We usually play with 4 but lately a 5th has started joining us. We play at a local place where we know most of the people so they don't really mind us playing with 5. To speed up the game we play "Wolf" so that it's basically a two team scramble every hole. We all shoot about in the 100 range so it's mostly about just relaxing and getting out of the house for us.

My question to you is, what games/versions of golf do you play or can you suggest for a 4 or 5some?

Wolf is fun

Skinny,

I think you play a different wolf game than I do if you are playing a scramble.

When we play Wolf, we play it as an 8-point Scotch game.

The Wolf picks his partner, then those two play against the other three. Everyone plays their own ball. Eight points are available on each hole:

2 points for closest to the pin in regulation (must be on the green)
2 points for low ball
2 points for low total (use the 2 best scores from the team with 3 players)
2 points for a birdie

If a team gets all 8 points, they double making 16.

If the wolf goes alone, he gets par as his partner, but points are doubled. (I know others play where he does not get par, but rather his score counts twice).

When awarding points, you always start with the team with the most players. So, if the team with the wolf has closest to the pin, low ball and low total, the players on the team with 3 players each lose 6 points. The players on the team with two players then each win 9 points. Points on every hole should equal zero.

If I go alone and win all of the points then I win 32 from each of the other four players for a total of 128 because the points doubled twice. Once because I went alone, and once because I got them all.

At the end of the round you pay whatever you are down into the pot, or collect whatever you are up out of the pot.

Finally, in addition to the wolf being able to choose to go alone, the person who he picks has the option to reject him and play alone.

I'll never understand the desire to play tricked up golf.

Not sure what you mean by tricked up golf. Everyone plays their own ball and everyone posts a score.

If you don't like it because it is not straight stroke play or match play, o.k. I get that I guess. But I play plenty of those rounds.

I play about 120 rounds a year, and all of them are competitive. Sometimes it's a stroke play event, sometimes match play, sometimes a scotch game or a wolf game, or a nine-point game. I don't really consider any of those to be tricked up, but to each his own I guess.

The golf is the same, it's just tricked up "scoring" (betting). The prime goal is still to get it into the hole in the least number of strokes.

That being said, the wolf game I'm familiar with differs from that 8pt thing. We play where the 1st man hits. Then after the next guy hits, he can pick him as a partner or pass. If he passes, same option for the next guy, etc. Then it's just best ball against the remaining the three guys who don't get picked with different wagering amounts whether you're on the big team or small team. ie. $4 per man if you're on the 3-man team and $6 if on the 2-man team. ($4x3 = $6x2)

HouAggie, that's how I used to play Wolf too. We still do the same as far as the Wolf picking his partner, but play the scotch game instead of the best-ball. I will confess that the scoring gets a little confusing sometimes.

Maybe I just don't play enough golf. I don't like to wager or play any ball that isn't my own. The game is plenty fun by itself. The only time I did bet was as a kid because my friends insisted. I took all of their money and then got lectured on hustling by my dad.

To each his own I guess.

I'm with you on the playing your own ball point. I am not a big fan of scrambles, and when I do play in one I feel like I missed something.

An alternate shot event every now and then can be fun, but for the most part I would still prefer to play my own ball.

I play with the same 10 to 15 guys all season, so even though we gamble all the time, we really just pass money back and forth.

I enjoy playing HouAggie's version, provided that I don't have to score it. Add in trash and if you want.

then you toss in Pig during the Wolf game.

If you are the player that gets picked, and the "Wolf" had a crappy shot, you tell him you Pig him after he picks you and then it is you take on everyone else, and it doubles the bet.

Big Shoulders
I think you have made wolf way too complicated. That would be a scoring nightmare.

HouAg, that is exactly how we play. Keep in mind we aren't that great so it drastically speeds up the game and we don't have to feel so bad about playing five. That being said we also have what we call "blind wolf" where the wolf can go solo BEFORE he shoots and everything is double. Again, it's just way to make it a little funner.

When I play with my dad this weekend it'll be cart v cart. I think the "mini game" version of golf is better to me than going out and shooting a 120 every time... just my 2 cents.

We played wolf where there was just 1 pt per person available. If the wolf picks a partner the lowest pair each got 1 pt, if the wolf goes alone he can score 3 pts. If the 3 win they each get a point.

We did this in HS to keep the competition going during practice rounds and keeping the scoring system based on the only thing that matters, stroke play score.

We play HouAggie's version, and at the same time, we'll have a game of "capture the rabbit" going as well as have some basic trash bets (birdies, greenies, and sandies).

[This message has been edited by Danny Duberstein (edited 3/15/2011 8:46a).]