Looking to shake up your regular Saturday foursome? Vegas and Sixes are two team golf games that turn an ordinary round into an unforgettable competition. Both require exactly four players but deliver completely different experiences—Vegas brings high-stakes drama to every shot, while Sixes ensures everyone plays with (and against) everyone else.

Let's break down how each game works and help you decide which one fits your group.

Vegas: Where Every Stroke Creates Drama

Vegas (also called "Las Vegas") is a high-action team betting game with a unique twist: scores are paired to form two-digit numbers, not added together.

How It Works

Two teams of two compete throughout the round. After each hole, each team combines their scores by placing the lower number first. If your team shoots 4 and 5, your score is "45" (not 9). If the opponents shoot 5 and 6, their score is "56."

The difference between these paired scores equals points won or lost. In this example: 56 - 45 = 11 points to the winning team.

At $0.25 per point, that single hole just swung $2.75 per player. And that's just a normal hole.

The Birdie Flip

Here's where Vegas gets wild. When the winning team makes a birdie, they can flip the opponent's score—putting the higher digit first. That "47" becomes "74."

Instead of winning 2 points (47-45), you win 29 points (74-45). At $0.25/point, that's $7.25 per player from a single hole.

If BOTH players on a team birdie? The flip applies AND points double. Devastating but rare.

10+ Protection

To prevent total blowouts, Vegas includes a mercy rule. When a player scores 10 or higher, the higher number goes first automatically. A 4 and 10 becomes "104" instead of "410"—still painful, but not catastrophic.

Vegas Strategy Tips

• Consistency wins: Bogey-bogey (66) beats double-par (47) by 19 points
• Hunt birdies: A birdie + flip can swing 30-50 points
• Manage disasters: In trouble? Just make bogey—a 6 pairs well with almost anything
• Team chemistry: Pair a steady player with an aggressive one

Sixes: The Round Robin Partnership Game

Sixes (also called "Round Robin" or "6x6x6") takes the opposite approach to Vegas. Instead of fixed teams, partnerships rotate every 6 holes. By round's end, everyone has partnered with everyone else exactly once.

The C.O.D. Method

The round divides into three 6-hole segments:

SegmentHolesPairings1: Cart Partners1-6A+B vs C+D2: Opposites7-12A+C vs B+D3: Drivers Swap13-18A+D vs B+CThis creates perfect balance: you partner with everyone once and play against everyone twice.

How Scoring Works

Within each segment, teams compete hole-by-hole using Best Ball scoring:

1. Each team's score = the lower of both partners' scores
2. Lower team score wins the hole
3. Count holes won per segment
4. Team with more holes won takes the segment stake

Tied segments (3-3) push—no money changes hands.

Example Segment

Segment 1 with $10 stake:

• Hole 1: A+B wins (4 vs 5)
• Hole 2: Halved (3 vs 3)
• Hole 3: C+D wins (4 vs 5)
• Hole 4: A+B wins (4 vs 5)
• Holes 5-6: Halved

Result: A+B wins 2-1, taking the segment. A and B each win $10; C and D each lose $10.

Maximum exposure per player: 3 segments × stake = $30 at $10/segment.

Why Sixes Builds Camaraderie

The rotating partnership format is brilliant for regular groups:

• No permanent teams: Bad chemistry with one partner? You're with someone new in 6 holes
• Fresh starts: Lost segment 1 badly? New partner, clean slate for segment 2
• Balanced competition: Your opponent this segment is your partner next
• Natural break points: Perfect for grabbing a drink at the turn or discussing the match

Vegas vs Sixes: Which Should You Play?

Vegas is best when...

• You want maximum excitement and high-stakes drama
• Your group loves wild point swings (30-100+ possible)
• You prefer fixed partnerships all round
• You're ready for a steeper learning curve with flips and protection rules

Sixes is best when...

• You play with the same group regularly
• Skill levels vary and you want balanced competition
• You want everyone to partner up throughout the round
• You prefer moderate swings (win/lose by segment)

Choose Vegas when: You want maximum excitement, your foursome loves high-stakes drama, and you're ready for wild swings.

Choose Sixes when: You play with the same group regularly, skill levels vary, or you want everyone to partner up throughout the round.

Track Both Games Automatically

Both Vegas and Sixes involve tracking complex scoring—paired numbers with flips, rotating partnerships with segment tallies. Buddies on the Green handles all the math automatically:

• Real-time score calculations as you play
• Handicap support (NET) for mixed skill levels
• Clear settlement breakdowns showing who owes what
• No more napkin math at the 19th hole

Ready to try Vegas or Sixes with your foursome? Create a round and add either game from the Side Games menu. The app will guide you through setup and track every point.

Related Games to Explore

If you enjoy team formats, also check out:

• Nassau: The classic three-bet game (Front 9, Back 9, Overall)
• Wolf: Strategic rotating partnerships where the Wolf picks a partner each hole
• Match Play: Head-to-head hole competition (1v1 or 2v2)