How to Play Golf (Card Game)

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Golf isn't just a matter of courses and balls––it's also a fun card game that can be played with two or more people. As with many card games, people have created countless variations.

Part 1
Part 1 of 5:

6-Card Rules

PDF download Download Article
  1. If there are four or more players, shuffle two decks together. [1] If there are eight or more players, shuffle three decks together. [2]
    • If you want to use a variant rule, make sure everyone agrees before the game begins. Once the cards have been dealt, the rules cannot be changed.
  2. Someone can volunteer to be dealer or you can select one randomly.
    • Don't look at the cards you've been dealt! If anyone does, shuffle the cards again and re-deal.
    • If you play multiple rounds, take turns as the dealer, going clockwise.
    • The dealer should give himself the same number of cards.
    Advertisement
  3. Place the remainder of the deck in a face down stack to from the draw pile. Flip over the top card face up next to it to form the discard pile.
  4. Don't look at the cards or turn them face up yet.
  5. You can choose the second one after you've turned over your first.
  6. Use the Scoring Guide for a common system, or use a variation. Write or print it out for people who haven't played before.
    • Points are bad! Make sure everyone knows the goal of the game is to get the lowest score, not the highest!
  7. If possible this should be someone who has played the game before, so the new players can learn by watching them.
    • After that player is finished, play continues clockwise, each player taking a turn in order.
  8. You can take the top card of the discard pile if you think it will be useful. Otherwise, draw a card from the top of the draw pile (the rest of the deck).
    • Read the rest of these rules or see Strategy to help you make this decision.
  9. You can replace any card, whether it's face up or face down.
    • Pick up the card you want to replace from your grid and put it face up in the discard pile.
    • Place the newly drawn card face up in its place. You cannot shift the position of your grid around before you do this.
    • If you don't like the card you just drew, you can discard it face up in the discard pile instead of replacing a card in your grid. You cannot do this if the card you drew just came from the discard pile.
  10. If the two cards in a column share the same number or letter (for instance, a Queen above another Queen), they cancel each other out and are worth nothing (zero points).
    • Remember, you're trying to get the lowest score possible!
    • If you like, you can take columns that have canceled out and place them on the bottom of the discard pile (NOT the top). This makes the table less cluttered.
  11. Once someone replaces their last face down card, each other player turns their grid face up as well and takes one final turn in clockwise order.
  12. Wait until the last player takes their turn, then flip every card in front of you face up.
    • Use a sheet of paper with each player's name on it to record their score for the round.
    • Refer to the scoring guide to count up players' points. Remember to follow any variations the players agreed upon beforehand.
  13. Whoever sat left of the dealer in the last round is the new dealer for this round. The person sitting left of the current dealer always goes first in a round. Keep score after each round until:
    • You play 9 rounds, 18 rounds, or some other number everyone agrees on. The traditional numbers of rounds are named after the golf theme and sometimes called "holes" instead of rounds.
    • A player reaches 100 points, 200 points, or some other number everyone agrees on.
    • When people decide to stop. This works well for casual groups so no one gets bored, but more competitive people might not like stopping when they're behind!
  14. Each player adds up their score from each round, and the lowest total wins.
    • If two players are tied, either let them share the glory or decide on another game to break the tie (such as rock paper scissors).
    15. Advertisement


Part 2
Part 2 of 5:

4-Card Face Down Rules

PDF download Download Article
  1. This variation can be played with 2 or more players but works best with 3 to 5. If you have 8 or more players, shuffle two decks together. [3]
    • If you want to use a variant rule, make sure everyone agrees before the game begins. Once the cards have been dealt, the rules cannot be changed.
    • No one should look at any cards yet.
    • The dealer should give herself four cards as well.
  2. Place the remainder of the deck in a face down stack to from the draw pile. Flip over the top card face up next to it to form the discard pile.
  3. Remember not to look at the cards yet! They should always be kept face down.
  4. Don't let anyone else see what they are. Put them back in place when you've memorized them.
    • If you're playing with young kids or other people who have trouble memorizing cards, see the "4 cards in hand" Variation or try using the 6-card rules instead.
  5. See the Scoring Guide for a common system, or use a variation. Write or print it out for people who haven't played before.
    • The goal of the game is to get the lowest score . Make sure no one is trying to "win" by getting the highest instead!
  6. This can be from the discard pile or draw pile (rest of the deck).
    • Read the rest of these rules or see Strategy to help you make this decision.
    • Hold this card in your hand. If it came from the face down draw pile, don't let anyone else see it.
  7. You can replace any card, whether it's one you've peeked at or not.
    • Pick up the card you want to replace from your grid and put it face up in the discard pile.
    • Place the card you just drew face down to fill the empty space in your grid. You may not move the cards in the grid to different positions.
    • Remember to memorize the card you just put down! This variation tests your memory, so you are not allowed to peek at a card after the beginning of the game.
    • If you don't like the card you just drew, you can discard it face up in the discard pile instead of replacing a card in your grid. You CANNOT do this if the card you drew just came from the discard pile.
  8. A pair of the same card in a row or column are worth zero points. Don't show the other players or turn any cards face up to "cancel", though. They remain a face down secret until the end of the game.
    • If you have three of a kind, only two of them will cancel out. The third will still be worth its usual value.
    • If you have four of a kind, your entire grid is worth zero points.
  9. Instead of taking your normal turn, anyone can knock on the table to signify that they think they'll win. That player skips their turn, and each other player takes one final turn. Then the round ends.
    • You can't knock after someone has already knocked.
  10. Wait until the last player takes their turn, then flip every card in front of you face up.
    • Use a sheet of paper with each player's name on it to record their score for the round.
    • Refer to the scoring guide to count up players' points. Remember to follow any variations the players agreed upon beforehand.
  11. Whoever sat left of the dealer in the last round is the new dealer for this round. The person sitting left of the current dealer always goes first in a round. Keep score after each round until:
    • You play 9 rounds, 18 rounds, or some other number everyone agrees on. The traditional numbers of rounds are named after the golf theme and sometimes called "holes" instead of rounds.
    • A player reaches 100 points, 200 points, or some other number everyone agrees on.
    • When people decide to stop. This works well for casual groups so no one gets bored, but more competitive people might not like stopping when they're behind!
  12. Each player adds up their score from each round, and the lowest total wins.
    • If two players are tied, either let them share the glory or decide on another game to break the tie (such as rock paper scissors).
    13. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 5:

Scoring Guide

PDF download Download Article
  1. Cards Basic System Harder Variation
    Scoring
    Ace
    		 1 point 1 point
    2
    		 2 points 2 points
    3
    		 3 points 3 points
    4
    		 4 points 4 points
    5
    		 5 points 5 points
    6
    		 6 points 6 points
    7
    		 7 points 7 points
    8
    		 8 points 8 points
    9
    		 9 points 9 points
    10
    		 10 points 10 points
    Jack
    		 10 points 11 points
    Queen
    		 10 points 12 points
    King
    		 0 points (zero) 13 points
  2. For this optional variation, shuffle in 2 Jokers for each 52 card deck. If you don't have Jokers, instead designate a specific card the "bonus card" (usually Twos or "one eyed Jacks").
    • The Joker or bonus card is worth -2 (negative two) points instead of its usual value.
    • A pair of Jokers or bonus cards cancel each other out just like normal pairs, increasing your score from -4 to 0.
  3. This optional rule punishes players who try to end the game too early, and rewards players who correctly guess when they're ahead. Here are a couple variations.
    • The player who ends the game (by "knocking" or by flipping their last card face up) gains 10 points if they do not have the lowest score this round.
    • If the player who ended the game does not have the lowest score this round, that player gains a number of points equal to the player who did.
      • For example, Scrooge "knocks". After each player takes their final turn and counts up their score, Scrooge has 17 points and Marley has 12. Because Scrooge didn't win the round by getting the lowest score, Scrooge is punished for knocking and adds Marley's 12 points to his own. The final scores are Scrooge 29 and Marley 12.
    4. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 5:

Variations

PDF download Download Article
  1. Follow the rules for 6-card golf, but give each player a 4x2 or 5x2 grid.
    • This will make the game quite a bit longer and may require an additional deck of cards shuffled with the other(s).
  2. Follow the rules for 4-card golf, but give each player a hand of four cards instead of a grid.
    • Players can look at all cards in their hand at any time.
    • Any two cards in hand cancel out if they have the same value. There is no "grid position" in your hand.
    • This creates a short simple game with no need to memorize cards.
  3. Follow the rules for 6-card golf, but give each player a 3x3 grid.
    • Each player turns up 3 cards instead of 2 at the start of the game.
    • A player can only cancel cards by getting 3 of a kind in the same row or column. When they do, they can remove those 3 cards and place them at the bottom (NOT the top) of the discard pile.
    • This will make the game quite a bit longer and may require an additional deck of cards shuffled with the other(s).
  4. There are many different ways to play 6-card golf, and different families and gaming groups will have their own rules. Here are some common ones:
    • When you flip over your first two cards, they have to be in the same column, or they must be in different columns. [4]
    • Two of the same card anywhere on the layout cancel out, not just in the same column. This makes the game easier for younger players or beginners. [5]
    • If you have two columns next to each other with FOUR of the same card in them, they cancel out to zero points AND each other player gets 10 points added to their score this round. [6]
    • Players can only draw from the top of the draw pile during the final turns, not the discard pile.
  5. Again, there are many ways to play. Here are some common additions or changes to the rules:
    • You can only peek at the two cards closest to you.
    • Pairs across from each other diagonally also cancel out.
    • Pairs don't cancel out at all. The only goal is to take the lowest cards and try to end the game when you think you're ahead.
    • Players can only draw from the top of the draw pile during the final turns.
    6. Advertisement
Part 5
Part 5 of 5:

Strategy

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you're playing a variation that allows you to start with face up cards, choose cards in different columns. This gives you more chances to "cancel" out a column.
  2. Unless you can cancel out your high scoring cards, you want to get rid of them so they don't add their high values to your score.
    • This is especially important as the game draws to a close. If your opponent is almost out of face down cards (or is looking smug), toss out your liabilities as quickly as possible!
  3. Much of the strategy in Golf comes down to paying attention to the other players. [7]
    • If the player to your right is picking up Sixes, you should give up trying to cancel your own Sixes. They aren't likely to discard any.
    • If the player to your left is trying to finish a column of Nines, try to avoid discarding your own Nine.
    4. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    If a player gets six of the same card, how many points do the other players get?
    Community Answer
    You can't have six of the same cards since there are only four cards of a kind in a deck, although this can occur if you're playing with multiple decks. In that case, the player with the six cards would get 0 points, and everyone else would get the amount of points they gained.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
  • Question
    If I have four cards of same suit, say four 2's, do I get -25 points or -50 points?
    Community Answer
    All 4 of the same card in a "block" (2 rows side by side not 2 one one end and 2 on the other) is -20. However you could also give other players +10 when that happens.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 5
  • Question
    How many decks do I use for 3 players?
    Community Answer
    2 Decks. At least that's the way I learned. When you play with only one deck and all 3 players are extremely stubborn and they all want the same cards then you will be shuffling the discard pile a lot.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 1
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Read Video Transcript

      Tips

      • If you draw a Joker (or any card worth negative points by itself) put it in a column with a face down card or a low-scoring card. If you put it in a column with a high-scoring card (such as a Queen), you'll have to get rid of it or miss out on an opportunity to "cancel" your high scorer.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 7
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • One or more standard 52-card playing card decks
      • Paper
      • Pen or pencil

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Cut a Deck of Cards With One Hand
      How to
      Organize Your Trading Cards
      The Ultimate Guide to Playing & Winning at Apples to Apples
      How to
      Play and Win a Game of Skip Bo
      The Best Card Games to Try with Only 2 Players
      Swoop Card Game: Rules & How to Win
      How to
      Play Go Fish
      How to
      Play Cards Against Humanity
      How to
      Play Trash
      13 Best Card Games for 3 People
      How to
      Play President (Card Game)
      What Do You Meme? Rules Guide
      How to
      Play Uno Flip: Game Setup, Rules, and More
      How to
      Correctly Play the Wild Shuffle Hands Card in UNO
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.phantomranch.net/games/golf.htm
      2. ↑ http://www.pagat.com/draw/golf.html
      3. ↑ http://www.pagat.com/draw/golf.html
      4. ↑ http://www.pagat.com/draw/golf.html
      5. ↑ http://www.pagat.com/draw/golf.html
      6. ↑ http://www.phantomranch.net/games/golf.htm
      7. ↑ http://theboardgameshow.com/2014/05/02/paddy-osheas-golf-card-game-review/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To play the card game Golf, try to have the lowest score out of any player at the end of the game. To do that, you need to cancel out your cards by making pairs with them. At the beginning of the game, arrange your 6 face-down cards in a 3 by 2 grid. On your turn, draw a new card and replace a card in your grid with it if you'd like. Then, flip 2 cards in your grid and try to make a pair. Once all the cards in each player's grid have been turned up, add any cards you didn't cancel to your score for that round -- the lowest score wins! To learn how to score your cards, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 535,189 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Andrew Tangen

        Feb 11, 2020

        "I have played this game lots of times. Very fun and addicting game to play with a deck of cards."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement