Typically whoever is the Wolf must decide after each players tee shot if they are going to pick them or not. If they pass on a player, they can not go back and chose them after the next players tee shot.
Wolf tees off first
They must decide immediately after their tee shot if they are going Lone Wolf (before seeing any other players tee shots). If they choose NOT to go Lone Wolf, they must pick one of the other players after their tee shot.
Wolf tees off last
After each of the other players tee shots, the Wolf can decide if they want to partner with them or not (once they pass on a player they can not go back and choose them). So if they pass on all players, they are then Lone Wolf.
Another method is to allow ALL players to tee off and have the Wolf go last. Before the Wolf tees off they can decide if they want to choose ANY of the players to partner with, or to go Lone Wolf.
Your group can decide on what selection process to use.
For some added excitement, you can specify that each player must go Lone Wolf at least once during the round (or twice!)
In the case of a tie on the last hole, what should the first tiebreaker be?
First Skin - The player who got the first skin wins the first tiebreaker
Most Skins - The player who got the most skins in the round wins the first tiebreaker
Best Score - The player with the best overall score wins the first tiebreaker
With this option if the winning player (or anyone on the winning team) gets a birdie or eagle (or better), the skin value is multiplied - either 2x for a birdie or 4x for a eagle (or better)
For example, if two golfers are playing Skins and a hole is worth one skin, if one golfer gets a birdie and one golfer gets a par, the winning golfer would get TWO skins (one skin for the hole with the 2x multiplier). If that golfer were to get an eagle, they would get FOUR skins (one skin for the hole with the 4x multiplier).
Note that in partner games these can be stacked. So in Wolf, if each golfer on a winning team has a birdie, they would win FOUR times the skins (2x for golfer 1 and 2x for golfer 2). If one golfer has a birdie and one golfer has an eagle, they would win EIGHT times the skins (2x and 4x). And if both golfers had eagles, they would win SIXTEEN times the skins (4x and 4x).
Typically all play starts on hole 1, but you can start on any other hole if you like.
This is what player scores are defaulted to for each hole. Set this based on the skill level of your group.
The Front 9 Wager goes to the player with the lowest total score on the first 9 holes played. This is the amount each player contributes.
Note: It is the first 9 holes played... not necessarily holes 1-9. So if you start play on hole 4, the Front 9 Wager will pay out on holes 4-12 and the Back 9 Wager will pay out on holes 13-3.
The Back 9 Wager goes to the player with the lowest total score on the last 9 holes played. This is the amount each player contributes.
Note: It is the last 9 holes played... not necessarily holes 10-18. So if you start play on hole 4, the Front 9 Wager will pay out on holes 4-12 and the Back 9 Wager will pay out on holes 13-3.
The Overall Wager goes to the player with the lowest total score for the round. This is the amount each player contributes.
This feature allows players of different skill levels to have an even playing field for the Front 9, Back 9 and Overall wagers.
For example, a player with a 2 handicap (an excellent golfer) will need to win by at least 14 strokes over a player with an 16 handicap (an average golfer) to win the Overall wager:
16 handicap - 2 handicap = 14 strokes (for 18 holes)
For the Front 9 and Back 9, take half of that number. So a player with a 2 handicap will need to win by 7 strokes over a player with an 16 handicap:
16 handicap - 2 handicap = 14 strokes (for 18 holes) - or 7 strokes for 9 holes
A Skin is one hole. So the Skin Value is how much each player contributes to each hole. Depending on the game, if a hole is tied the Skin carries over to the next hole which is now worth two Skins.
So if the Skin Value is $2 and a player does not win any skins for the entire round, they will lose $36 ($2 x 18 holes)
In Baseball / 9 Point you have three different payout levels. The Best Score Payout goes to the player with the best score that hole. The Middle Score Payout goes to the plaer with the second best score. And the Worst Score Payout goes to the player with the worst score. Since there are three players in Baseball / 9 Point, the sum of the Best Score, Middle Score and Worst Score Payouts must be divisible by three.
The game gets it's name "Baseball" and "9 Point" because the most common values for these are: 5 for the Best Score, 3 for the Middle Score and 1 for the Worst Score (totaling 9)
What should happen when two players tie for the best score that hole? You can either split the winnings between them. Or it can be a carry over and the next hole is worth double (also known as "One Tie, All Tie"). Be careful though... the player who did not tie for the best score may win the next hole and steal the winnings!
An added twist that can be added to Baseball / 9 Point is if one player beats each of the other players by 2 or more strokes, they get ALL the payouts for the hole (Best Score, Middle Score and Worst Score)
If any player scores a Birdie (or better) on the hole, the hole amounts double.
Note: Add-ons do not double... only the per hole / skin values are doubled. For example, in Baseball / 9 Point the Best Score, Middle Score, Worst Score Payouts would double, but the Birdie Bounty and 3 Putt Penalty would not.
"Flipping the Bird" is when someone gets a birdie (or better), they flip the other teams score. So if a team scores a 5 and a 7, their Vegas score is 57. But if their opponent got a birdie, it would flip their score to a 75.
Note: If one player on the team has a score of 10 or more, their team score will not flip if their opponent gets a birdie.
One of the most popular add-ons there is... the Birdie Bounty. Every player throws a set amount in and the first player to card a Birdie (or better) wins the money.
Note: Standard golf etiquette applies - if multiple people have an opportunity at a birdie, the furthest away gets first crack at it. If a player was to rush up to the green and tap their birdie in before anyone else just to be the "first" one with a birdie, that's not how it works. It is not a race. Each player with a birdie opportunity will get their shot, in the order of furthest away to closest.
The elusive Eagle Bounty. Every player throws a set amount in and the first player to card an Eagle (or better) wins the money.
Note: Standard golf etiquette applies - if multiple people have an opportunity at an eagle, the furthest away gets the first crack at it. If a player was to rush up to the green and tap their eagle in before anyone else just to be the "first" one with an eagle, that's not how it works. It is not a race. Each player with an eagle opportunity will get their shot, in the order of furthest away to closest.
If someone is lucky enough to get a hole-in-one, this is the amount they will get from each player. They will need it when they are forced to buy a round of drinks for everyone back at the clubhouse!
Should a hole-in-one also win the Eagle Bounty? You can decide for yourself.
Ahhhh, the dreaded Three Putt. This penalty is imposed on someone who three putts (or worse) on a hole. A player who three putts is required to pay all other players the 3+ Putt Penalty.
Typically, standard PGA rules apply and a putt is defined as any stroke made while the ball is on the green. So if you use your putter from just off the green, it does NOT count as a putt. Or if you were to use a wedge when the ball is resting on the green, it DOES count as a putt. Your group can determine what is and what is not considered a putt.
Note: Be careful because if you do worse than a three putt on a hole, this penalty grows exponentially. For example, if the 3+ Putt Penalty is $1 for a three putt, that means it will be $2 for a four putt, $4 for a five putt, $8 for a six putt, and so on... And this amount is paid to every golfer in the group. So be careful and take your time on those putts!
Every player throws a set amount and once you three putt (or worse) on a hole, you are out of the running. If you are the last remaining player who has not three putted, you are the Three Putt Survivor and win the money. If multiple players finish the round without three putting, the money is split between them.
Typically, standard PGA rules apply and a putt is defined as any stroke made while the ball is on the green. So if you use your putter from just off the green, it does NOT count as a putt. Or if you were to use a wedge when the ball is resting on the green, it IS a putt. Your group can determine what is and what is not considered a putt.
Note: Standard golf etiquette applies - if multiple people are looking at a three putt, the furthest away from the hole must go first. The last one who has three putted, wins the money.
This is similar to the
3+ Putt Penalty but instead of paying other players when you three putt, the money goes into a pot. At the end of the round the player who has the fewest three putts wins the pot. In determining the winner, any four putts will count as (2) in the calculation. Any five putts will count as (3), and so on. The player with the fewest is the winner.
Typically, standard PGA rules apply and a putt is defined as any stroke made
while the ball is on the green. So if you use your putter from just off the green, it does NOT count as a putt. Or if you were to use a wedge when the ball is resting on the green, it IS a putt. Your group can determine what is and what is not considered a putt.
When a player wins a hole outright, beating all other players (no ties), they have "captured the Rabbit". That player holds the Rabbit until another player wins a hole outright, at which point that other player now has the Rabbit. Whoever has the Rabbit after the first 9 holes are played wins the Front 9 Rabbit money from each player. So if you have the best score on hole 7 and no one wins hole 8 or 9 outright, you would win the Front 9 Rabbit.
Note: It is the first 9 holes played... not necessarily holes 1-9. So if you start play on hole 4, the Front 9 Rabbit will pay out after hole 12 and the Back 9 Rabbit will pay out after hole 3.
When a player wins a hole outright, beating all other players (no ties), they have "captured the Rabbit". That player holds the Rabbit until another player wins a hole outright, at which point that other player now has the Rabbit. Whoever has the Rabbit after the last 9 holes are played wins the Back 9 Rabbit money from each player. So if you have the best score on hole 16 and no one wins hole 17 or 18 outright, you would win the Back 9 Rabbit.
Note: It is the last 9 holes played... not necessarily holes 10-18. So if you start play on hole 4, the Front 9 Rabbit will pay out after hole 12 and the Back 9 Rabbit will pay out after hole 3.
The Pile On Penalty adds insult to injury. It is only a wager meant for four player groups. If a players score adds up to more than the other three players scores combined, they must pay the Pile On Penalty to each of the other three players. Ouch.
Show History will show information for each player (and the group) about the current hole. It will include how that hole ranks in comparison to the other 18 on the course, average score, Best/Worst scores and your last four rounds.
Show Tid Bits will include a variety of statistical information and facts throughout the round as it pertains to each player.
See some examples.
Only Allow Me To Score Round. Normally anyone who has a link to the round can score it and make changes. If you select this option it will only allow you to enter scores and make changes. To use this option you must have an account and be logged in.
Do Not Track Putts - As you play the round you will not be prompted to enter putts for each player. NOTE: this option can not be selected if you are playing any putting games (i.e. 3 Putt Penalty, 3 Putt Survivor, 3 Putt Pot, ...)
Track 3 Putts Only - As you play the round you only need to enter the number of putts for a player if they 3 putt (or worse). If they finish the hole with 2 putts or less, there is no need to enter them.
Track All Putts - Each player will be required to enter the number of putts on each hole.