Looking for the best golf games to play with friends? Whether you have a twosome, threesome, or a full foursome, there's a perfect game to make your round more exciting. Here's our complete guide to the most popular golf games organized by group size.

Best Golf Games for 2 Players

Match Play

The simplest head-to-head format. Each hole is a separate competition — win the hole, halve it, or lose it. The player who wins the most holes wins the match. Match play changes strategy completely because a triple bogey costs the same as a bogey: just one hole lost.

Nassau

The king of golf betting games, and it works perfectly with two players. A Nassau is actually three bets in one: front nine, back nine, and overall 18. The beauty is in the "press" — when you're down, you can start a new bet within the existing one. Nassau creates multiple chances to win even when you're having a rough day.

Skins

Each hole has a set value. Win the hole outright and you take the skin. If the hole is tied, the value carries over to the next hole, building bigger and bigger pots. A single hole can be worth 5 or 6 skins if there have been enough ties. Simple, exciting, and perfect for two players.

Best Golf Games for 3 Players

Nines (5-3-1)

This is the go-to game for a threesome. On every hole, 9 points are distributed: 5 points for the best score, 3 for second, and 1 for third. If two players tie for best, they split 8 points (4 each) and the third gets 1. After 18 holes, the total points determine the winner. Each round produces exactly 162 total points, so you always know where you stand.

Skins (3-Player)

Skins with three players is even more exciting than with two, because ties happen less frequently. When one player has a great hole, they take the skin outright. Carryovers build faster and create those dramatic moments on the later holes.

Nassau (3-Player)

Run a Nassau where the lowest score on each nine wins the front, back, and overall bets. With three players, two people pay the winner on each bet, making the stakes more interesting.

Best Golf Games for 4 Players

Wolf

A strategic game that adds a whole new dimension to your round. Players rotate as the "Wolf" each hole. After watching each player tee off, the Wolf chooses a partner for that hole — or goes "Lone Wolf" against the other three for double the stakes. Wolf rewards both great shots and smart strategy.

Sixes (Round Robin)

The fairest 4-player game there is. You play 6 holes with each possible partner pairing (AB vs CD, AC vs BD, AD vs BC), rotating every 6 holes. Everyone plays with and against everyone. The best overall record wins. No one can complain about getting stuck with a bad partner all day.

Vegas (Las Vegas)

A team game where you pair up and combine your scores into a two-digit number — but lowest score goes first. If one team shoots 4 and 5, their score is 45. If the other team shoots 3 and 7, their score is 37. The difference is what's owed. Birdies flip the losing team's number (45 becomes 54), creating massive swings that keep things interesting until the last putt drops.

Banker

One player is the "Banker" each hole and sets the stakes before anyone tees off. The Banker plays against all three other players individually. Win your match against the Banker and they pay you; lose and you pay them. The Banker role rotates, giving everyone a shot at the high-risk, high-reward position.

Snake

Not a full game on its own, but the perfect add-on to any round. The first person to three-putt "picks up the Snake." It passes to whoever three-putts next. Whoever holds the Snake at the end of the round pays everyone else. Simple, nerve-wracking, and it keeps everyone focused on the greens.

Track All These Games Automatically

Keeping score for side games by hand is a pain — especially Nassau presses or Wolf partnerships. Buddies on the Green automatically tracks scoring for Nassau, Wolf, Skins, Banker, Snake, Nines, Sixes, and Vegas. Just enter your scores hole by hole and the app handles all the math, presses, and payouts. You can even add guest players who don't need to download the app.