The games.

Stableford

Trade strokes for points. Reward the good holes, shake off the bad ones, and chase the top of the board.

Stroke play

Also known as Medal play

The classic. Lowest total wins, gross or net. Winner takes the pot, or settle it stroke by stroke.

Quota

Also known as Chicago

Everyone plays against their own number. The handicap is in the quota, so you play straight up, no strokes.

Tilt

Points every hole, and a hot streak multiplies them. Make a birdie and the next hole counts double, good or bad.

Skins

Also known as Scats, Syndicates

Win the hole outright and take the skin. Ties carry forward, so the next hole can mean a little more.

Nines

Also known as 5-3-1, Split Sixes

The go-to game for a threesome. Every hole hands out 9 points, so every shot counts for something.

Rabbit

Win a hole outright to catch the rabbit, then hang on. Anyone else who wins a hole sets it loose again.

Aces and Deuces

Every hole has a winner and a loser. Make the best score to collect, and avoid the worst so you don't pay.

Nassau

Also known as 2-2-2

Three bets in one: front nine, back nine and the full 18. Fall two down and the press kicks in.

Match play

The original golf bet. Win the hole and you go 1 up. Win more holes than the other side and the match is yours.

Banker

One player is the bank each hole. Everyone else takes them on head to head, and decides how much to bet.

Hammer

Every hole is a bet, and either side can drop the hammer to double it. Accept, or fold and lose the hole.

Wolf

Also known as Lone Wolf

One player is the Wolf each hole. Pick a partner after the tee shots, or go it alone for the big points.

Low Ball / Low Total

Also known as Two-a-hole

Two teams of two, two points every hole: one for the best ball, one for the team total. Both partners count.

Vegas

Also known as Las Vegas

Put your team's two scores together into one number, low digit first. A bad hole can cost a lot, fast.

Sixes

Also known as Round Robin, Hollywood

Everyone partners everyone. Three short best-ball matches, so a bad stretch only costs you one of them.

Snake

Three-putt and you take the snake. Pass it on with the next three-putt, or pay everyone when the round ends.

Bingo Bango Bongo

Three points up for grabs on every hole. Great for mixed groups: position and luck count as much as power.

Junk

Also known as Dots, Trash, Garbage

Little rewards for the shots everyone remembers: on in one, up and down from the sand, the chip that drops.

Shamble

A team game with real scores: pick the best drive, then everyone plays their own ball in. The team's best scores count on each hole.

Scramble

Also known as Captain's choice

The outing classic: everyone hits, the team plays from the best shot, and posts one score per hole.

Texas Scramble

A scramble with a rule that keeps everyone in it: each player's drive has to be used a minimum number of times.

Alternate Shot

Also known as Foursomes

Two partners, one ball, alternate shots. The Ryder Cup format, and a real test of partnership.

Chapman

Also known as Pinehurst

A pairs format with a twist: both drive, swap balls for the second shot, then pick one and alternate.

Greensomes

Also known as Modified Pinehurst

Alternate shot with a safety net: both partners drive, then play the better one, alternating to the hole.