Heading to the course with a group of three never has to mean an awkward round or a boring default to stroke play. A threesome is the perfect number for some of the most engaging and strategic games in golf, turning a standard 18 holes into a dynamic and competitive match. This guide will walk you through a handful of the best games to play with three players, complete with step-by-step rules and a little coaching advice to give you an edge.
This format is arguably the most popular and well-designed game for a threesome. It feels like it was invented specifically for this number of players because it keeps every single person in the game on every single hole. No matter how badly you might be playing, you’ve always got something to play for.
Each hole is worth a total of nine points, which are distributed among the three players based on their net scores for that hole. The person with the most points at the end of the round wins.
Here’s how the points are "split" on each hole:
Simply keep a running tally of each player’s points. At the end, you can either tally up the points for bragging rights or assign a monetary value to each point for a friendly wager.
The beauty of Nine Points is that it drastically reduces the impact of a single disaster hole. If you score a triple bogey but your opponents have a quadruple and a quintuple, you’re still getting 3 points! It rewards consistency over the long run and prevents any one player from falling too far behind to care about the outcome.
This game is best played with net scores using handicaps to keep the competition fair, especially with players of varying abilities. Before you tee off, agree on the handicap strokes each player gets. A player gets a stroke on the holes with the corresponding handicap rating (e.g., a player with a 9 handicap gets one stroke on the 9 toughest holes). This fair way of scoring ensures that everyone has a fighting chance to earn points, regardless of their skill level.
If you enjoy a bit of pressure and a different dynamic on every hole, chairman is a fantastic game. It pits one player, "the Chairman," against the other two in a rotating battle for supremacy.
The core of this game is that one player is always playing 1-on-2 against the other two players, whose scores are combined into a best-ball format for that hole. Here’s the flow:
The 2-v-1 structure is a natural fit for a threesome. The game's dynamic is constantly in flux, as the role of Chairman can change hands frequently. It puts a fun amount of pressure on whoever is in the "chair" and encourages the other two to work together to take them down.
When you're the Chairman, smart course management is your best friend. You don't have a partner to save you if you make a mistake. Avoid the hero shot. Aim for the "fat" part of the green, play for par, and let your opponents be the ones to make the errors. Your goal is to not lose the hole, which is often as simple as avoiding a big number.
"Wolf" is a classic betting game that promotes strategic thinking and is surprisingly easy to adapt for three players. The core idea is deciding, hole by hole, whether you want a partner or prefer to go it alone for a bigger reward.
First, establish a playing order for the first three holes (A, B, C). This order rotates throughout the round (for holes 4-6, it becomes B, C, A, and so on).
The person with the most points at the end wins the pot.
This version adds a thrilling layer of strategy. Assessing the merit of your opponents' drives before deciding your own fate forces you to constantly calculate risk and reward. It’s a wonderfully social and tactical game that makes every tee box interesting.
The "Lone Wolf" call is the key to winning this game. A great time to declare Lone Wolf is when your two opponents both hit poor tee shots. You don't need a spectacular shot yourself, a simple "fairway and green" effort is often enough to win against two players who are scrambling. You claim double the points for taking the risk.
A "Skins" game is perfect for golfers who love pressure-filled putts. It's all about winning holes outright, and when ties happen, the pot grows, making the next open hole incredibly valuable.
The rules are elegantly simple:
Skins brings a high level of drama to any group. While it’s slightly less a tie's common to have with three players than with four. There is still enough to go around, which helps to build healthy-sized pots. A player who is having an off day can still get back in the money by winning one or two valuable holes.
When several skins have piled up on an important par-3, the temptation is to aim directly at the flag. Resist it. Firing at the pin often brings bunkers and other hazards into play. The smarter play is to aim for the middle of the green. A long birdie putt is better than a short chip from a bunker and practically gives you a par. This simple strategy forces your opponents to make a birdie to beat you instead of handing them the win with a bogey.
Being in a threesome opens up a world of engaging and competitive golf games beyond a standard match. Whether you enjoy the consistent scoring of Nine Points, the team dynamic of Chairman, or the suspense of Skins, these formats are designed to keep every player locked in on every shot.
When a crucial point or a multi-skin pot is on the line, making a smart, confident shot is everything. Our app, Caddie AI, gives you that expert, on-demand guidance you need in those moments. If you find yourself stuck between two clubs or looking at a nasty lie with the hole on the line, you can get a clear, immediate recommendation backed by expert-level strategy. It's designed to take the guesswork out of those high-pressure situations, helping you commit to every swing and play with more confidence when it matters most.
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