Team & Partner Formats · Outing & Tournament Formats

Cha Cha Cha (1-2-3 Best Ball)

Also called 4-Man Cha Cha Cha, Progressive Best Ball, Waltz, 1-2-3 Waltz, Easy as 1-2-3, 3-2-1 (reversed)

Four-person best ball where 1, then 2, then 3 scores count in rotation.

Players: 6+ players
Play as: Teams
Scorekeeping: Medium
Handicaps: Handicaps recommended
Money: Money optional
Type: Team & Partner Formats

How to play

Teams of four play their own balls. On hole 1 only the lowest net score counts; on hole 2 the two lowest are added; on hole 3 the three lowest are added; the 1-2-3 cycle repeats through 18. All players hole out on the 'two' and 'three' holes.

Scoring

Sum of the counting scores each hole: holes 1/4/7/10/13/16 use one ball, 2/5/8/11/14/17 two balls, 3/6/9/12/15/18 three balls. Usually net with individual handicaps; committees often apply the best-2-of-4 (85%) or best-3-of-4 (100%) style allowances.

Variations

3-2-1 Cha Cha Cha (reverse order)
Escalating by six-hole blocks (1 ball holes 1-6, 2 balls 7-12, 3 balls 13-18)
By par: 1 ball on par 3s, 2 on par 4s, 3 on par 5s
Irish Four Ball (1-2-3-4 by hole groups)
Par-based 1-2-3
Match play instead of aggregate
Two teams of four (Cha Cha Cha)

Tips

Attack on the one-ball holes, play conservative on the three-ball holes (Kaspriske)
Know which hole type you're on before choosing a club
Third-score holes punish the weakest player; plan who plays safe
Print which holes count how many balls
Use full net handicaps

The weakest player's score matters on a third of the holes, so nobody hides.