For Your Next Round
Kristina Shalhoup
AccuWeather Meteorologist, 3 Handicap
Whether you’re heading out for your weekend league, meeting up with your favorite foursome, or even getting a little “you time” alone on the links, there are a lot of ways to spice your golf game! In a world full of best balls, scrambles and shambles, here are some other fun formats that you can take to the tee box.
Three-Putt Poker
Because nothing stokes the flames of competition like golf mixed with a classic casino game. You’ll have to rely on the flat-stick for this one, folks!
HOW TO PLAY: Bring a deck of cards! Give each player two cards to start. For every one-putt a player makes, they get an additional card. For every three-putt, they lose a card. Two-putts gets nothing but loses nothing.
The goal at the end of the round is to have the best poker hand with the cards you’ve earned. The more one-putts you make, the more cards you’ll have to choose from. Winner takes all!
Three-Club
This one’s as simple as it sounds, but you can always add extra rules… you know, because golf isn’t hard enough! Generally speaking, it’s more fun for a quick 9 than for 18!
HOW TO PLAY: Each player is only allowed three clubs from their own bag for the entire round. Choose wisely, as you’ll have to consider an entire side (or entire course) worth of trouble in your selection!
IF you choose a putter as one of your three clubs, you must make all of your putts. If you do not, any “putt” inside the length of your shortest club is considered good.
** This is also an excellent way to better your game if you’re playing alone. It will force you to be creative, and control your shots!
WOLF
The goal of this game is to have the most points at the end of the round. It’s a little more complicated, but great if you’re looking for some fun, friendly competition!
HOW TO PLAY: Each hole, one person is declared the Wolf. Players will take turns as “The Wolf.”
The Wolf tees off last. After watching the other three players’ tee shots, the Wolf can decide (before teeing off) if they want to choose one other player as a partner for the hole, or if they would rather be a “Lone Wolf”. The Lone Wolf will play against the best ball of the other three players. Should the Wolf choose a partner, they’ll play that hole as a best-ball team against the other two people in the foursome.
IF the Wolf team wins the hole, each player on the team gets 2 points.
IF the non-Wolf team wins the hole, each player on that team gets 3 points.
IF the LONE Wolf wins the hole, they get 4 points.
IF someone beats the LONE Wolf, the non-wolves each get 1 point.
when your buddies bail...
You don’t need a group to have a good time. Make things more interesting with these solo games!
ODDS OR EVENS:
This is a great game for players who are looking to add a little finesse to their repertoire… or for anyone who is just looking to push the limit of their abilities.
RULES: You can only play with odd-numbered, or even-numbered clubs. That’s it. Simple, but tough.
METAL-LESS:
While you could consider this a game, it was also one of my favorite drills when I was playing competitively in college. Everyone loves to focus on the long-ball; but in the end, hitting more greens will make a bigger dent in your scores!
RULES: Play from the shortest distance available, but do not use any woods (driver included) or hybrids. Play the entire round with just your irons, wedges, and putter. If you can’t resist temptation, leave your woods/hybrids in the car!
