Chances are you’ve heard the term One and Done mentioned during a golf broadcast or seen it pop up in online forums, but you might not be entirely sure what it means. This popular fantasy game adds a thrilling layer to watching the golf season, turning every tournament into a strategic decision. This article will break down exactly what a One and Done golf pool is, how it works, and most importantly, provide you with the coaching and strategy tips to give you a real shot at winning your league.
At its core, a One and Done golf pool is a season-long fantasy game that is simple in concept but rich in strategy. The rules are straightforward: for each designated PGA Tour event in the season, you pick one golfer. Whatever official prize money that golfer earns in that tournament is added to your season total. The person in your pool with the highest cumulative earnings at the end of the season wins.
Here’s the catch, and where the name comes from: once you pick a golfer for a tournament, you cannot use that same golfer again for the rest of an entire season. He is "one and done."
If you pick Scottie Scheffler for the first event of the year, The Sentry, you get whatever he earns that week. But then, you can't pick him again, not for The Masters, The PLAYERS, the U.S. Open, or any other event. This single rule creates a fascinating puzzle that lasts the entire golf season. You have to be smart about when to deploy your best players and when to save them for a bigger payday down the road.
Getting started in a One and Done pool is easy. The challenge comes from the week-to-week decision-making. Here's how to get up and running.
The first step is simply joining a game. Many golf buddies run private pools using a simple shared spreadsheet, which is a great, low-key way to play. If you're looking for something more automated, websites like RunYourPool.com or OfficeFootballPool.com are popular choices that handle all the logistics, from tracking picks to updating a live leaderboard. They make it easy to invite friends or join a public pool.
While the basic premise is consistent, different pools can have slight variations. Before the season starts, make sure you're clear on the specific rules of your league. Pay attention to:
Reading the rules carefully from the beginning prevents any confusion or frustration later on.
This is where the fun begins. Each week, you'll look at the tournament field - the list of golfers competing - and choose your single player. You'll weigh factors like a player's current form, their history at that specific course, and your overall season strategy (which we'll cover in-depth below). Once you've made your choice, you submit it before the deadline and get ready to cheer them on.
Your score is simply the official prize money your selected golfer earns. For example, if you pick Xander Schauffele for the PGA Championship and he wins, the full winner's share (let's say $3.3 million) is added to your total. If he finishes 10th and wins $500,000, that's your score for the week. If he misses the cut, you get a big, fat $0.
Most online platforms will track this for you automatically, but if you're using a spreadsheet, the setup is simple:
| Tournament | Your Pick | Pick's Winnings | Your Season Total |
|--------------------|----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| The Sentry | Viktor Hovland | $690,500 | $690,500 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Ludvig Aberg | $1,320,000 | $2,010,500 |
| The Masters | Jon Rahm (MC) | $0 | $2,010,500 |
| U.S. Open | ... | ... | ... |
Anyone can play One and Done, but winning requires a plan. Simply picking your favorite player each week won't cut it. As a coach, I tell players that winning is about developing a sound philosophy and sticking to it. Here are some of the most common and effective strategies to consider.
The single biggest strategic question in One and Done is managing your roster of elite players - think Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, etc. These players are the most likely to get you huge paydays, but you can only use each one a single time. This creates a classic risk-reward scenario and two primary philosophical approaches.
This aggressive philosophy involves using your top-tier players early in the season, particularly during the West Coast Swing (January-February). The idea is to front-load your best talent to build a massive lead. People who use this strategy like the psychological advantage of being at the top of the leaderboard and forcing others to play catch-up.
This is the more conservative and, many would argue, mathematically sound approach. The logic is simple: the biggest prize funds are in the four majors, The PLAYERS, and the three playoff events. This strategy involves using solid, mid-tier golfers for most of the season to stay in the hunt, while saving your absolute best players to maximize your potential earnings in those eight-to-ten marquee tournaments.
While the first two strategies represent popular philosophies, the most successful One and Done players typically use a more nuanced, flexible approach. This strategy isn't just about when to use a stud, but which stud to use at which tournament. Instead of randomly picking a great player, you try to find the perfect player for that week's specific test. This means doing a bit of homework.
Here are the key factors to analyze for your weekly pick:
Some players just love certain courses, and certain courses love them back. Does a player have a history of top performance at this specific venue? For example, Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National or Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow Club. These players have proven they can navigate that particular layout. A quick search for a player's past results at the tournament is often the most predictive data point you can find.
Course history isn't everything. A player with great history but who has missed three straight cuts is probably not a confident pick. How has the golfer been playing lately? Are they coming off a string of Top-10 finishes? Are their ball-striking stats trending in the right direction? Picking a player who is currently in-form gives you a much better chance of cashing in.
Think like a coach or caddie. Analyze the course itself. Is it a long, wide-open course that will favor the Tour's biggest bombers? Or is it a short, tight track where accuracy and wedge play are more important? Is it a classic course with slick, undulating greens that will reward an elite putter? Match the player's strengths to the specific challenge of the golf course. Collin Morikawa's elite iron play makes him a threat at any course that demands precision approaches, like Muirfield Village.
One and Done pools transform the golf season into an engaging, strategic contest that tests your knowledge and discipline. By moving beyond just picking big names and adopting a "horses for courses" strategy, you analyze player form, course history, and purse size to make thoughtful, informed decisions each week that gives you a genuine edge.
Mastering a "horses for courses" plan in your One and Done pool means synthesizing a lot of information for every pick. We designed our app to simplify just that with Caddie AI. When you're struggling to choose between two golfers for your weekly pick, you can get instant insights on course history, recent form, and key stats to identify the sharper play. It helps remove the guesswork, letting you make confident, strategically sound picks every single week.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
