Every foursome has a game. Most foursomes play it wrong. We built this guide so yours does not have to. Whether you are organizing a buddies trip, a charity scramble, or just trying to make a Saturday morning loop more interesting, you will find the rules, strategy, and scoring details for every major golf betting game below.
These guides draw on decades of clubhouse tradition, refined by the kind of obsessive scorekeeping that led us to build BetWaggle in the first place. Each page covers not just how to play, but how to play well -- when to press, when to go lone wolf, when to flip digits, and every other decision point that separates the sharks from the fish.
The right game depends on your group. Here is a quick guide based on who is showing up:
Two players: Match play is the natural choice. Add a Nassau bet to layer in the front-nine and back-nine stakes. Skins works too if you want hole-by-hole drama without the cumulative scorekeeping.
Three players: Banker was designed for this group size. One player takes on the field each hole, and the rotating pressure keeps things tight. Skins also works beautifully with three, since fewer players means more outright wins and fewer carryovers.
Four players (two teams): Vegas is the classic team game and delivers wild swings that keep every hole interesting. Bloodsome is available as a score-based approximation today; true opponent-selected-ball and alternate-shot tracking stays on the course. For something more traditional, a team Nassau covers front, back, and overall with built-in pressing.
Four players (every man for himself): Wolf is the definitive four-player individual game. You are constantly choosing partners, going lone, and reading the other players' games. Layer in skins and you have the makings of a proper golf trip.
Mixed handicaps or casual groups: Stableford is the answer. The points system rewards good holes without punishing blowups, so a 20-handicapper competing against a scratch player will not feel like they are holding up the group after a triple bogey. Bingo Bango Bongo is another great equalizer -- course management and putting touch matter more than raw scoring ability.
Serious golf groups rarely play just one game. Here are the combinations that have been battle-tested on thousands of trips:
Nassau + Skins + Wolf. The complete four-player package. Nassau covers the team stakes, skins keep every hole alive, and wolf adds the partner-picking dynamics. This is what most serious golf trips run.
Skins + Stableford. Low maintenance, high entertainment. Skins for the hole-by-hole drama, stableford for the overall standings. Great for groups that do not want to track complicated math.
Vegas + Bloodsome. Maximum team competition. Vegas handles the scoring swings while Bloodsome adds an off-card strategy layer until full opponent-selected-ball tracking ships. Best for a group that likes to talk trash.
You know the rules now. BetWaggle handles the scoring, settlement, and standings for every implemented game on this page. Set up your outing in two minutes, share the link, and every phone becomes a shared scorecard.
All nine game guides in one printable PDF, plus strategy tips for your next trip.