One of my buddies play Nassau (One a side, Two total) but we play it Match-play format, 9 holes a side. So basically, we play "2" match-play rounds worth One a side, and the over all winner wins Two total. So if we tie one side, and I win the other, I win One point for that side, and 2 for total score (1W, 0L, 1T). If we tie both sides, there's no blood, and we don't lose anything. We played about 15 rounds before one of us won (I beat the crap out of him, lol). on one of the rounds, he beat me on the front, and I chipped in for birdie to win the back and tie the match ;) I love match-play golf.

I learned a game in Kansas City a few years ago called an Abilene.... total of 5 dots available per hole and played as a two man team game within a foursome... dots are as follows... low low, low high, total putts (as team) and closest to pin (in regulation)... if you get all 4 of those dots you get a fifth called the bucket... bets typically start at 25 cents and can be pressed anytime by the team that's down... after the first nine the team that's down has the option to reset bet to 25 cents or keep it as is... this game is played typically using handicap to make it fair... fun game and even though dots can climb to $5 or more team down always has the chance to catch up...

We play dollar birdies, sandies, and pick one hole for closest and one hole for long drive. All 3 putts cost $.50.

Love the $0.50 penalty for 3 putts. I'm going to suggest that to the crew next match :)

Stroke play is my favorite. The friends that I usually play with are very close to the same level of play as me so every stroke really counts and it usually comes down to the final stretch of the last couple of holes.

We have a game with about 20 guys. $10 front $10 back. Two man teams chosen "old school" playing cards. Matched #'s on teams and winner takes all, low net two man total. This is good when you have a wide spread of hcps.....

We play a game called "bunnies". All the game is that hole 4 and 8 are money holes and the other holes are just working to get the "bunny" in your bag. If you win the hole you get the bunny but the bunny can only have one action per hole so if you win the hole the bunny can go in your bag or is taken out of another's bag. If the bunny is in persons bag after 4 that bunny can't leave there bag. And the game is repeated for the eighth hole. If both bunnies are free after the eighth hole nine is a playoff hole to receive both bunnies

I like this game. Going to try it out with a playing partner and see how it works out! Just to clarify, the bunnies are being fought for from holes 1-3, and if you have it by the 4th hole you win 1 of the two, then another bunny is fought from holes 5-7, and the second one is won on the 8th hole, and 9 is a playoff. so if no one wins the 1st bunny, but one of us wins the second, is that 1st bunny fought over on the 9th hole? Just curious because this game sounds pretty cool :)

Another game I've played is called "Split Sixes" and it's meant for 3 players. So there are 6 points for every hole and are divided accordingly:

If there is an outright winner, that person receives 4 points, and the other two players fight for the remaining 2 points.

Par = 4pts
Boges = 1 pts
Boges = 1 pt

If all 3 tie, the points are divided 2 a piece

Par = 2 pts
Par = 2 pts
Par = 2 pts

If there is a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, then that is where the big penalty comes in. 3rd place receives no points.

Par = 4pts
Boges = 2pts
Doub = 0pts

And again, If two people tie for first, the points are divided as;

Par = 3pts
Par = 3pts
Boges = 0 pts

This game does two things, it makes the game more mental because you are minimizing mistakes, and odds are good that you'll win some points. Second, it takes away the desire to be too risky, and manage your new ProV1 correctly, rather than offer it to the Lake God, lol :)

The group I play with usually runs 9 to 15 players. We play in teams of threesomes, foursomes and fivesomes depending on how many players. Our game is a team format with the best 2 balls per hole counting as the team score against the other teams. Teams are chosen by a random throw of the balls. We play at 80% of your handicap. If there is an odd number team say a threesome playing against two foursomes, the threesome plays at 100 % handicap. This is a $2 game so that is the most you can lose. Lots of fun and at the end of the year we have a big Christmas Party with our wives. Great fellowship and comradery.

Thanks for the game ideas!! When I play with some buddies we play a couple of different games... one is Wolf (usually a 4-some or 5-some)...draw for order - of drives & rotate. The last person is in the pick position for a potential partner...they watch the first person drive and if they want them as their partner they pick them and the other 2 or 3 are partners for the hole...if they pass they can pick the next person but can't go back to the first if they don't like them...the person can also go Lone Wolf and play against the other 3 or 4. Points are 1 for low ball and 1 for low total (if you go Wolf you double your score). Each person earns their own points and payoff can be up to 4 people if you are last place.

A variation of Wolf is just 3-3-3 or 6-6-6 where you draw to be partners with each person in your group for3 or 6 holes and you earn individual points. Here we play - low ball (1), low total (1), birdies get 1 low total under par gets another 1, sandies get 1, and pole-ies get 1 on par-3s (if you hit the green and have a putt longer than the flagstick and you make it, you get a point (only 1 point available per par 3 so farthest away gets it)) This one is fun because everyone could be earning points. If you really like math you can play carryovers on all the points if there are ties on low ball or low total.

One of my favorite is just playing 1 v. 1 playing a 2 ball scramble against a friend (when it's not busy on the course) - getting 2 putts or 2 drives is pretty nice sometimes!! Also makes it fun to shoot some better scores.

I can't wait for golf to start in Minnesota!!