These are the oldest and least tricky for an 18-hole round. Play them either gross or net and in either singles or four-ball games, unless noted. Players should always set the bet’s value before starting the match, especially for games where the bets grow in number or size through the round. A push means neither side wins, as in a halve or tie.
Chicago. (Or Quota). Played gross (after handicap adjustment) and medal, one or more groups can play the game. Players (or teams) ante an agreed amount into the pot, and each player gets a quota of points equaling 39 minus his handicap. A 10 has a quota of 29 points; a 20 gets 19. Thereafter, players earn points for specific gross scores: one for bogey, two for par, four for birdie, and eight for eagle or better. The player who exceeds his point quota by the most points wins the pot. If no one does, the player closest to the quota wins. Some play Chicago within other games.
Low Ball. (Also $1 a hole, or $10, or whatever). This straightforward game is for singles, four-ball, or foursomes play. Players first set the bet for each hole, with the low or better ball winning the wager for each hole. The payout is on the differential of holes won between sides at the end of the round. (If player A wins five holes and B three, and they halve ten, then B pays A two betting units.)
Low ball and low total. This four-ball match play game awards one point on each hole for the low better-ball score and another for the low team total. Ties don’t carry over, and the payout is based on point differentials between teams.
Nassau. This is normally a match play bet. Golfers can, however, play it medal by scoring each nine separately. Played either in a singles or four-ball game, there is one bet on the front nine, a second for the back, and a third for the match—that is, $2, $2, and $2. A press adds another bet for the remainder of the nine. Players must agree at the start whether a player can decline a called press, or that it is automatic when one side is either one or two strokes down for the nine. Variation: Four ways—stipulates one bet unit on the front, two bet units on back, and one unit on match. (Four ways can also mean one bet on each nine and two on the match.) Six ways involves one bet on the front, two on the back, and three on the match. Double or nothing presses on last the hole often have their own names—Aloha, Titanic, and Get-Even, for example.
Skins. This old match play game is for two, three, four, or and even eight golfers. Players set the value of the skin in the beginning, and whoever wins a hole wins a skin. If two tie on the hole, all tie, and the skin carries over to the next hole. A 2006 Golf Digest survey indicated that 39 percent of the respondents claimed skins to be their standard game, while 32 percent favored a Nassau.
Bobby Jones. Each golfer plays his second shot from the location of his opponent’s tee shot. The bet is usually a Nassau, buts other wagers will do.
Chairman. A game for groups of three, the first player to win a hole becomes the chairman. He loses the chair after losing a hole, with ties carrying over. If the chairman wins the hole, he wins a point. The payout is on the points differential between players.
Fairways and Greens. Players set the value of a point on the first tee. Then they win one point for each fairway hit and another for each green in regulation. Birdies or better earn two points, usually on par-4s and 5s only. The point differential at the end determines the payout.
Pick up sticks. Usually a match play singles game, the winner of each hole takes one of the loser’s clubs out of play. To return a club to play, the opponent must win a hole. Use half handicaps or gross between evenly matched players, and play a Nassau.
Rabbit. Each player in a group of three or four players antes an agreed amount to the pot. The first player to win four holes (four rabbit legs) outright wins the pot. Halved holes are pushes with no carryover. Play either gross or net. Variation: The rabbit is “loose” on the first hole. The first player to win a hole outright holds the rabbit. Lose a hole, lose the rabbit. Whoever holds the rabbit on nine and 18, wins the bets for each nine.
Six, Six, Six. A four-ball game, teams play better ball for the first six holes, foursomes (alternate shot) on the second six, and team aggregate on the last. They place one bet on each six and then another for the match.
String. Each player starts with a length of string, say 12 feet, or a length scaled to handicaps. Each player can use a portion of the string to move a ball any length, be it two inches or two feet, until the string is gone. Carry scissors to trim the string after each use, but don’t run with them. You can use this game also as a side bet within another game. Variation: Use for putts only. Need a 3-footer? Cut off three feet of string.
Wolf. (Also Pig, Captain, Hawk) In this game for a group of four, each player is the wolf on every fourth hole. (Flip for wolf on the first tee.) The player losing the most bets through 16 is the wolf on 17 and 18. The wolf picks a partner on each hole, but he can make his pick at various times: before everyone hits their drives; after the wolf hits his drive, but before the others do; before the wolf’s selected partner drives; or after all drives. Variation: The lone wolf picks no one, and then plays against the other’s best ball at double the bet. If the wolf declares he is playing alone, the bet triples.
These bets can accompany any full round betting game. Players should set the betting unit’s value at the start of the round, but spontaneous betting amounts are not completely unwelcome. Losers pay one betting unit to the winner, unless otherwise noted.
Arnies. (Also Sevies) The winner must score par or better on a hole without being in the fairway (par-4s and 5s only).
Birdies. A birdie (or better) wins a bet. The 2006 Golf Digest poll showed the favorite side bet is for birdies.
Boo! (Noonan!) The higher handicap player gets an agreed number of times during a round that he can yell “Boo!” or “Noonan!” during his opponent’s swing. (Hint: Noonan was a character in Caddyshack.)
Do-or-Don’ts. This one is a basic call bet—such as “I bet that you can’t get up and down”—for any sticky situation.
Hammer. This bet usually happens in a singles game, with a low-ball bet on each hole. Player A hammers B when B appears to be in trouble or when A is in good shape after a shot. If B rejects the Hammer, play continues for the original bet. If B accepts, the bet doubles, and the Hammer passes to B after the shot. If B hammers A on the next shot, the bet quadruples. The Hammer must be accepted or rejected immediately and before the next shot. Variation: In Air Hammer, Player A must call a Hammer when the ball is in the air, either his or B’s, and B must accept or decline before it hits the ground.
Hogans. A player wins a bet for shooting par or better with the ball always in the fairway (par-4s and 5s only). The winner must reach the green in regulation to qualify. This side bet is a version of Fairways and Greens.
Oozle-Foozle. The player who hits the green and is closest to the hole wins the Oozle bet. If he then 3-putts, he forfeits the Oozle bet and pays opponents the Foozle bet.
Pavins. The bet calls for making par with the shortest drive.
Sandies (Omars, Gritties). Any player who gets up and down from a green-side bunker wins the bet. Variations: A Super Sandie doubles the bet if a player pars from a fairway bunker. An Exotic Sandie quadruples the bet for a par via both fairway and green-side bunkers.
Scruffies. A player can elect to call a Scruffy on himself after a horrible tee shot. If he pars the hole, he wins the bet. He pays for bogeys or worse. A birdie doubles the bet. Opponents must first agree the shot was bad enough to qualify for a Scruffy.
Splashies. (also Titanics, Whalies, and Fishies) The bet covers making par after hitting a ball into the water.
Watsons. (Ferrets) Chip-ins from off the green, regardless of the score on the hole. In a Super Ferret, a player holes a bunker shot, and the bet doubles.