Stableford
Also called Points Play, Stableford Points, Points
Score points per hole against net par; highest total wins.
Any number, solo tooPoints GamesEasy to score
How to play →Golf games to play by yourself
A round on your own can be the most useful golf you play all month, as long as it has a scoreboard. These games give it one: two-ball scrambles, worst ball, quota points against your own handicap, three-club rounds, and challenges you can carry from one week to the next.
On an empty course, start with One-Man Scramble or Worst Ball — both double your shots, so keep pace of play in mind. When the course is busy, Play vs. Par or a Stableford quota costs no extra time.
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21 games for playing solo
Top picks for playing solo
What groups most often reach forOne-Man ScrambleHit two balls from every spot, play the better one, and find out how low you can go.Any number, solo too · best with 1Worst BallHit two balls, always play the worse one, and learn to hit good shots twice in a row.1–4 players · best with 1–2Play vs. Par (Bogey Competition)The course is your match-play opponent and it makes par (or bogey) on every hole.Any number, solo tooThree-Club ChallengePick three clubs (putter usually free) and play the whole round with them.Any number, solo too · best with 1–2StablefordScore points per hole against net par; highest total wins.Any number, solo tooQuotaBeat your personal point quota (36 minus handicap) by the widest margin.Any number, solo tooUp-and-Down ChallengeToss your ball off the green after a good approach and try to get up and down.1–2 players · best with 1Ringer (Eclectic)Over many rounds, keep your best score on each hole to build one dream round.Any number, solo too
Points Games
4Stableford-style scoring: pile up points, chase a quota, or split a fixed pot every hole.
Chicago
Also called 39s, Thirty-Nines, Chicago Quota
Stableford-style points chased against a personal quota of 39 minus your handicap.
Any number, solo tooPoints GamesEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Quota
Also called Points Game, Quota Points, Dogfight
Beat your personal point quota (36 minus handicap) by the widest margin.
Any number, solo tooPoints GamesEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Modified Stableford
Also called PGA Tour Stableford, Barracuda Championship format
Stableford with negative points for bogeys, rewarding aggressive play.
Any number, solo tooPoints GamesEasy to score
How to play →Side Bets & Junk
2Small bets that layer onto any round: greenies, sandies, snake and friends.
Fairways & Greens
Also called F&G, Fairways and Greens, Best at Something
Score a point for every fairway and green hit in regulation; play it solo as a stat tracker.
1–4 playersSide Bets & JunkEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Par-3 Challenge
Also called Par-3 Challenge (Threes), Threes, Par-3 Total
Only the par 3s count; lowest total on them wins.
Any number, solo tooSide Bets & JunkEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Twists & Challenges
5Same course, different rules: limited clubs, mulligans, strings, flags.
Three-Club Challenge
Also called Three Club Monte, 3-Club Challenge, One-Club Challenge
Pick three clubs (putter usually free) and play the whole round with them.
Any number, solo too · best with 1–2Twists & ChallengesEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Criers & Whiners
Also called No Alibis, Mulligans, Play It Again Sam
Your handicap becomes a supply of mulligans to spend anywhere in the round.
Any number, solo tooTwists & ChallengesEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Flags (Tombstone)
Also called Last Man Standing, Flag Competition, Plant Your Flag
Each player gets par plus handicap strokes; plant your flag where your last stroke ends.
Any number, solo tooTwists & ChallengesEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Cross Country Golf
Also called Composite Course, Cross Country Scramble
Play made-up holes from one tee to a different hole's green across the property.
Any number, solo tooTwists & ChallengesMedium to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Three Little Pigs
Also called Three Blind Mice, Throw-Out, Lemon Drop
Drop your three worst holes and compare 15-hole totals.
Any number, solo tooTwists & ChallengesEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Outing & Tournament Formats
4Formats built for leagues, charity days and buddies trips.
Stroke Play (Medal)
Also called Stroke Play (Medal Play), Medal Play, Individual Stroke Play
Count every stroke; lowest 18-hole total wins.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Play vs. Par (Bogey Competition)
Also called Play vs. Par (Bogey/Par Competition), Par Competition, Match Play vs. the Course
The course is your match-play opponent and it makes par (or bogey) on every hole.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreHandicaps required
How to play →Ringer (Eclectic)
Also called Eclectic (Ringer), Ringer Tournament, Ringers
Over many rounds, keep your best score on each hole to build one dream round.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Beat the Pro
Also called Beat the Pro's Score, Beat the CEO, Beat the Pro par-3 challenge
Everyone plays net against the club pro's gross score; beat it by the most to win.
Any number, solo tooOuting & Tournament FormatsEveryone for themselvesEasy to score
How to play →Solo & Practice
6Games that make a round on your own count for something.
One-Man Scramble
Also called Solo Scramble, Two-Ball Best Ball, Best Ball With Yourself
Hit two balls from every spot, play the better one, and find out how low you can go.
Any number, solo too · best with 1Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Worst Ball
Also called Two-Ball Worst Ball, Reverse Scramble, Worst Ball Scramble
Hit two balls, always play the worse one, and learn to hit good shots twice in a row.
1–4 players · best with 1–2Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Up-and-Down Challenge
Also called Throw-Off Challenge, Scramble/Up and Down, Short-Game Challenge
Toss your ball off the green after a good approach and try to get up and down.
1–2 players · best with 1Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Heaven or Hell (Tee Box Shuffle)
Also called Heaven or Hell (Tee Challenges), Coin-Flip Tees, Blind-Draw Tees
Let a coin, a die or your last score decide which tees you play from.
1–4 players · best with 1–2Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Herman & Sherman
Also called Herman and Sherman, Draw-and-Fade Game, Shot-Shape Challenge
Draw every shot on two holes, fade every shot on the next two, all round long.
1–4 players · best with 1Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Speedgolf
Also called Speed Golf, Fitness Golf, Extreme Golf
Run the course with a few clubs; your score is strokes plus minutes.
Any number, solo too · best with 1Solo & PracticeEveryone for themselvesEasy to scoreNo handicaps needed
How to play →Rules and point values are the versions most groups play, cross-checked against multiple published sources; where groups differ the common variations are listed on each game’s page. Your group’s house rules always win, so agree them on the first tee.
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