Golf betting games: Ways to win money from your friends on the golf course

Nothing enhances a day out on the course, quite like a couple of fun golf betting games. For those that want to pick up some extra cash (or are prepared to lose some!), golf has an abundance of entertaining games that can keep things interesting at all times.

Here at GolfWRX, we’ve decided to put together this list of 8 fun betting games for you to have up your sleeve the next time you fancy winning some cash on the course.

Snake

A golf betting game all about putting.

No gimmes are allowed, and anytime a player three-putts or worse, a specific amount of money (assigned by the group at the beginning of the round) gets added to the pot. The cash keeps accumulating, and the last player to three-putt pays the other players in the group that amount. 

You’ll never focus harder on the greens than when playing Snake.

Rabbit

Effectively like the kid’s game ‘Tag’, Rabbit is a game where the first player in the group to win a hole becomes the Rabbit. The next person to win a subsequent hole becomes the Rabbit, and whoever is the Rabbit by the end of the round takes the spoils.

Nassau

This ‘three bets in one’ golf betting game keeps things competitive throughout the round. The three contests are ‘Front 9 winner’, ‘Back 9 winner’ and ’18 hole winner’. Typically, the contest will be match play, but Nassau also works great using the strokeplay format.

Vegas

A game for those with a thick wallet and prepared to win or lose big!

Vegas involves four players split into two pairings. After each hole, the scores from each player in the same pairing are combined uniquely. If both players scored a four on the hole, then their score for the hole would be 44. If one scores a three and the other a five, then their score would be 35 (lower of the two scores placed first).

Payouts are determined by points differential, which can add up quickly!

Wolf

A game made for foursomes that is all about strategy. 

At the beginning of the round, it is decided who will open as the ‘Wolf’, a role which will then alternate between the four players after each hole. After players tee off on the hole, the wolf on the hole can choose a partner for that hole. Should the wolf or the partner win that hole, then both players will be awarded two points. If the wolf and their partner lose, then the other two members receive three points.

However, the wolf has the option to be the ‘lone wolf’ and should they beat the other three players on that hole then the wolf wins four points. Any player who beats a lone wolf on the hole is awarded one point. 

Bounce Back

Bounce Back is a game which volatile golfers will love.

Points are awarded to players who follow a double bogey or worse with a par or better. However, following a double bogey or worse with another? That will lose you a point.

Bingo, Bango, Bongo

This game is broken down into three parts which all award points.

Bingo: The first player in the group to hit their ball on the green.

Bango: The player in the group whose golf ball is closest to the pin after all the golf balls are on the green.

Bongo: The first player in the group to hole out.

Points are awarded and tallied after each hole, and at the end of the round, the person with the most points takes home the pot.

Strike Three

The perfect game for high handicap players or anyone who struggles with the odd blow-up hole.

After playing 18 holes, each player gets to throw away the scores from their three highest-scoring holes. You take your best 15 holes from the round, and the winner is the person with the lowest cumulative total.