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IntelliGolf Sidegames

Index:
General Tips
Better Ball
Bingo-Bango-Bongo
Birdies
Chip ins
Team Chip ins
Team Birdies
Custom
Eagles
Team Eagles
Four Ball
Greenies
Team Greenies
Nassau
Match
Team Nassau
Nicklauses (Longest Drive)
Nines
Out/In/18
Sandies
Team Sandies
Stableford and British Stableford
Skins (Match Play)
Skins Validation
Team Skins
Stroke (Medal Play)
Twelves
Wolf
Wolf Threesome
Vegas
USGA Policy on Gambling


General Tips

Games can be played without handicaps (scratch) or using one of the following methods:

  • Full Handicaps
    Each player receives their full handicap. Handicap strokes are awarded "where they fall" (based on the handicap value for a hole).
  • Handicap Difference
    Each player receives a number of strokes equal to their handicap minus the lowest handicap of the players playing the game. This is commonly called "giving strokes" and the player with the lowest handicap does not receive any handicap strokes.
  • Handicap Value
    A field for each player is provided to fill in the handicap value.

Some games require assigning hole events to a player. Hole events are turned on and off for each player by tapping on the field under the flagstick graphic on the hole screen.

Usually a foursome will play a team game like Nassau or Skins with one or more side bets. These side bets are called "Garbage". The games listed below that can be played between 2-4 players are good candidates for Garbage (e.g, Greenies).

To learn more about golf games, we recommend the following two books. You may find these at your local golf retailer, pro shop, or bookstore.

 

Golfgames : The Side Games We Play and Wager
Rich Ussak
Contemporary Books
ISBN 0-8092-3799-7

 

How About A Little Action?
Golf's most popular betting games

Roger H. Hess Thomas W. Strauss
Hess and Strauss
ISBN 0-9644987-0-7

-Michael Kipper
The game scoring is wonderful and has encouraged me and my friends to play more games. The bookkeeping was always such a hassle, but not anymore. We have all noticed that playing games increases course honesty!! No mulligans in competition. It is also a great way to check math.
  More player quotes


Better Ball

This game is played between 2 teams of 2 players. On each hole the team's score is the lowest net score of the two players. The team with the lowest total score wins the bet from each player on the other team.


Bingo-Bango-Bongo

This game is played between 2-4 players. Three points are awarded per hole. One point goes to the player who is first on the green (bingo), one to the player is who is closest to the pin once everyone is on (bango), and one to the player who first holes out (bongo). These are scored by IntelliGolf by assigning the hole events: bingo, bango, and bongo, respectively.


Birdies

This game is played between 2-4 players. If a single player shoots a birdie or better on the hole, they win a unit bet from each other player.


Team Birdies

This game is played between 4 players. If one or both players on a team shoot a birdie or better and their opponents do not, they win the unit bet from the other team.


Chip ins

This game is played between 2-4 players. If a single player holes a chip shot (zero putts), they win a unit bet from each other player.


Team Chip ins

This game is played between 4 players. If one or both players on a team holes a chip shot (zero putts), they win the unit bet from the other team.


Custom

This game is played between 2-4 players. On each hole you can award 0 to 7 points to each of the players playing the game. The payout for the game can be totaled three different ways:

  1. Points awarded on each hole. The payout is the number of points won times the unit bet.
  2. Total points wins. The player who has the most points wins the unit bet.
  3. Total points wins difference. The player with the most points wins the difference between their total and each of the other players total points times the unit bet.

To award points to a player, tap on the game points box, select the custom game in the list shown, and adjust the points for a player. It is recommended you enter a short description of the game in the space provided in the game form.


Eagles

This game is played between 2-4 players. If a single player shoots an eagle or better on the hole, they win a unit bet from each other player.


Team Eagles

This game is played between 4 players. If one or both players on a team shoot an eagle or better and their opponents do not, they win the unit bet from the other team.


Four Ball

This game is played between 4 players. On each hole the team with the lowest score wins a point and the other team losses a point. The team with the lowest total points for the round wins the bet.


Greenies (Closest to pin)

This game is played between 2-4 players. The player whose tee shot is closest to the pin on par 3s wins a point from the other players. Greenies are awarded in IntelliGolf by assigning the Closest to pin course event to a player by tapping under the "." column on IntelliGolf's main scoring screen. A game option is to only award the point if the player holes out with a par (without handicap adjustments). If the golfer that is Closest to pin does not shoot par, he/she owes the other golfers a point each.


Team Greenies (Closest to pin)

This game is played between 4 players. The player whose tee shot is closest to the pin (see above) on par 3s wins a point for their team.


Match

This game is played between 2-4 players. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins a point, the others lose a point. The player with the most total points wins the bet.


Nassau

This is the betting game that most golfers are familiar with. A Nassau is played between two players and divides the round into three separate matches: the front nine, the back nine and the 18-hole total. If two players are playing a $1 Nassau, the player with the lowest points for the front side wins $1, the player with the lowest points for the back side wins $1, and the player with the lowest total points wins $1.

Points are calculated by scoring each hole as a separate match. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins a point. If there is a tie, there is "no blood" and no point is awarded.

Nassau Presses

This is a new bet made during a Nassau match by the side that is losing in an effort to even their money for either the front or back nine holes ("double or nothing"). When a side is two or more points down in the match, they may request a press. The opposition may choose to accept or reject the press - it is usually accepted.

The press bet runs for the remaining holes to be played on either the front or back nine holes only. The amount of the press bet is the same as the original match bet. For example, in a $2 Nassau, presses are for $2.

IntelliGolf will automatically show the Press button in the hole screen when a side is two or more down at the start of a hole. Selecting this button allows the winning side to accept the press. If after pressing the button it appears again, this means there is another possible press to accept or reject.

Some players like to play presses for half the match bet. If you play this way, here is a hint: let IntelliGolf create the presses and on the 18th hole, use the Games menu command to edit the games. Change the wager amount for each press bet appropriately.


Team Nassau

In team Nassau each side consists of two partners. Each player is responsible for paying the amount of the wager to the other side. For example, in a $2 team Nassau, each player on a team pays $2 to the winners of the front, back, and total. There are many variations of how the team score is calculated for a hole, IntelliGolf offers five different ways:

Low Ball

The team with the player who has lowest score wins a point.

Low Total

The team with lowest combined score wins a point.

High Ball

The team with the player who has the highest score loses a point.

Low Ball/Low Total

Two points per hole are possible. The team with the player who has the lowest score wins a point and the team with the lowest combined score wins a point.

Low Ball/High Ball

Two points per hole are possible. The team with the player who has lowest score wins a point and the team with the player who has the highest score loses a point.

To create your own interesting variations, play one or more of these five variations at a time. For example, play a Low Total and a High Ball game concurrently.


Nines

This games is played between 3 players. Nine points are awarded on each hole as follows: the player with the best score earns 5 points; the player with the next best score earns 3 points; and the player with the worst score gets 1 point. If two players tie for the best score, they both get 4 points. If two players tie for the worst score, they both get 2 points. If all three players tie for the low score, they each get 3 points. The player with the fewest total points pays both the other players based on the point differential. The player with the second highest point total pays the player with the most points the point differential.


Nicklauses (Longest Drive)

This game is played between 2-4 players. A point is awarded for the longest drive. Many variations exist for awarding game points. Some players award a Nicklaus for only 1 par 5 on each side, some for all par 5s, and others for all par 4s and par 5s. IntelliGolf allows you to score any of these variations by assigning the Longest drive hole event to a player winning a Nicklaus.


Out/In/18

This game is played between 2-4 players. The player with the low score on the front 9 (Out) wins a unit bet, the player with the low score on the back (In) wins a unit bet, and the player with the low score for the round (18) wins a unit bet.


Sandies

This game is played between 2-4 players. A player that has hit into a greenside bunker but still manages to par the hole wins a point from each opponent. Make sure to record a chip shot from a bunker in the shot tracking screen for the player.


Team Sandies

This game is played between 4 players. A player on a team that has hit into a greenside bunker but still manages to par the hole wins a point for their team. Make sure to record a chip shot from a bunker in the shot tracking screen for the player.


Skins (Match Play)

This game is played between 2-4 players. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins a point (skin) from each player for that hole. If there is a tie for lowest score, no points are awarded. A variation is to play carryovers where the point from a tie is added to the points for the next hole. The carryovers are cumulative as long as there is a tie. For example, if there is a tie on holes 1, 2, and 3, hole 4 is worth 4 points. IntelliGolf allows you to select whether or not to play carryovers.

Beforehand, the players may agree what to do in the case of a tie on the last hole. There are many forms of tiebreakers, a common one is a putt-off on the practice green. IntelliGolf allows you to score the tiebreaker for a Skins match. On the 18th hole screen view, click on the game total box on the right-hand side for the player who won the tiebreaker. Next, select the Skins game from the game list and then tap the Won 18 checkbox.


Skins Validation

This is a variation of a Skins game where a player does not win a hole unless they at least tie the next hole.


Stableford and British Stableford

Note: IntelliGolf provides the ability to score your Round using either the 1) Stableford "point scoring" system or the 2) Net scoring system. You can select your preferred scoring method during Round Set-up. If you select the Stableford scoring system, if you enter a zero (o) into the scoring box for any player, IntelliGolf will assume that the player wants to "ring-the-hole" (i.e. give up the hole). The player will be awarded points based upon whether the "double bogey" or "bogey" option has been selected in IntelliGolf's main Preferences screen. Double-bogey is the default.

If you select the "Stableford" point scoring system, points will be awarded under each golfer's name on IntelliGolf's main scoring screen according to the following table:

  • More than one over fixed score (e.g. Double bogey or higher) or no score returned = 0 points
  • One over fixed score (e.g. Bogey) = 1 point
  • Fixed score (e.g. Par) = 2 points
  • One under fixed score (e.g. Birdie) = 3 points
  • Two under fixed score (e.g. Eagle) = 4 points
  • Three under fixed score (e.g. Double Eagle) = 5 points
  • Four under fixed score (e.g. You wish :-) = 6 points

    In addition, there are two Stableford-related wagering sidegames included in the IntelliGolf software: British Stablefords and Modified Stablefords.

    The British Stableford sidegame uses the following point scoring system: 1 point for a bogey, 2 points for a par, 3 points for a birdie, and 4 points for an eagle. 0 points are earned for a double-bogey or higher. The British Stableford sidegame also provides two (2) wagering "options" in the IntelliGolf for Android software. All other platforms contain only the second wagering option (below).

    1. The default British Stableford wagering option for Android (check box "on") calculates wagers based upon the following logic: "The losing players pay the winner the difference in their individual point totals (from the winner's point total) multiplied by the wagered amount."
    2. The second British Stableford wagering option (check box "off") calculates wagers based upon the following logic: "The the losing players "Pay the wagered amount only" (i.e. no point difference multiplier) to the winner. The choice is yours!

    The second wagering (sidegame) available in the IntelliGolf software is based upon the "Modified" Stableford point system. The Modified Stableford wagering game is played between 2-4 players. Players earn or lose points based on their net score on each hole according to the following Modified Stableford point system: 8 points for a double eagle, 5 for an eagle, 2 for a birdie, 0 for a par, -1 for a bogey, and -3 for a double bogey or worse. The winner is the player with the most points for the round. The other players "Pay the winner the difference" in their individual point total (from the winner's point) total multiplied by the wager amount.

    As such, you really have three Stableford-related point scoring systems at your fingertips.

    1. Stableford for point scoring via IntelliGolf's main scoring screen (i.e. points shown under each player's name and at the end of your Round.
    2. British Stableford wagering sidegame, and
    3. Modified Stableford Wagering sidegame.

    Note: More information can be found on the differences between the Stableford and Modified Stableford point scoring system by clicking here.


    Team Skins

    In team Skins each side consists of two players. Each player is responsible for paying the amount of the wager to the other side. For example, in a $1 team Skins match, each player on a team pays $1 to the other side for each skin lost. IntelliGolf allows two variations when calculating the team score for a hole:

    Low Ball

    The team score is the lowest score of the two players.

    Low Total

    The team score is the sum of the scores of the two players.


    Stroke (Medal Play)

    This game is played between two players. The player with the lowest score for the round wins the bet. It is not unusual to play more than one stroke match concurrently. For example, if Mike, Craig, Jim, and Fritz are playing, Mike may have stroke play bets against both Craig and Jim. IntelliGolf allows one scoring variation:

    Stroke Differential

    The winning player wins one bet for each stroke by which they beat the opponent. For example, if two players were playing a $1 round and one player shot an 85 and another shot an 81, the player who shot the 81 would win $4 from the other player.


    Twelves

    This game is played between four players. Twelve points are awarded on each hole as follows: the player with the lowest score earns 6 points; the player with the next lowest score earns 4 points; and the player with the third lowest score earns 2 points. If players tie, they split the available points (e.g. tied for second splits 4 + 2 = 6 points, for 3 points each). The winner is the player with the most points. Each losing player pays the winner the difference between their points and the winners.


    Wolf

    This game is played between four players. On each hole one of the players is the wolf. After all players have teed off, the wolf can choose one of the other players as a partner for the hole or they can go it alone. If the wolf picks a partner, it's his team's best ball (lowest individual score) against the other team's best ball with the winners each winning a point. If the wolf decides to go it alone, the points are doubled and the wolf must beat the low score of the other three golfers (note that a "lone wolf" will win or lose 6 points on a hole).

    IntelliGolf will show who the wolf is on each hole in the game points box with an arrow pointing to the player. Each player gets a chance to be the wolf 4 times on the first 16 holes. The wolf for hole 17 and 18 is the player with the least points through hole 16. To pick a partner, tap on the game points box, choose the wolf game in the list, and check which player you want as a partner.


    Wolf Threesome

    This game is played between three players. On each hole one of the players is the wolf. After all players have teed off, the wolf can choose one of the other two players or a bogey score as a partner or they can go it alone. If the wolf picks a partner, it's his team's best ball (lowest individual score) against the other team's best ball with the winners each winning a point. If the wolf decides to go it alone, the points are doubled and the wolf must beat the low score of the other golfers (including the bogey score).

    IntelliGolf will show who the wolf is on each hole in the game points box with an arrow pointing to the player. To pick a partner, tap on the game points box, choose the wolf game in the list, and check which player you want as a partner.


    Vegas

    This game is played between four players, two on each team. On each hole a team's score is a two digit number where the ten's digit is the low score of the two golfers, and the one's digit is the high score. The points earned on a hole is the difference between the two team's scores. For example if team A scored a 4 and 5 and team B scored a 5 and 6, team A wins 11 points (56 - 45). A running total of the points is kept and the winners are payed one unit bet for each point won.

    Warning, the points in this game can add up fast!


    USGA Policy on Gambling

    "The USGA does not object to participating in wagering among individual golfers or teams of golfers when participation in the wagering is limited to the players. The players may only wager on themselves or their teams. The sole source of all money won by the players is advanced by the players and the primary purpose is the playing of the game for enjoyment."

    From The Rules of Golf, as approved by the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.