Golf Games and Bets

USGA Policy on Gambling

The Definition of an amateur golfer provides that an amateur golfer is one who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport. When gambling motives are introduced, problems can arise which threaten the integrity of the game.                

The distinction between playing for prize money, which violates the Rules of Amateur Status, and gambling, which does not, is essential to the Rules of Amateur Status. The USGA urges amateur golfers to seek USGA guidance whenever it is unclear whether the prize format constitutes playing for prize money or gambling and, in the absence of such guidance, not to play for cash prizes. Such a course of action would ensure that no one jeopardizes his amateur status.

The USGA does not object to informal wagering among individual golfers or teams of golfers when the players in general know each other, participation in the wagering is optional and is limited to the players, the sole source of all money won by the players is advanced by the players on themselves or their own teams and the amount of money involved is such that the primary purpose is the playing of the game for enjoyment.

On the other hand, organized events open to the general public or designed and promoted to create cash prizes are not approved by the USGA. Golfers participating in such events without first irrevocably waiving their right to cash prizes are deemed by the USGA to be playing for prize money.

The USGA is opposed to and urges its Member Clubs, all golf associations and all other sponsors of golf competitions to prohibit types of gambling such as: (1) Calcuttas, (2) other auction pools, (3) pari-mutuels and (4) any other forms of gambling organized for general participation or permitting participants to bet on someone other than themselves or their teams. The USGA may deny amateur status, entry in USGA Championships and membership on USGA teams for international competitions to players whose activities in connection with golf gambling, whether organized or individual, are considered by the USGA to be contrary to the best interests of golf.

©USGA, used with permission

Golf Games and On the Course Bets

1-2-3 Best Ball: "1-2-3 Best Ball" is a competition format for 4-person teams. Each player on the team plays his own ball throughout the round. On each hole, a predetermined number of the lower scores is used.

One the first hole, the lowest score among the four players counts as the team score. On the second hole, the two lowest scores become the team score. On the third hole, the three lowest scores become the team score. On the fourth hole, it's back to the one lowest score, and so on throughout the round.

1-2-3 Best Ball is a good way to keep all the players involved in the fate of their team.

2-2-2: "2-2-2" is just another name for the $2 Nassau. A $2 Nassau consists of three bets, each worth $2 - the front nine, the back nine and the full 18 hole score.

2-Man No Scotch Golf Tournament Format: In the 2-Man No Scotch golf tournament format, team members tee off, then switch balls, each playing the second shot from where the balls lie. Beginning with the third shot, the two team members play out the hole as a scramble, and record the one low ball as the team score.

2-Man Scramble: A 2-Man Scramble is a competition format that is exactly what it sounds like: a scramble in which the teams consist of two players each. After each shot, the best of the two shots is selected and both players play from that spot, until the ball is holed. One team score is recorded.

Also Known As: 2-Person Scramble, Two-Person Scramble

Alternate Spellings: Two-Man Scramble

2-Person Best Ball: "2-Person Best Ball" is a best-ball competition format in which the teams consist of two players. Played as one team vs. another, whether stroke play or match play, it's simply another name for Four Ball. Each player on the team plays his own ball until completing the hole, then the lower of the two scores is recorded as the team score for that hole. For more explanation, see Best Ball.

Also Known As: 2-Man Best Ball, 2-Person Better Ball, Four Ball

Alternate Spellings: Two-Person Best Ball

4-Man Cha Cha Cha: In the 4-Man Cha Cha Cha tournament format, each member of the team plays his or her ball throughout. But a 3-hole rotation exists for determining how many scores are used to create the team score.

On the first hole (cha), the one low ball counts as the team score. On the second hole (cha cha), the two low balls count as the team score. On the third hole (cha cha cha), the three low balls count as the team score. The rotation starts over on the fourth hole.

For a similar format, see Irish Four Ball.

Alternate Spellings: Four-Man Cha Cha Cha

Aces and Dueces: Definition: Aces and Dueces, sometimes called Acey Ducey, is a betting game best for groups of four golfers. On each hole, the low score (the "ace") wins an agreed upon amount from the other three players, and the high score (the "duece") loses an agreed upon amount to the other three players.

The ace bet is usually worth twice the duece bet, but groups can agree on any amount. Ties for either the ace or the duece mean that no money is paid for that bet on that hole; carryovers are optional at the discretion of the group members (decide before the round starts).

It works like this: Let's say the ace bet is for $2 and the duece bet is for $1. On the first hole, A makes 4, B makes 5, C makes 5, D makes 6. A is the "ace" and wins $2 each from B, C and D.

D is the "duece" and owes $1 each to A, B and C. So A wins a total of $7 ($2 from each B, C and D, plus another $1 from D for being the "duece"), B and C have a net loss of $1 (they each pay $2 to A but get $1 from D), and D pays out $5 ($1 to each for being the duece, plus the $2 owed to A for his "ace" score).

As you can see, this game can get expensive in a hurry if high amounts are used and one or two players dominate. Be sure to play with players of similar skills, or use full handicaps, and to set a reasonable bet amount if you're not a high-roller.

Also Known As: Acey Ducey

Acey Ducey: Definition: Acey Ducey, also called Aces and Dueces, is a betting game best for groups of four golfers. On each hole, the low score (the "ace") wins an agreed upon amount from the other three players, and the high score (the "duece") loses an agreed upon amount to the other three players. See Aces and Dueces for more explanation and examples of how the bet works.

Also Known As: Aces and Dueces

Alternate Spellings: Acie Ducie

Air Presses: "air presses" are one-hole bets between individuals that are called while a ball is in the air.

Set the bet amount before the round. Air presses are automatic; that is, if one is called, it is automatically accepted.

Say you're on the first tee. Your opponent steps up and smacks his drive, but, uh-oh, it looks like it's headed for the rough. You call an "air press," and the bet is in place. What you're betting is that you'll beat your opponent on this hole. Now you step to the tee. Your opponent has the option, while your ball is in the air, to double the bet.

Air presses can only be called by a player who has not yet hit on a hole (thereby ensuring that the opponent has the option to double the bet).

Alternate Shot: Definition: Alternate Shot, also called Foursomes, is a competition format in which 2-person teams alternate hitting the same ball. 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. Tee balls are alternated so that the same player doesn't hit every drive.

Alternate Shot can be played as stroke play or match play.

Odds and Evens and Scotch Foursomes are two very slight variants of Alternate Shot.

Also Known As: Foursomes, Scotch Foursomes, Scotch Doubles

Am-Am tournament: Definition: An Am-Am tournament is one in which two amateurs are paired - "amateur-amateur," get it? Or, as we once saw an am-am described on the Web site of a tournament organizer: "You've heard of a pro-am, right? Well, we ain't got no pros."

When a tournament is labeled as an am-am, it might imply one of the following:

• That golfers who sign up to play in the tournament will be paired with a so-called celebrity (as opposed to a professional golfer)

• Or that the tournament is a big-time amateur event in which low-handicappers are competiting

It doesn't have to imply either one of those things, of course. A designation of "am-am" often just means that if you sign up to play, you'll be paired with another amateur such as yourself on a 2-person team.

Also Known As: Amateur-Amateur

Alternate Spellings: Am Am (no hyphen)

Ambrose Competition: Definition: "Ambrose Competition" is another name for a scramble, but one in which a team handicap is used. All players tee off, the best shot is selected and all players hit again from that same spot. The best second shot is selected, and all players hit from that same spot, and so on until the ball is holed.

If the scramble is called an "Ambrose," it means that handicaps are used in play, with a fraction of the total handicaps of the group members serving as one handicap for the group.

For example, if it's a 2-person scramble, the handicaps of the two players are added together and divided by 4. For a 3-person scramble, divide by 6; for a 4-person scramble, divide by 8.

The arithmetic produces one group handicap which is used during play.

Also Known As: Scramble, 2-man scramble, 3-man scramble, 4-man scramble

American Foursomes - See Chapman System

Arnie: Definition: An Arnie is a side bet that is won by a golfer who makes par on a hole without ever being in the fairway. The amount of the bet is set before the round begins. Arnies are not something a golfer sets out to win, however - the round is played with the intent of playing as well as possible (no sandbagging, in other words). However, if along the way a golfer makes par on a hole without hitting the fairway, the Arnie is his reward.

The bet is named for Arnold Palmer, who made quite a few pars in his career on holes where he failed to find the fairway.

Also Known As: Seve

Auto Win: Definition: Auto Win is a match play tournament or betting game in which holes are automatically won by any player accomplishing one of the following:

• Chip-in from off the green (fringes don't count)

• Hole-out from a sand trap

• Stick an approach inside the flagstick from 150 yards out or more, or on any par 3

The player with the most holes won (call them skins or points or whatever suits your fancy) at the end of the round wins the match or the bet. If more than one player achieves an Auto Win on a hole, the options are to consider the hole halved, award no points at all, or carry over the point (or skin) to the next hole.

Bag Raid: Definition: Bag Raid, a k a Pick Up Sticks, is a match play game between two players. It's pretty simple: Every time a player wins a hole, his opponent gets to choose one club from his bag and remove that club from play.

Example: After A wins the first hole, B removes A's pitching wedge from play. For the rest of the round, A cannot use that pitching wedge.

Any club can be chosen, but most players give immunity to the putter (otherwise it would be the first club to go, and putting is hard enough without having to do it without a putter).

The strategy - well, aside from the strategy of not losing holes - is to first remove from your opponent's bag the clubs which he's most comfortable and best with.

When playing Bag Raid, make sure you carry the maximum allowed 14 clubs at the start of the round.

Bag Raid can be a good game for learning creative shots and practicing draws, fades, punch shots and the like.

Because by the turn - unless you're winning every hole - you'll be playing shots for which you may no longer have the appropriate club.

Also Known As: Pick Up Sticks

Barkies: Definition: Barkies are side bets that are won by a golfer who makes par on a hole on which he's hit a tree. Most groups playing Barkies stipulate that leaves don't count - the ball must make contact with wood. A double barkie is worth twice the bet and involves making par despite hitting two trees on the same hole.

Of course, no golfer wants to hit a tree, so Barkies are not things that a golfer sets out to do. But it can add a fun side game to a round of golf and is a good reward for a golfer who recovers for par after hitting a tree.

Also Known As: Woodies, Seve's

Best At Something: Definition: Best At Something is a points-based betting game that can be played right alongside any other type of match in which golfers are playing their own balls throughout (as opposed to alternate shot, for example).

Along with counting strokes, Best At Something requires that each player count points. Points are awarded (or subtracted) for different things throughout the round. Have the most points at the end of the round, win the bet.

In its most common form, 1 point is awarded for any of these accomplishments:

• Fairway hit (it might be stipulated that woods must be used to get a point)
• Green in regulation
• 1-putt green

A single point would be subtracted for:

• 3 putts or more on a green
• Hitting into a hazard
• Lost ball
• Out of bounds

Want to make it more complicated? Tally each category separately.  Those leading the positive point categories win from the other players; those leading the negative point categories owe the other players.

Best Ball: Definition: Along with the scramble, "best ball" is one of the most popular golf tournament formats.

Best ball can be played using 2-, 3- or 4-person teams. Each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the round, and on each hole the low score - or "best ball" - of the group serves as the team score. Player A gets a 5, B gets a 4, C gets a 6, D gets a 6, then the team score for that hole is 4, because the low score of the group was B's 4.

Best ball is usually played as stroke play with the total score added up at the end of the round. It can be played as match play, but best-ball match play with more than 2-person teams results in a lot of halved holes.

When using 3- or 4-person teams, it's almost imperitave to apply handicaps so that the weaker players will be able to contribute.

A 2-person best ball match play competition is also known as Four Ball.

"Best ball" can also refer to a competition in which a single player plays match play against a 2- or 3-person team playing best ball.

That variation is good for a low-handicapper taking on a team of higher handicappers.

Handicap allowances for Best Ball competitions can be found in the USGA Handicap Manual, Section 9-4 (www.usga.com).

Also Known As: With 2-person teams, "better ball." With 2-person teams in match play, "four ball."

Bingle Bangle Bungle - See Bingo Bango Bongo

Bingo Bango Bongo: Definition: Bingo Bango Bongo is a points-based game that can be played by any number of players, from two up.

In Bingo Bango Bongo, three types of achievements are rewarded with a point. The first player in a group to get his ball on the green gets a point (bingo). The player in the group whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green gets a point (bango). And the player in the group who is first to hole out gets a point (bongo).

Add up the points at the end of the game, high points wins.

Bingo Bango Bongo gives weaker players a chance to earn points because what matters is being first at something. For example, all members of the group tee off on a par-4. The player who hit the worst drive (farthest from the hole) plays first, and so has the first shot at winning the bingo point.

So, too, with closest to the pin.

The best players in the group are likely to be on the green in two (or three on a par-5), while the weakest players might be chipping. The closest-to-the-pin point is only earned once all balls are on the green, so the player who has hacked it up the fairway may be sitting just off the green and chipping - giving that player a great chance to pick up the bango point.

Because of these factors (and because the first person putting will be the one farthest from the hole), strict etiquette must be enforced. The player who is away always plays first.

For a variation, throw into the mix that any player winning all three points on a hole wins double points.

Also Known As: Bingle Bangle Bungle

Blind Bogey: Definition: Blind Bogey is a tournament format. Actually, it's several tournament formats - "blind bogey" means different things to different tournament directors, and in different places.

1. Probably the most common format when "blind bogey" is announced requires golfers to play 18 holes of stroke play. Following completion of play, the tournament director randomly selects a score - say, 87 - and the golfer(s) whose actual score is closest to the randomly selected score is the winner.

2. A variation of No. 1. In this version, before the round begins golfers assign themselves a self-chosen handicap (which should be recorded to guard against cheating later!) - the number they believe will result in a net score in the 70s. After the round, the tournament director randomly selects a number in the 70s, and golfers whose net scores (using their self-chosen handicaps) match that number are the winners.

3. Finally, there's this version of blind bogey: Everyone tees off and completes their rounds. The tournament directors randomly select six holes, and each golfer's scores on those six randomly chosen holes are thrown out. The 12 holes remaining on your scorecard are added up, and that's your score. Low score wins.

Blind Nine: Definition: Blind Nine, sometimes called Blind Hole, is a scramble tournament in which only 9 of the 18 holes count in the team's final score. The catch is that the teams don't know which 9 holes count until after the round is completed.

The tournament organizers usually wait until all teams have teed off before randomly selecting the 9 holes whose scores will be used.

Alternately, the organizers may select three par-3s, three par-4s and three-par 5s, but that makes it easier on the field - concentrate really hard on the par 3s and par 5s because there usually are only four each of those on a course.

Blind Nine is usually played with full handicaps, but using three-quarter handicaps or some other fraction can help ease the logjam that is sometimes created by using only 9 holes to score.

Also Known As: Blind Hole

Alternate Spellings: Blind 9