Golf Gambling Games

[Horseballs]

What are some good golf gambling games you play?
My regular foursome has a 25, 15, 10, and 6 handicapper. The 20 and 6 team against the 15 and 10. There are 2 points on each hole, low individual score, low total. If one side is really cleaning up, we'll allow presses. Ties don't carryover. Also, a side game of closest to the pin on every par 3, must be on, 3 putts pay the group.
There are never any serious stakes, but the s**t-talking is priceless.

Another game I've played involves a golf trip during the first round of the NCAA basketball tourney. 72 holes in 2 days, each skin won representing a team in the tourney. You pull picks out of a hat (8 are blanks). The person with the most wins and the person with the winning team split the pot. There were several other gambling games going on that weekend, so I created this spreadsheet that calculated everything. Such a geek!

[SeldomInTheSlot]

A good one I've played is like the first one you described except the teams change from hole to hole. It's called Wolf. Before teeing off, do that thing were you stand in circle and flip a tee in the air to see who it points to. That person is the wolf on the first hole and tees off last. Do the tee flipping thing 2 more times to get the wolf order--that stays the same throughout the round. After watching everyone else tee off, but before teeing off himself, the wolf either picks one guy to be his partner for that hole or he can say he challenges all the other 3 on that hole by himself. You play it like a skins game with low score for the hole winning, taking handicapping into account. If the wolf wins the hole on his own the payoff is increased somehow. I forget all the rules--it's been a long time since I've played it. Also throw in "junk" like birdies, greenies, and sandies for extra cash. It's a fun game. The only part that stinks is that 2 guys are wolf one time more than the other two, but I guess that's the luck of the draw.

[PA Jayhawk]

Here are a few games. They are on the Palm Scoring software I use, but the games and rules are on the web site linked below.

The wolf is on there, it looks like one of the best games, however I very seldom play in a foresome of people I know, So I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.intelligolf.com/games.html

[Horseballs]

A good one I've played is like the first one you described except the teams change from hole to hole. It's called Wolf.

Yeah, I've played wolf a few times in my day. The hardest thing about that is trying to pay it out since you have to keep track of teammates on each hole, points can be doubled, etc. The way I've played is that the wolf has to call his partner while the ball is in the air though.

[PnHi]

My regular foursome has an 18h, 9h, and two 14h's. We play a game where there are four points on each hole. Long drive in the fairway, first on the green, first in the hole and winner of hole. Have to keep track of tap ins as a 4" putt beats a 3" putt. On par threes the points are for first on, closest to pin on tee shot(has to be on the green) first in and winner. There is an extra point awarded on a hole if all four points are won by one player, but only if he/she is behind on points. The match usually comes down to the last hole and is generaly within five points of each other at quarter a point. A bad shot off the tee into trouble may have you pitching to the fairway behind the player away to have a shot at first on the green. Not recommended for public courses on the weekends.

[Bravo35223]

I have played many many different formats over time.

The most insidious is a putting game called Snake.

1) Start the round and agree upon an Initial Unit Value. We usually start the IUV at one eighth of a cent.

2) Tee off and play. Let's assume on the first green that Player A has a three putt. He immediately becomes the Snake and the Bet Value has automatically become one quarter of a cent. The Bet Value doubled when the Player A became the Snake.

3) Lets assume on the 2nd hole that nobody three putted. Player A is still the Snake.

4) On the 4th hole, player B three putts. He becomes the Snake and the Bet Value is one half a cent. Then, one minute later, Player D three putted, He immediately becomes the Snake and the Bet Value is one cent.

This continues until the end of the round. The last player who is the Snake owes Everyone in the group, the Bet Value at the end of the round.

We have started this bet off at one eighth of one cent and had to cap it at 20 dollars because it got out of hand. In that case, the Snake lost $60...he had to pay $20 to each of the other three players in the group.

It will truly drive you utterly mad.

[SeldomInTheSlot]

I just did the math on that one Bravo--fifteen 3 putts to get the pot over $40. That sounds like a good game to through on top of another game if you're out playing with your friends and no one in the group is a horrendous putter.

[jinusow]

I think you should get the chichi's book golf games you gotta play the book is about games to play and ways to gamble

here's two
3-2 You can bet someone that they will 3 putt the hole The thing about this bet is if they 3+ putt the hole they own 2 times the bet back if they 1 putt they get 2 times the bet and 2 they get the bet if they 3 putt you get the bet. If they refuse the bet they are heckled til they take the bet.

calloway
It makes playing in a group of different handicaps even it out. I can't remember the rules exactly but I think it works like this for every 5 shots over par take your highest score and half it if your 10 shots over par remove your highest shot hole. I think there's more to the game maybe someone else can explain these games better than me.

[danzum]

Skins +

Par one hole get a +
Double bogey any hole lose your +
Par two holes (two +'s) get a skin (does not need to be consecutive)

you do not reset when other players get a skin (you don't loose your plus); carryovers count; double bogey with no + does not give you a (-)

Dan

[Louie_T07]

A game that I first learned about last year, and became an instant hit is called "animal skins." Like I said all my golfing buddies love this game, because no matter the groups handicaps anyone can win this one.
It starts with the set of Animal Skins coins (which unfortunately have to be bought. The set is only $25.) The set is six silver dollar sized coins each representing a tough break throughout the round. Each coin has a funny name associated with it; Sandcrab Brad (for going in a bunker), Out of Bounds Hound (for an OB), Waterball Rus (for finding the drink) etc... The coins change hands among the players in your group as the mishaps occur during the round and the player with the least number or no coins at the end of the round wins the final pot. The pot is established on the first tee, any amount will do, we usually make it a couple bucks each. I should also mention the most important coin in the entire set, the Wild Card coin can make or break the round for you. Also established on the first tee, the Wild Card coin is the only one you really want to get. This coin goes to a player who accomplishes a goal set out by the group first, again it can be anything at all (we usually start with the first birdie). Once a player has the Wild Card, if he/she is to get another coin for whatever reason, they can trade the Wild Card in and avoid getting the second coin. Of course once the Wild Card has been played, a new goal is established by the group on the following tee.
Although I'm sure I have made it more confusing than the game really is, once you have played it, it becomes a great one to play with friends of all skill levels. I'm around an 11 handicap, which is the lowest of my normal playing partners and have only won the game once outta who knows how many times we've played. Always some friendly razzing goes on as well as coins change hands.

[Not a hacker]

Our usual skins is $1 a skin (per pair), 1 skin for win a hole (jackpots), 1 skin for birdie, 1 skin for NTP on every par 3 (must be on green), 1 skin for sandie par. Standing on 18th tee, the team down can double the bet to recoup their losses if they win the hole (leading team must accept). Not too expensive, but a bad day followed by doubling 18 and losing can sometimes have you down 30 plus.

Another game I've played in the past is the snake. You have a rubber snake that goes on the bag of the first guy to 3 putt a green, and moves from bag to bag with every 3 putt (last person to 3 putt the green wears it). Whenever you go past the vicinity of the bar, or drinks cart, whoever is carrying the snake buys a round. Which means you could be up for as much as 4 or 5 rounds of drinks in 18 holes. It's a fun game but is detrimental to yourgolf as everyone becomes pre occupied about 3 putting last and course management goes out the window. Guys will keep going to finish up if they are putting first to avoid the snake when they really should mark it and sit.

[Horseballs]

This thread may be my first post ever on GR.

[LyleG]

http://golf.about.com/cs/golfterms/a/formatsbets.htm

that should keep you busy for about 40 seasons ;)

We play a revised game of Chicago. You start with (minus) -28 points, then add your HDCP to it. So for example a 10 starts with -18 points. You then get 1 point for a bogey, 2 for a par, 3 for a bird and 4 for an eagle. We found this works much better and makes it real competitive even with a wide range of HDCP players.

[bjdrivers]

http://golf.about.com/cs/golfterms/a/formatsbets.htm

that should keep you busy for about 40 seasons ;)

We play a revised game of Chicago. You start with (minus) -28 points, then add your HDCP to it. So for example a 10 starts with -18 points. You then get 1 point for a bogey, 2 for a par, 3 for a bird and 4 for an eagle. We found this works much better and makes it real competitive even with a wide range of HDCP players.

That sounds like a good one. So are double bogies or worse 0 points or do you actually take away any points?

[LyleG]

zero points

[bjdrivers]

zero points

So you can pickup if you don't make bogie. That would certainly speed up the pace of play when ur paired with choppers. Thanks for the link.

[hackerofsorts]

i like to bet bjdrivers on how many holes it'll take him to 3-putt. i always win with 1.

[bjdrivers]

i like to bet bjdrivers on how many holes it'll take him to 3-putt. i always win with 1.

That's probably true, I would bet the same on you, but since you never hit a green in regulation, we'd never find out.

[hackerofsorts]

That's probably true, I would bet the same on you, but since you never hit a green in regulation, we'd never find out.

true, but i always hit your mom in regulation.

[bjdrivers]

true, but i always hit your mom in regulation.

We'll have to go to the officials on this one, possible CP infringement.

[Cargo Putter]

true, but i always hit your mom in regulation.

Please cease and desist from any and all mom jokes.

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[lorenzoinoc]

That was a fax disclaimer as it pertains to maintaining confidentiality in the event a fax is sent to the wrong party. It does nothing to protect intellectual property. Unless you are concerned about your mom inappropriately fuxing somebody, fire your attorney immediately.

[LyleG]

What do you call Cargo putter's Mom with a runny nose?





























Full!

[poe4soul]

Damn that joke is old. You really need to get out more.

[The Purist]

HAMMER is one of my favorites, and its perfect for any range of skill in a foursome.

I like playing this two on two. Basically you switch partners every hole and each hole has a different person + his partner that starts out as the "hammer". We usually place the starting bet at $1. At any point during the hole the team (A) that starts out as the hammer can yell out "hammer" and the bet doubles (which the other team (B) has to accept). Now the other team (B) is considered the hammer, and can call out "hammer" at any point if the tide should turn and redouble the bet again (which must be accepted).

Each person plays their own ball and best score from either teamate wins for both of them. So say a 10 hc and 20 hc are on the same team. Even though the 20 hc is not likely to win many holes himself, he can still win money based on his partners play. The two worst players don't usually lose much when they are paired together because they don't have to "hammer" back to the other team.

I have seen several "hammers" exchanged before anyone even tees off. The most nervous I have ever been is when my teamate had stuck his approach about 6' from the flag, while the rest of us missed the green. We hammer back to the other team (bet now at $64). One of the guys blasts out of a bunker to within 6". Me and the other guy both miss long par putts. Then my partner blows his birdie putt 4' past the hole. The other team hammers back to us because the worse they can do is halve the hole with a 6" putt left. Now my teamate is turning red and sweating because he has a slippery 4' putt worth $128 (for each of us). He hits a shaky putt, and I felt like I was viewing the whole thing in slow motion as the ball hangs on the edge for what seems like forever before dropping in. This was the final hole, and there would have been no oppurtunity to make it back if he would have missed.

[LyleG]

Another good game is "nutter"

Anytime someone misses a putt inside of 4 feet, one of his group gets to hoof him in the pills. It really does create a feeling of pressure similar to a Sunday at Augusta.


PS - No protective cups allowed

[lorenzoinoc]

Another good game is "nutter"

Anytime someone misses a putt inside of 4 feet, one of his group gets to hoof him in the pills. It really does create a feeling of pressure similar to a Sunday at Augusta.


PS - No protective cups allowed

If everyone in the group is playing at least one hybrid, do you call it "twatter"?

[LyleG]

If we played hoof in the nuts everytime you grounder your 2 iron many on this forum would never walk upright again.

[scotth3]

In addition to greenies as posted below and wolf, a great addition to level the field is Money Shots golf card game. You get a card for each bad shot (even low handicapper find sand and water), and pass them around during the round. I've been playing it for a few years and everyone who plays it with me gets one. There is a lot of strategy along with riding the players who get cards. Seems the better the golfer, the more their game can get psyched out due to the cards.

www.moneyshotsgolf.com

[NiftyNiblick]

You play to win the hole or you play to shoot a score. Any type of wagering that takes the focus off either of those goals impacts the game too much for an old curmudgeon like the nibbler.

Whenever betting a football game that I'm actually going to watch, I always bet the money line instead of the spread. That way I can enjoy the game as a game.

[scotth3]

It started to shoot a score, but over time, the emphasis became who won the most money. I guess it is the poker strategy, doesn't matter how many hands you win, just how much is in your pocket when you go home. It's a lot easier to go home 7 hours after you left if you have some Franklins in your pocket. That gets a better reception than saying "guess what honey, I shot a ___.

[NiftyNiblick]

It started to shoot a score, but over time, the emphasis became who won the most money. I guess it is the poker strategy, doesn't matter how many hands you win, just how much is in your pocket when you go home. It's a lot easier to go home 7 hours after you left if you have some Franklins in your pocket. That gets a better reception than saying "guess what honey, I shot a ___.

But unless you're hustling or sandbagging, you're losing Benjies at roughly the rate that you're winning them. That's my experience. Those are the odds in a fairly handicapped bet.

Don't get me wrong--whatever floats your boat is cool. My crowd just isn't that into it.

[SoonerBS]

We play Wold mostly.

We also play skins whenever me and my other two older friends play. They are both scratch golfers and they give me a 1/2 stroke on every hole. I love it whenever we play that because I always seem to come home with more money. I really concentrate in this game for some reason.

Whenever we have 3 or 4 teams of 4 on Saturdays or Sundays, we will play teams where the best 2 scores on each hole wins a robin. We also play skins for the entire field.

By the way, Lyle, I just lost a mouthful of diet coke reading your post on the "nutter." I had to clean up my computer.