Sometimes golfers can end up with a group of five.
The interesting thing about a five-person match is that sometimes all players will be in one group, and other times the groups will be split.
This depends on the course that you play because sometimes golf courses won’t let you have a fivesome out there.
Instead, you will have to split up into two and three.
Therefore, you will have to be a bit creative about which team game you decide to play.
If a group of players needs to play together for a certain format, it may not work for you.
Here are a few of the five-player golf games that you should consider the next time you head out to the golf course.
Five-Player Golf Games
Here are some of our favorite five-player golf games and the rules that should help you learn to play them.
If you play these golf games, you can always add in additional features for things like skins, birdies, or more.
These are, however, the basic options that provide a good foundation or base.
1. Wolf
Wolf is one of the most popular golf games out there.
The reason this game is so popular is that Wolf can be played by a wide range of people.
If your group only has three people, you can still play well, so this game works for a fivesome as well.
This game really only works if you are playing with the other people in your group, so if you get split up on the first tee box, choose a different format.
The great thing about this game is that you will be playing on your own team, trying to score as many points as you can.
Since golf is such an individual sport, we love that you can focus on your own golf game and playing the best you can.
When you start with Wolf, you have to decide on a teeing order and use it throughout the entire round.
You will also choose which holes you will be the Wolf on.
This is determined in the beginning and marked on the card.
You can leave 16, 17, and 18 open and let whoever is in last place take that spot when you get to it.
When you play Wolf as a fivesome, you can either do teams of three and two, or you can play one person against the other four.
If you play the game with teams, the way it would work is that each time a team wins by having the lowest score on the hole, then both players on the team would bet a point.
If you play as an individual, a “lone wolf,” you will get two points for winning the hole.
The goal at the end of the game is to have the most points because you scored the lowest throughout the round.
The way that Wolf is played as a fivesome is going to vary a bit from one club to another.
Overall, you will want to try and make it as fair as possible so that players can all enjoy their day on the course.
Again, the most important part of the Wolf game is to set it all up before teeing off.
Once all the details are figured out, it is relatively easy to keep track of and to correctly score a game of Wolf.
Most players find this to be one of their favorite formats.
2. High vs. Low
Sometimes when playing golf, the best way to enjoy a game is to have a match with two players against each other.
The problem when you have five players, of course, is that these matches are going to be a bit uneven.
Although there are several ways you can structure this, the most common way is to do a match where the three highest handicappers and the two lowest handicappers team up.
Once these groups are split up, then you will have the low handicappers compete against the high handicappers.
Of course, this may seem unfair because of the handicaps and the number of people playing, but it usually works out quite well.
You can use this with handicaps or play it straight up.
Depending on the differences between the high and the low players in the group, sometimes playing it straight up is the smartest call.
Overall, you should find that these matches are fun and bring the team spirit back into the day on the course.
If you have handicaps that are all really similar, you could also switch the teams up after nine holes.
For instance, some groups may have three of the low players being 10, 11, and 12 handicaps.
Certainly, there is not much difference here, and it could end up making it more difficult to keep the match fair in the end.
3. Two Carts
Two Carts is a fun and funny golf game that will probably make you a bit more competitive than you may have originally thought you were.
Playing the Two Carts game means that you will take five players out to play but only bring two carts.
You are playing your own ball and your own score throughout the entire match.
However, at the end of each hole, the four lowest scoring players get a seat in the cart.
The fifth player who scored highest on the hole has to walk to the next hole.
That player can earn their spot in the cart back on the next hole as long as their score is within the top four lowest scores.
On golf courses where there are long walks between holes, this game becomes even a bit more fun.
Also, you can ask the golf shop for a way to distribute all five golf bags between the two carts.
Most of the time, you won’t make the one player walk with their clubs, but that is a factor you could add.
In addition, you will likely end up getting a little more exercise when you play this game.
Certainly, that makes the day on the golf course even more productive.
4. Round Robin
A Round Robin is where you will continually alter the matches that you play.
You can do this with the rotation happening every three holes or every six holes.
You can choose an option that works best for your game.
The best way to make this work is that three people will play in three groups of two holes.
Then there will be a two-man team that has three matches with these three groups of two holes.
Each time you come up to the next group of holes, you can change the group up and see how it impacts the scoring and the strategy.
The best way to re-pair is to throw golf balls up in the air and see which ones end up closest to one another.
Keep track of how many matches you have won and who you have won them against.
At the end of the round, you can square up with all of the players in the group.
5. Scramble
Probably one of the most well-known golf formats ever is the Scramble.
A Scramble is a format where each player will drive the ball, and then the best drive will be chosen.
All golfers will go and pick up their shot, and then they will put the ball at the location of the best drive.
This process is then repeated all the way until the ball makes it into the hole.
The great thing about the scramble is that you won’t get all that exhausted playing your own golf ball the entire day you are on the golf course.
However, if you do enjoy knowing exactly what you score during a round, the scramble won’t give you that information.
This is a format that really makes sense when you have players in your group who may be new to the game.
It takes quite a bit of pressure off when you can start this format and make it so players don’t have to worry about hitting each shot perfectly.
The way Scrambles are even more fun is when you play with one group against another.
If you are playing golf for a wedding party or a family reunion or something, doing a Scramble format is a smart idea.
Sometimes, to make it fairer, the format should require that each player hits two drives.
This will keep the best player in the group from being the one that you rely on most often.
Overall, the Scrambles are fun and can also help to get you around the course a bit faster.
If you have a starter who is giving you a hard time about playing as a group of five, see if switching to a Scramble format will get them to change their mind.
6. Stableford
A Stableford is a points competition.
You can play this as a team or as an individual.
However, when you have a group of five, it is often best to play as individuals.
The Stableford points are given for pars, birdies, and eagles.
Each time you score well on a hole, you get to count the points that you made.
The fun thing about Stableford is that you can’t get negative points.
This means that, even if you have a really bad hole, it won’t really count against you.
In some Stableford formats, you can get a point for a bogey, and in others, it is considered no points.
This really depends on the handicaps and whether or not they are being used.
Obviously, a net Stableford competition is a bit easier than a gross Stableford competition.
At the end of the round, add up the points and see who the winner was.
You will be surprised that the guy who made some double bogeys but had one or two birdies sprinkled in is probably going to do quite well in the Stableford scoring.
There is usually a PGA Tour event each year played in this format, so you can watch and try to get a better idea of how to play.
7. Captain’s Choice
Captain’s Choice is a game in which each player will be given a number one through five.
The first match is one and four versus two and three, and then player number five will switch every three holes.
This is a best ball game, so if you are the fifth player, you can help either team when it is your turn to be on their side.
Some players like to change the teams up after nine holes, and others will keep the original team all the way through the match.
One thing that we like about this Captain’s Choice format is that it is very easy to follow.
If you clearly mark your scorecard, you will quickly see who is playing with whom.
All you need to do is keep track of the teams throughout the day, and then at the end, you can determine if player number five fits into the winners’ group or the losers’ group.
If the fifth player has a nine-hole score with the winning team that is lower than the nine-hole score with the losing team, then that player will be on the winning team.
Again, the most important thing with this format and many of the others is to properly mark your scorecard so that you have all the information you need at the end.
Captain’s Choice is one of our favorite ways to enjoy a round with five golfers.
Do All Golf Courses Allow Five Players?
Chances are, if you are playing golf at a private country club, you can sneak out as a fivesome from time to time.
After all, you must remember that these golf clubs are often owned by the members of the club.
The issue with fivesomes is really not the pace of play, but instead, it is being aware of other golfers.
If you are not aware of the players who are coming up behind you, it becomes very difficult to justify your place as a fivesome on the course.
All golfers are looking to get around the course and enjoy their day.
If you are playing along just fine as a fivesome and you realize that there is a threesome behind you waiting on every hole, you need to let them play through.
Being aware and respectful on the golf course is the best way to be.
If you can pay attention to others, you can really play anywhere, anytime.
One thing you are likely not going to see is groups of five players teeing off on a busy Saturday morning at a public golf course.
The public golf courses tend to stack players one on top of another, and if you don’t keep those groups limited to four people, the entire day could get backed up.
Sometimes a group of five golfers who all know how to play fast and move from one shot to the next can play faster than a twosome that has no idea what they are doing.
One thing for sure is that if you plan on going out to play with a group of five golfers, you must let the golf course know.
Showing up to the tee as a group of five is likely going to cause a bit of a disturbance.
Try to let them know your situation ahead of time, and they may be able to accommodate you and choose a tee time that makes more sense for you to play.
Whatever you decide, communication will be paramount, so always let the course know what your plans are.
If they don’t allow it, you are simply going to have to break into a group of two and a group of three.
Conclusion
Groups of five can happen not just because of the number of people you have who want to play but also because of cancellations.
Many times, two groups of three will try and go out only to discover that one of the players didn’t show up.
Whatever your reason is for having five players, rest assured that there are still great games that you can enjoy while on the course.
Overall, the ability to play as a group of five can be rare, and if you get the chance, make sure you pay attention to other players around you.
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