you continue to have the same scores on each hole.
Round Robin
In a Round Robin golf game, players team up with another playing partner to try and beat the other group. The good thing about a Round Robin game is you switch partners every six holes, so over the course of the 18-holes you will team up with everybody in the group.
Playing partners with similar golf skills are recommended but you can also give strokes to the other players if you have two high handicappers against two low handicappers over the course of the round.
The betting terms can be anything you establish but make sure you agree on those terms before the round.
Las Vegas
Are you a Vegas high roller? Are you a good player? Then maybe the Las Vegas golf game is right up your alley. Money can change hands quickly with this game and you can lose your shorts in no time, so pay attention.
Two-person teams pair up to play another 2-person team. For each hole, the scores are paired, with the lower number going first. Here’s an example:
Player A & B are partners. Player A scores a 4 and player B scores a 7. Their team score is a 47.
Player C & D are partners. On the same hole, player C scores a 5 and player D scores a 6. Their team score is a 56.
The difference between the two is 9, so Player A & B get 9 points for the hole. Continue this throughout the round and at the end of the round divvy up the cash based on how much your dollar amount for each point was.
If you’re barely able to make rent each month, maybe playing for a penny a point is more reasonable. If you’re a billionaire and don’t have anything better to do with your money, maybe you want to play $10,000 per point. Either way, you get the point.
Bingo, Bango, Bongo
Bingo Bango Bongo is another points game that can be played with 2, 3 or 4 players. Three points are available on each hole. The first player to get on the green gets one point (bingo). Once all golf balls are on the green, one point goes to the person who is closest to the hole (bango). Lastly, the first person to hole out wins a point (bongo.)
Assign a dollar value to each point or have a set amount going to the person with the highest points at the end of the round. As you can see, playing order is important in this game and if you play a lot of ready golf then maybe this game is nor for you. Either way, this is a fun game that can be played by players of all abilities.
Sandies
Sandie golf bets are best played as a side-bet with any of the other golf bets above. The game is real simple. If you hit your ball into the bunker, your goal is to make a par on the hole or get up and down in two strokes.
A “sandie” can mean a couple different things. For a 25-handicapper, if you hit it in the greenside bunker, your goal is to get out of the bunker and then one-putt. It really doesn’t matter if that is for a triple-bogey, you got out of the bunker and one-putted, so you get a “sandie.”
The better players might only pay a “sandie” if a player is in the bunker and makes par after getting up and down. Just establish the rules before the round and have fun with it.
Snake
If you enjoy three putting, then you’ll really enjoy Snake. This golf betting game pits you against your playing partners on the putting green. Like the Sandie above, it can be played as a side-bet along with any of the games mentioned above.
Establish the wager terms before the round. From there the game is quite simple. Whoever is the first player to three-putt is the “snake.” This person holds the crown as snake until the next person three-putts, and so-on until the end of the round. The last person to be holding the snake title at the end of the round owes the other players the wager amount.
This game might seem silly, but you surely don’t want to be three putting throughout the round because you might be paying some money!
Do you have a favorite betting game for the golf course? If so, let us know below or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter @Front9Back9.
Scott says
I love playing for money on the course! I have really only played for skins in the past. I think the Las Vegas game will be up next. Good article, I enjoyed it.