In a Season 4 episode of The Office, three of the main characters (Jim, Andy, and Kevin) are playing golf with a client, who suggests a $10 wager.
Golfers who were fans of the popular series no doubt remember that Kevin, who was a bit of a challenged communicator, to put it lightly, launched into an excited response that unveiled his surprisingly deep knowledge of betting on the golf course.
“Okay. What are we talking? Skins? Acey Deucy? Bingo, Bango, Bongo? Sandies? Barkies? Arnies? Wolf? What?” asks Kevin Malone, who was played by actor and avid golfer Brian Baumgartner.
The scene was so unexpectedly good not just because it highlighted the usually awkward Kevin’s avidity for gambling on the course (he follows up by saying he’s going to take the petty cash and “turn it into next month’s rent”), but because it perfectly captures the different breeds of golfers.
If you relate to “Golf Course Kevin,” well, this piece might be too simplistic for you. But if you’re newer to playing for monetary (or imaginary) stakes or are typically more focused on buddies, beers, and bogeys over betting nuance, read on and we’ll detail some of the most popular on-course games and wagers, along with a couple that are a little less common.
Nassau
One of golf’s most classic wagering games in which three separate bets are made: best score on the front nine (holes 1–9), best score on the back nine (holes 10–18), and best score over all 18 holes. The stakes for each segment are agreed before play between two or more individual players or two teams.
Example ($5 Nassau):
Player A wins front 9 = earns $5 each from players B, C, and D.
Player B wins back 9 = earns $5 from golfers A, C, and D.
Player C has lowest total = earns $5 from players A, B, and D.
Footnote: A relatively common secondary wager with the Nassau (and other games) is a “press,” which is a concurrent wager that golfers can request when trailing in a match. For example, if Team A presses while down two holes after six holes on the front nine, then it starts a second “match”—one for the hypothetical $5 front nine Nassau and another $5 for holes 7 to 9. In some cases, the team that presses could come back to win both bets. There can be multiple presses within a game.
Skins
Each hole is worth a “skin,” or a set amount. The player with the lowest individual score on a hole wins the skin. If players tie, the skin (or skins) carry over to the next hole, increasing the value of the potential winning amount.
Example ($1 skins):
In a foursome, Player A wins the first hole to collect a skin ($3 = $1 from the other three players) by making a par while his three playing partners each made bogeys.
After no individual player had the lowest score on holes 2-6, Player B wins the 7th hole with a birdie to collect six skins ($18 = $6 each from the other three players).
Footnote: Occasionally the value of a “skin” will go up as a match progresses. For example: $1 for holes 1–6, $2 for holes 7–12, and $3 for holes 13–18.
Wolf
Usually played within a foursome, one golfer on each hole is designated as the “Wolf.” The Wolf rotates each hole and always hits last, allowing them to assess tee shots and strategically opt to either pick a partner or play solo—declaring themselves a “Lone Wolf” and playing against the other three. Points are awarded based on the results of a hole, with a player having an option to win more points as the Lone Wolf.
Points available per hole are determined before the round (i.e., one point per player for four total points on a given hole, or possibly one point for each winning partner and two for a Lone Wolf). These points usually have a designated dollar value, also determined before play.
Example:
Hole 1: After Player B hits a great tee shot, the Wolf (Player D) opts to partner with him and they win the hole, with both earning two points.
Hole 2: Player C is now the Wolf, hitting last off the tee, and opts to go “Lone Wolf” after watching his three playing partners hit. He ends up making the lowest outright score on the hole and earns all four available points.
Footnote: Some golfers allow the Wolf to opt to go solo before tee shots are hit (“Blind Wolf”), thus doubling the available points. This typically occurs later in matches when a player is behind and trying to erase a deficit.
Bingo, Bango, Bongo
This point-based game rewards players for various achievements on each hole. Bingo refers to the first on the green; Bango is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green; Bongo is first to hole out. Total points decide the winner.
Each point typically has a dollar value, determined by the group prior to the match.
Example:
Player A had the shortest drive of the group but hits his approach shot on the green first, earning a point for Bingo.
Player B missed the green with his approach but hit a chip shot to five feet. With his ball closest to the pin after all three players reached the green, he earns a point for Bango.
After Player A lags his long first putt close to the hole, Player C makes a 15-foot putt to be the first in the group to hole out. He earns the point for Bongo.
Sixes (6-6-6 / Round Robin / Hollywood)
A four-player game that is split into three six-hole segments. The golfer pairings rotate every six holes, so all players partner with each other. Winners are determined by match results across segments, whether that’s the lowest individual score on each hole or the lowest collective team score on each hole.
Example:
Holes 1–6: Players A and B vs. Players C and D
Holes 7–12: Players A and C vs. Players B and D
Holes 13–18: Players A and D vs. Players B and C
Garbage (Junk, Dots)
This betting game involves a collection of mini-wagers on achievements during the round, with players getting points for pre-determined outcomes such as birdies, chip-ins, fairways-hit, par saves from a greenside bunker, etc. There might also be point deductions for negative outcomes such as a lost ball, three-putt, or triple bogey.
Groups might add new ways to earn or lose points, adding to the number of things golfers have to keep track of during a round. Points have a dollar value, with the total point tally earning a payout at the end of the round.
What is your favorite golf game to play? Tell us about it in the comment section.
