Golf Games and On the Course Bets - ( Games and Bets R and S )
If your favorite golf game or golf bet did not make our list, e-mail us the name and a detailed description.
Rabbit: Definition: This golf side bet gets its name from the term used to describe a pacesetter. Someone who runs out ahead of the field in a mile run, for example, is called the rabbit. They are out ahead of the pack, setting the pace.
In Rabbit, the object is to achieve the low score on a hole, and to have that honor after the 9th and 18th holes.
Here's how Rabbit works: When the round begins, the first player to to singly have the low score on a hole captures the Rabbit (in other words, if two players tie for low score, no one captures the Rabbit - the honor must be won singly).
If on a following hole someone other than the holder of the Rabbit is the low scorer, the Rabbit is set free. And then the Rabbit can be won back by the next player to singly achieve a low score on a hole.
So before another player can tame the Rabbit, the Rabbit must first be set free.
As a side bet, this one pays the player who holes the Rabbit on the 9th hole and on the 18th hole. They can and often will be different players; sometimes no one will win either instance because the Rabbit will be free.
If you want to make sure that Rabbit pays out, then eliminate the step of setting the Rabbit free. When a different player achieves a low score, the Rabbit changes hands at that point.
Replay - See No Alibis
Reverse Scramble: Definition: In a normal scramble, members of a team tee off, then choose the best of the tee shots, and all team members then play their second shot from that location. The best of the second shots is chosen, and so on, until the ball is holed.
As you might guess, a reverse scramble is, well, the reverse of that: the worst of the tee balls is chosen, and that's where the second shot is played. The worst of the second shots is chosen, and the third stroke is played from that location; and so on, until the ball is holed.
We strongly recommend against using reverse scramble as the format for a tournament. This game requires many more strokes to complete a round, and takes a lot of time to play for groups of golfers.
Instead, treat reverse scramble as a practice game.
Play it when you're on the course alone, hitting two balls off each tee. Or play it against one friend in a twosome, with each of you hitting two balls on each hole.
Because of the added time a reverse scramble adds to a round, it's recommended that you play it only when your course is uncrowded and golfers behind won't have to wait on you.
Reverse scramble is a good practice game because choosing the worst of two balls will allow you to hit many more shots of different varieties, shots you probably don't otherwise practice very often.
Round Robin: Definition: Round Robin, sometimes called Hollywood or Sixes, is a game for groups of four golfers.
Round Robin pits the group members against each other, 2 on 2. The catch: Players rotate partners after every six holes so that each member of the foursome, over the course of the round, partners with every other member.
Any scoring format for the 6-hole matches can be used, and each 6-hole segment is a separate wager. If at the end of the 18 holes you've been on two winning sides and one losing side, you come out ahead.
Round Robin is best played by partners of similar skill levels, or by golfers using full handicaps.
Also Known As: Sixes, Hollywood
Rumpsie Dumpsie - See Shoot Out
Sandie (Sandy): Definition: Depending on who's using the term, a "sandie" can mean making par on a hole in which you were in a bunker, or getting out of a bunker and into the hole in two strokes.
On the PGA Tour, the statistical category called "sand save percentage" refers to getting up-and-down out of a greenside bunker. Score doesn't matter. It could be for a 9, but if a player is in a greenside bunker, then gets out and into the hole in two strokes (up-and-down), it's a sandie.
For amateurs, "sandie" is more likely to refer to a betting game whereby any player making par after having been in a bunker on the hole wins points or money. The bunker can be at any spot on the hole. But the particulars are really up to those playing the game.
Alternate Spellings: Sandy
Scotch Foursomes: Definition: Scotch Foursomes is a competition format that is often no more than another term for Foursomes. That is, 2-person teams play the same ball throughout the round of golf, alternating shots: The first player tees off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits the third shot, and so on until the ball is holed.
However, Scotch Foursomes can have a twist, not found in Foursomes, relating to the tee ball. In Foursomes, players on a team alternate hitting the tee ball so that each player hits nine tee shots.
However, if a tournament is advertised as "Scotch Foursomes" rather than just "Foursomes," that might mean that the alternate shot carries over from hole-to-hole. If Player A made the last putt on the preceding hole, then Player B tees off on the next hole.
So while Scotch Foursomes is often just another term for regular Foursomes, it can mean something slightly different and it's a good idea to clarify the rules before teeing off.
Also Known As: Foursomes, alternate shot, Scotch doubles
Scramble: Definition: The Scramble is one of the primary forms of tournament play for golf associations, charity events and the like. A scramble is usually played with 4-person teams, but 2-person scrambles are popular, too. At a 2-person scramble, handicaps are usually applied; at a 4-person scramble, handicaps are usually not applied - unless it is an Ambrose-style scramble.
In a scramble, each player tees off on each hole. The best of the tee shots is selected and all players play their second shots from that spot. The best of the second shots is determined, then all play their third shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed.
When played as a foursome, teams are usually constructed with an A player, B player, C player and D player, with those players designated based on handicaps.
The A player would the low-handicapper, the D player the high-handicapper.
A scramble might require A and B players to tee off from the back tees and C and D players from the middle tees; or A's from the back, B's and C's from the middle and D's from the front; or the tournament organizers might specify that all players play from the same set of tees.
For variations on the Scramble, see Texas Scramble and Ambrose Competition. Also Known As: Ambrose Competition when a group handicap is in use; Texas Scramble when at least four tee balls of each group member must be used. "Fort Lauderdale" is a synonym.
Scruffy: Definition: A Scruffy is a side bet in which a golfer, after hitting his drive, wagers that he will par the hole.
The player issuing the Scruffy may do so after any drive - good, bad or otherwise - but Scruffies are traditionally issued after poor drives. Scruffies are not automatic - that is, the other members of the group must agree to accept the challenge after it has been issued - so calling "Scruffy" after a great drive might not get you anywhere.
If the player calling Scruffy pars the hole, he wins the bet from those who accepted it; if he makes bogey or worse, he owes the players who accepted the bet the agreed upon amount. The Scruffy amount should be set before the round starts.
Common Misspellings: Scruffie
Selected Score: Definition: Are you the type of golfer who enjoys playing 36 holes in a day? Then find one, two or three other such golfers and play Selected Score.
Selected Score is a game or bet played over 36 holes of golf. To play Selected Score, start by playing 36 holes. Both rounds have to be on the same course.
Then, compare your scorecards. Select the better of the two scores you made on each hole. Add up those 18 scores for your total. Pretty simple. Low score wins.
You can play the game without playing 36 holes in a single day, however. Just schedule rounds on consecutive days (as many as you want) and then compare the scorecards after the last round.
Seve (Seve's): Definition: A Seve is a side bet that can have one of three meanings:
1. Synonym for Arnies. A golfer wins a Seve on a hole he pars without having hit the fairway.
2. Synonym for Barkies or Woodies. A golfer wins a Seve for making par on a hole on which he hits a tree.
3. Or the golfer wins a Seve when he makes par after hitting into the wrong fairway.
The Seve is named for Seve Ballesteros.
Also Known As: 1. Arnie; 2. Barkie, Woodie
Shamble: Definition: A shamble is a type of golf tournament that combines elements of a scramble with elements of stroke play.
Like in a scramble, all members of a team (usually four) tee off and the best ball of the four tee shots is selected. All players move their balls to the spot of the best ball. From this point, the hole is played out at stroke play, with all members of the team playing their own ball into the hole.
So: select the best shot off the tee, move all balls to that spot, then play individual stroke play until each member of the group has holed out.
Shamble tournaments are also known as "brambles." Shambles should be played with full handicaps to make sure weaker players contribute to the team score.
(Scoring, as with scrambles, can be done any number of ways, such as using one low ball per hole as the team score, or using two or three low balls per hole. Shamble scoring is only limited by the tournament director's imagination.)
Also Known As: Bramble
Ship, Captain & Crew - See Wolf
Sixes: Definition: Sixes, sometimes called Hollywood or Round Robin, is a game for groups of four golfers.
Sixes pits the group members against each other, 2 on 2. The catch: Players rotate partners after every six holes so that each member of the foursome, over the course of the round, partners with every other member.
Any scoring format for the 6-hole matches can be used, and each 6-hole segment is a separate wager. If at the end of the 18 holes you've been on two winning sides and one losing side, you come out ahead.
Sixes is best played by partners of similar skill levels, or by golfers using full handicaps.
Also Known As: Round Robin, Hollywood
Skins (Skins Games): Definition: Skins are what the skins game is played for. A skins game pits players in a type of match play in which each hole has a set value (usually in money or points). The player who wins the hole is said to win the "skin," and whatever that skin is worth. Skins games are often more dramatic than standard match play because holes are not halved. When players tie on a given hole, the value of that hole is carried over and added to the value of the following hole. The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff. For example, a friendly skins game might be played for $1 per hole. If three holes in a row are played without a winner, then the fourth hole is worth $4 ($1 for its own value, plus a dollar for each hole that carries over).
Stealies: Definition: "Stealies" is a type of golf bet that runs in conjunction with a closest-to-the-pin (KP) bet. When "stealies" are in effect, the losers of the closest-to-the-pin wager are given the chance to steal the pot.
The members of a foursome have agreed to wager on each of the golf course's par-3 holes. The closest to the pin on each of the par 3s wins the bet.
In "stealies," any player who birdies the par 3 without being closest to the pin steals the wager. The birdie can be holed from anywhere on the course (chip-in, etc.). But the KP winner can steal the bet back by making his own birdie putt. Whenever more than one player birdies on a KP holes, the "stealies" bet goes to the last one in.
Strike Three: Definition: Strike Three is a tournament format or a betting game among friends. Pretty simple: At the end of the round find your three highest individual hole scores ... and erase them. Add up your score, minus the three highest holes, and low score wins.
Alternate Spellings: Strike 3
String It Out: Definition: String It Out is a tournament format or betting game that is best played with partial handicaps because it includes a twist that offers a small boost to higher-handicappers.
In String It Out - sometimes called simply "String" - all players are issued a length of string prior to the round's start. The string can be used at any time during the round by a player who wants to improve his lie.
Example: Your ball is sitting down in heavy rough, but if you could move it just one foot, you'd have a great lie. OK, take out your length of string, string it out in the direction you want to move the ball. If the string reaches the point where you'd like to place your ball, you can move the ball.
The catch is that each time you use your string, you must cut off the amount of string corresponding to the distance your ball was moved.
Move your ball six inches to get out of a bunker, cut six inches off your string (a ball can be moved out of any hazard other than a water hazard).
The string can be used at any time, but, obviously, must be used judiciously or it runs out pretty quickly.
There are a couple options for the length of the string. All players can be issued the same length (usually a yard). In that case, use full handicaps. Or a player can be issued a length corresponding to his handicap. A 15 handicapper would get 15 feet of string; a 2 handicapper two feet. In that case, use partial (usually 3/4) handicaps.
Also Known As: String
Shoot Out: Definition: Shoot Out is a tournament format with a field of 19 players. On each hole, one player is eliminated until only one remains - the champion, crowned on the 18th hole.
Shoot Out is a slow game, very slow in the early going, because all remaining players must complete each hole before play moves on. On each hole, the high score is eliminated. Expect a lot of playoffs in the early going, adding even more time.
Alternately, Shoot Out might start with 19 twosomes playing alternate shot, but that will make the early holes even more time consuming.
Shoot Out is a fun game, but you better have plenty of time available to play it. Variations include using a smaller field and playing just nine holes, which can help speed things up.
Also Known As: Derby, Horse Race, Rumpsie Dumpsie
Snake: Definition: Snake is a golf betting game that bites the member of the foursome who has most recently three-putted.
This betting game was suggested by Dr. Sean K. Kesterson of Brighton, Mich., who explains it this way:
"(Snake) is a putting game. At the beginning of the round, all players in the foursome agree on the bet amount. Whoever three-putts first gets and keeps the 'snake' until someone else three-putts, then it changes owner to that golfer ... and so on. Whoever is the last with the snake pays the other players in the foursome the agreed amount.
"I carry an actual huge rubber snake and we throw it at each other during the round, and it hangs off your bag or your golf cart somewhere. People look at others who are facing very long putts and make hissssssssssing sounds."
Splashies: Definition: Splashies are a type of side bet, the value of which is agreed upon before the round begins.
A golfer wins a "splashie" by achieving par on a hole despite hitting into water. Some groups stipulate that the ball must be lost, but Splashies is usually played without that stipulation - the bet would be won whether the ball was lost or not, so long as it finds water.
Stableford: Definition: A Stableford competition is a golf tournament in which the object is to get the highest score. That's because in Stableford, golfers are awarded points based on their scores in relation to a fixed score at each hole. That fixed score can be par, or any number of strokes a tournament committee chooses (6, 8, whatever).
The USGA and R&A define Stableford points in this manner:
• More than 1 over fixed score (or no score returned) - 0 points
• One over fixed score - 1 point
• Fixed score - 2 points
• One under fixed score - 3 points
• Two under fixed score - 4 points
• Three under fixed score - 5 points
• Four under fixed score - 6 points
Rules related to Stableford competitions can be found in the official rules under Rule 32.
Stableford competitions are usually played with full handicaps, but might be played at scratch with handicaps used to determine higher point rewards for higher handicappers.
For example, golfers might be flighted as A, B, C and D players, with points adjusted so that a par gets an A player 0 points, a B player 1 point, a C player 2 points and a D player 3 points.
Golfers might be more familiar with the term Modified Stableford, which refers to a Stableford competition in which the points or exact format differs from the Stableford system described in the rulebook. See Modified Stableford.
Also Known As: Stableford System, Stableford Competition
Switch: Definition: Switch can be a tournament format or a betting game. Either way, it involves 2-person teams on which the players switch balls following the tee shots, then play out the hole using those balls.
For example, Players A and B tee off. Player A now switches to B's ball and vice-versa. Player A continues playing that ball he's switched to until it is holed, as does B.
Switch can be played as stroke play or match play; the total strokes for both players can be used, or just the better ball of the two.