Ever showed up at the golf course ready to play with five of your best friends, only to be told by the starter you have to split into two groups? You may have just run into the unwritten (and often written) rule against the golf 6-some. While a simple concept, the 6-some is one of the more controversial and misunderstood informalities in the game. This article will clear things up, explaining precisely what a 6-some is, why most courses don't allow it, and the very specific situations where it might be okay. We'll also give you practical tips to manage one so you don't become *that* group on the course.
Simply put, a 6-some (or sixsome) is a single group of six golfers who play a hole together and move through the course as one unit. While the standard groupings in golf are a foursome (four players), a threesome (three players), or a twosome (two players), a 6-some combines six players for a single round.
You won’t find "6-some" in the official Rules of Golf, because it isn't an officially sanctioned format. It’s an informal arrangement that is almost universally discouraged at both public and private courses. Most facilities set a maximum group size of four players, and on rare occasions, some may allow a fivesome. Getting six players on the tee at once is almost always a non-starter, and for a few very good reasons.
The primary objection to 6-somes boils down to one critical aspect of golf etiquette and course management: pace of play. A busy course is a bit like a traffic-filled highway, one slow car can cause a backup for miles. In golf, a 6-some is the equivalent of a wide-load truck taking up two lanes.
The math is simple: more players equals more time. Think about the actions required on a single hole:
This slowdown doesn't just affect the 6-some, it creates a ripple effect. The group behind them is forced to wait on every shot, which then forces the group behind them to wait, and so on. Before you know it, a single 6-some on the front nine can cause multi-group backups all over the golf course, ruining the experience for dozens of other paying customers.
Because of the massive impact on pace of play, nearly every golf course has explicit rules against groups larger than four. It's written in their policies for good reason - to ensure a positive and timely experience for every golfer.
This is where course staff, particularly the starter and course marshals (or rangers), come into play. It’s their job to manage the flow of play. If a ranger spots a 6-some, they will - without exception - ask the group to split into two threesomes or a foursome and a twosome. Resisting this request is a major breach of etiquette and can result in you being asked to leave the course.
Beyond pace of play, 6-somes are simply unwieldy. With most golf carts designed for two people, a 6-some requires three carts. This creates congestion on cart paths, around tee boxes, and near the greens. Furthermore, managing the game itself becomes challenging. Keeping track of six different golf balls, six separate scores, and figuring out whose turn it is can lead to confusion and even more delays.
After all that, you might think a 6-some is the ultimate golfing sin. But there are a few very rare scenarios where it might be permissible - as long as it’s handled with the utmost respect for the course and other players.
The most common and "acceptable" time for a 6-some is during twilight hours on a completely empty golf course. If you’re the very last group of the day and there is absolutely no one behind you, a group of six isn’t impacting anyone else's pace. Even in this situation, it is essential to ask for permission. Walking into the pro shop and asking, "Hey, we've got six friends here for the last tee time. The course looks wide open, would you mind if we played together as a single group?" shows a level of respect that a pro shop manager will appreciate. Don't be surprised if they still say no, but asking is the right thing to do.
Sometimes, unofficial company outings, charity events, or reunion-style rounds might use a 6-some format, but almost always a scramble format. In a scramble, everyone hits a tee shot, the best shot is selected, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. This dramatically speeds up play because you aren't looking for six unique balls and not everyone holes out. These are controlled events where the course has approved the format beforehand.
If you've been granted permission to play as a 6-some, the responsibility is now on you to keep from becoming a problem. Here's how to manage it effectively.
Do not, under any circumstances, have all six players play their own ball (stroke play). It is guaranteed to be too slow. Instead, use a faster format to keep things moving.
Conventional honors (where the person with the best score on the previous hole tees off first) should be thrown out the window. Ready Golf is your new best friend. This means:
The moment you see a group waiting behind you on a tee box, you are officially a slow group. You have to react immediately. The best strategy is to have a pre-arranged plan to let them play through or split up. For example, have the first three or four players who are ready walk to the next tee and hit, functioning as a smaller group to create a gap, while the other players let the group behind play through.
Playing in a 6-some means you've taken on the special responsibility of being invisible to the rest of the course. This means you must:
A golf 6-some is precisely what it sounds like - a group of six golfers playing together - but it’s not standard practice for a reason. Its significant impact on pace of play means it's generally against course rules, but in rare instances, like on an empty course and with explicit permission, it can be a tremendously fun way to play with a larger group of friends. The key is to manage the group with fast-paced formats and an unwavering commitment to courtesy.
Playing in non-standard formats or just trying to manage your game better on the course can be a challenge. We built Caddie AI to act as your a personal golf expert for exactly these moments. Whether you need a quick ruling refresher, want a suggestion for a fun game to play with your buddies, or need strategic advice on a tricky hole, you can get it in seconds. Our goal is to give you the information you need to play with confidence, make smarter decisions, and spend less time guessing and more time just enjoying your round.
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