Pick a game -- each one has a free scorer that works offline on the course.
Nassau is the one to reach for when it is a straight head-to-head — one against one, or two-a-side. It is three match-play bets stacked into a single round: the front nine, the back nine, and the overall eighteen, so a rough start on the front never kills your interest in the back. The vibe is classic and competitive without being frantic, ideal for two or four players who like a proper needle match.
Skins suits a group that wants every hole to mean something and does not mind a bit of chaos. Win a hole outright and you take the skin; tie it and the money carries to the next. Two, three or four players all works, and because a carried-over pot can grow fast, the shortest hitter in the group can still nick the biggest pot of the day. Loud, swingy and good fun.
Wolf is built for a four-ball that likes its partnerships to shift. Each hole one player is the Wolf and, after watching the tee shots, picks a partner for that hole — or goes it alone for a bigger payout. The order rotates so everyone takes a turn as Wolf. It rewards nerve and reading your playing partners, so it is the pick for a group that enjoys a bit of gamesmanship.
Bingo Bango Bongo is the leveller for mixed abilities. Three points are on offer each hole — first ball on the green, closest once everyone is on, and first to hole out — so position and order of play matter more than raw score. A higher handicapper who plays tidy, in-turn golf can genuinely beat a stronger player who is out of position. It works for any group size and is great for a social outing where the gap in ability is wide.
A money game is only fun while everyone is comfortable, so a couple of minutes on the first tee saves a lot of grief on the last green. Sort these out before anyone hits:
One last, honest word: only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, treat it as a bit of fun rather than a way to make money, and make sure any wagering among your group is legal where you live. Keep it small and keep it friendly and these games do exactly what they are meant to — make an ordinary round matter a little more.
Golf betting games add friendly competition to any round. Each format has its own scoring system — Nassau divides the round into three separate bets, Skins rewards hole winners outright, Wolf requires split-second decisions after every tee shot, and Bingo Bango Bongo assigns three points per hole for different achievements. Choose a format above to open the free scorer.