25+ Fun Golf Games For The Course (Formats For 1-12 Players) – Out Of Bounds Golf

As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website.

Looking for some fun golf games to play on the course? Whether you want to dish out some cash, drink a few beverages, or just have some fun, here is my full list of all the golf matches available for singles, doubles, and larger groups of players.

Golf Games For Single Players

Here are some great golf course games that can be played by yourself. Some of them could be played with more than 1 person as well.

Best Ball

This is the most common golf course game that a single golfer would play. All you have to do is hit 2 or 3 balls each hole and only count the best score. You often hit the second ball much better and it really helps you improve your game.

Worst Ball

If you want a slightly more challenging version of Best Ball you can flip it around and play Worst Ball. It’s very similar but all you have to do is hit 2 or 3 balls each hole and count the worst score. See if you can still get your normal score.

Herman & Sherman

This is a little bit of a more advanced golf game (but it is actually really fun). All you have to do is play holes 1 & 2 with a draw for each shot. Then, play hole 3 & 4 with a fade for each shot. Hard, yes (but challenging).

Golf Games For 2 Players

Here are all of the 2 player golf matches I could find. Some of them can be played with more than 2 people as well.

Stroke Play

This is the classic game of golf. You count the number of strokes it takes to finish a hole and the person with the lowest score wins.

Skins

This can be done in groups of 2, 3, or 4. Instead of playing the lowest overall score wins, instead, you get a point for each hole you win. If you win a hole you get 1 point. If the hole is tied you carry that point to the next hole (which is worth 2 points and so on). The player with the most skins (points won) by the end of the round is the winner.

Stableford

This can be done in groups of 2 or more. This is similar to stroke play but instead of having a score based on the Par of the course, you earn points for the score you get. You get 1 point for a bogey, 2 points for a par, 3 points for a birdie, 4 points for an eagle, and 5 points for the all mighty hole-in-one.

Stringball

This can be done in groups of 2, 3, or 4. This is a pretty interesting one and you’ll need to bring scissors and string. You’ll need to first figure out everyone’s handicap. Next, if someone is a 10 handicap you’ll give them 10 feet of string. You can then move your ball and cut that much of string off (for getting out of hazards and bad lies). You can even get a foot of string back with every birdie.

Bingo, Bango, Bongo

This can be done in groups of 2, 3, or 4. This is a really good game for people with different skill levels. The first person to get on the green gets a point. The person who is closest to the pin after everyone is on the green gets a point. The person who sinks the put first also gets a point. There are 3 points up for grabs on each hole. The highest score at the end wins.

Nassau

This can be done in groups of 2 or more. This takes the round and splits it into 3 parts. The person who has the best score on the front nine gets a point. The person with the best score on the back nine gets a point. The person with the best score overall gets a point. You can also put a bet on each part.

Murphys

This can be done in groups of 2 or more. This is somewhat similar to Stableford but slightly different. If you get a double bogey or worse you get -3 points. If you get a bogey it’s -1 point. You get zero points for a par. You get +2 points for a birdie, +5 points for an eagle, and +8 points for a hole-in-one. The player with the highest score wins.

Portuguese Caddy

This can be done in groups of 2, 3, or 4. This is kind of similar to playing with mulligans. Before the round, you set how many mulligans you want to get per round. If you don’t like where your ball ended up you can kick it to a new spot and take your mulligan.

Golf Matches For 3 Players

Some of these golf games can be played with more than 3 people.

Skins

See Skins section in golf games for 2 players.

Six-Six-Six

There are 6 points up for grabs on each hole. If someone wins the hole outright they get 4 points. The player that comes in second gets 2 points. If the 2 bottom players tie they each get 1 point. If 2 players tie for the win they each get 3 points and the bottom player gets none.

Stableford

See Stableford section in golf games for 2 players.

Murphys

See Murphys section in golf games for 2 players.

Chairman

This is somewhat similar to Skins. The player with the lowest score on a hole becomes the Chairman. If they win the next hole again they are still the Chairman. If 2 players tie for the best score, the current Chairman remains the same. The person who is the Chairman for the most holes wins.

Stringball

See Stringball section in golf games for 2 players.

Ghost

This is a game with 3 real players and 1 imaginary player. One person will be paired with the Ghost and the other 2 will become a team. The Ghost will par every hole (best to put the Ghost with the worst player). The team with the best score at the end wins.

Nassau

See Nassau section in golf games for 2 players.

Bingo, Bango, Bongo

See Bingo, Bango, Bongo section in golf games for 2 players.

Snake

The first thing you’ll need to do is set a bet. Whenever someone 3-putts a hole they become the Snake. If someone else 3-putts they become the new Snake. The person who is the Snake at the end of the round has to pay the set bet.

Nines

This is a game where each hole is worth nine points. If one person gets a birdie, another person gets a par, and the third person gets a bogey, the points will be 5-3-1. If each player ties the hole they’d all get 3 points. If one person gets a birdie and the other 2 gets a par it would be 5-2-2.

Golf Games For 4 Players

Lagging

Once everyone has landed on the green the player closest to the pin gets 3 points, the second closest gets 2 points, the next closest gets 1 point, and the furthest person away gets zero points. The player with the most points by the end wins.

Foursomes

Get into groups of two. 1 player will tee-off on even holes and the other on odd holes. After the tee shot, the players will alternate shots until the hole is done. The team with the best score at the end wins.

Greensomes

This game is similar to foursomes. The difference is that each player will have a tee shot, you’ll then pick the best ball and alternate shots after that. The team with the lowest score at the end wins.

Gruesomes

This is very similar to Greensomes. However, after the tee shot, your opponent will pick which ball you have to play.

Shambles

Similar to Greensomes. After both players have had their tee shots, you’ll decide which spot is better and you’ll each take your second shot from that spot. Finish the hole and count the best score.

Canadian Foursomes

Same as Greensomes but you and your partner decide which ball to play after your second shot. Alternate shots after that.

American Foursomes

Same as Greensomes but you hit your partner’s ball and your partner will hit your ball (for your second shots). After your second shots, you’ll decide which ball to play. Alternate after that.

St Andrews Foursomes

Same as Greensomes but one player will hit the second shot for all even holes and the other play will hit the second shot for all odd holes. You both will tee-off. After the drive, you’ll decide which ball to play.

Scotch Foursomes

You and your partner will alternate shots. If partner A sinks the putt that means partner B will tee-off on the next hole.

Fourball Betterball

Each player will play their own ball and you’ll count the best score for each hole.

Fourball Aggregate

Each player will play their own ball and you’ll count the combined score of each hole.

High-Low

Each player will play their own ball. The player with the lowest score will get a point. Another point will also be given to the best of the highest score. The team with the most points at the end will win.

Wolf

This is a game where one player is designated as the wolf and it rotates every hole. The wolf will then tee-off last. After everyone has hit their first shot the wolf will decide if they want to team up with someone or be the Lone Wolf. If the wolf teams up with someone it’ll be them vs the other two. The player with the lowest score will earn a point for their team and the other team will lose a point. If the wolf doesn’t partner up and wins the hole, the wolf will earn 3 points and the others will lose 1 point each. If the wolf loses the hole they’ll lose 3 points.

Vegas

This is a game where you’re in groups of two and your scores are going to get combined. If you get a 4 and your partner gets a 6 you’ll combine those and your score will be 46 (lowest number first). Before the round, you’ll set a bet for how much you’ll pay for each point difference (let’s say $1 per point). If your group gets a 46 and the other group gets a 56, they’ll owe you $10.

One-Putt Poker

This is a game where you’ll assign a 3-putt a certain value (let’s say $2). If someone 3-putts a hole each person will put $2 into the pot. Anytime a player 1-putts they’ll be given a playing card. At the end of the round, the player with the best poker hand will win the pot (the player with the most 1-putts will have the best odds).

Round Robin

In this game, you’ll change partners every six holes. Every 6 holes will be a new bet. You can play any style of game (stroke, skins, etc).

Meetoo

Before the round starts the group will need to determine how many “meetoo’s” each player will have during the round. If you find yourself in a bad spot you can move your ball to where someone else is and hit your next shot from there. You and the other play will both shoot from the same spot. This can be done on any shot on the course.

Golf Games For 5, 6, 7, 8, And 12 Players

Stableford

See Stableford section in golf games for 2 players.

Nassau

See Nassau section in golf games for 2 players.

Murphys

See Nassau section in golf games for 2 players.

Drinking Golf Games To Play On The Course

Boozy Bunkers

The first player to hit their ball into a bunker has to take a shot or shotgun a beer. The second player to find the bunker has to take 2 shots or shotgun 2 beer. So on and so forth.

Game #2: Par 3

This game is for all the par 3 holes. The player who lands closest to the hole doesn’t have to drink. The rest of the players do. If you miss the green completely it’ll cost you extra drinks.

Game #3: Mulligans

You’re able to take a mulligan anytime you want but there is a catch. If you take a mulligan you’ll also have to take a shot or shotgun a beer.

Game #4: Birdies

Someone gets a birdie. Guess what? Everyone else drinks.

Game #5: Water

If you find the drink you might as well take a drink.

Game #6: My Favorite

The number of beers you drink through the round is the number of strokes you can take off your score.

Related Posts Of Interest:

Interested In Writing About Golf?

Calling all hackers, whackers, and golf enthusiasts, Out Of Bounds Golf is looking for writers! Click here if you want to get paid to write for us.

Looking to get some new golf gear? Click here to check out our recommended gear page to see what our up-to-date recommendations are.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with our gear giveaways!