buddy golf trip games

10 Best Fun Golf Games For a Wide Range Of Handicaps

Greetings! We are here to help you discover the top-rated golf games suitable for players of varying skill levels. When it comes to typical golf games, they usually involve two, three, or four players playing traditional games like match play, skins games, Nassau, or Stableford. However, these games might not be the best choice when you have a group with a wide range of skill levels. That’s where having a collection of fun and accessible golf games can be handy. It’s common to play with groups that have different handicaps and abilities, so having these games ready to go is a great idea. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our 10 favorite golf games that work well for players with various handicaps and group sizes. Enjoy!

Want a fun and competitive game to play with your buddies on the golf course? Give Wolf Golf a try! It’s a challenging and exciting game that keeps you on your toes as you compete against players with different skill levels. Here’s how to play.

Handicaps In Wolf Golf

Handicaps In Wolf Golf, there are three kinds of players with different skill levels.

Scratch Golfer (0 handicaps ) – These are golfers who can play at par or even better on a golf course.
Average golfer (1-18 handicap) – These are golfers who can complete a round of golf within 90 strokes, depending on how challenging the course is.
High Handicap Golfer (18+ handicap) – These are golfers who require more than 90 strokes to finish a round of golf.

Awesome Golf Games: 13 Choices For Any Golfer

Golfers really enjoy a friendly bet and earning the ultimate bragging rights after a round.

The cash involved doesn’t really matter much since your winnings tend to vanish quickly; besides, any golfer worth their salt will be the first one at the bar, happily buying drinks for everyone.

This collection of entertaining golf games is perfect for adding excitement to any day out with your buddies.

So, let’s get ready to hit the course and review our fantastic selection of 10 fun golf games suitable for players of all skill levels.

Fun Golf Games: Two-Person Teams for Extra Fun

In this section, we’ll talk about some exciting golf games that involve pairs. Each game consists of two teams, each with two players.

You have the option to play these games with a single bet for the entire match or break it down into three parts: The score is calculated for the first nine holes, the second nine holes, and the total score. The decision is up to you.

1: Enjoyable Golf Games: Alternative Four-Ball Matchplay – The Second Ball Matters

In this version, both golfers need to show up on every hole to earn more points. Luckily, you can still count on your partner to rescue you if you’re struggling with a high score.

Handicap rules apply to Matchplay golf.

Award 1 point to the team with the lowest net score on a hole compared to their opponents’ lowest score. Award 1 point to the team with the lowest net score among the two higher scores on each team.
Points can be shared on a hole – Team A has the best low score, and Team B has the best high score.
Here’s where it gets exciting: if Team A has both the best low and high scores on a hole, they win 3 points.
And for an even more dramatic outcome, if Team A has the lowest two scores on a hole and their worst score beats Team B’s best score, they win 5 points.
If the low or high scores are tied, then no points are given.

2: Enjoyable Golf Games: Yellow Ball Modified Format

One of the groups here needs to buy a bunch of yellow golf balls.

In each team, players take turns using the yellow ball on different holes. So, Player 1 plays the odd-numbered holes, and Player 2 plays the even-numbered holes.

We use the Stableford scoring system, where points are doubled for the player with the yellow ball.

It’s crucial to strategize when using the yellow ball. If you lose it on a hole, you can’t use it for the next two holes. This penalty can greatly affect the outcome of the game.

On a side note, if the ball lands in a water hazard but can still be retrieved, you can continue playing with a penalty, and the two-hole ban doesn’t apply. The ball isn’t considered lost in this case.

3: Enjoyable GOLF GAMES: 6-6-6 (Aka Round Robin):

Here’s another fun Golf game variant that can be tailored to any format of your choosing.

The concept involves changing partners every six holes, which means you get to play with everyone in your group. Initially, your friends become allies but soon transform into fierce competitors!

This format is a fast-paced sprint that lasts for six holes, with agreed-upon side bets to make things more exciting. To select pairings, the players with the longest and shortest drives from the first tee are paired up for the first six holes.

The same process is repeated on hole 7 to pair up players for the middle holes, and the last pair for holes 13-18 are formed by default.

If hole 1 or 7 is a Par 3, the player closest to and furthest from the pin will partner up.

4: Enjoyable Golf Games: Win, Place, and Show

It’s a really straightforward format. For each hole, the person with the lowest net score earns three points, the one with the second-lowest score gets two points.

The one with the third-lowest score gets one point, and the person with the highest score gets zero points. You need to either win, place, or show to score.

The following three enjoyable golf games are a great addition for a second round during a golf trip/vacation.

5: Enjoyable Golf Games: Chapman

This is a variation of Greensomes and follows the same handicap rules. You can choose to play it as Matchplay, or if you’re feeling more daring or have a lower handicap, you can go for Stroke Play.

Here’s how it works: Each player tees off and then they switch balls. For example, Player A will hit Player B’s ball and vice versa.

After both players hit their second shot, they decide which of the two balls to continue playing with, if they still have a choice.

From there, players take turns hitting the ball until they finish the hole, alternating strokes with just one ball.

6: Enjoyable Golf Games: Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a golf game where two teams of two golfers go head-to-head. Instead of adding up their scores individually, they combine them to create a new score. They play for cash, and the difference in points on each hole determines the amount they win or lose.

For instance, if Golfer A scores 4 and Golfer B gets 5 on Hole 1, their team score is 45. If their opponents score 4 and 5, their score is also 45, resulting in a tie for the hole. However, if their opponents score 6 and 7, their team score is 73, and they lose the hole by 6 points, which means they owe the other team $6 (if they play for $1 per point).

Furthermore, when combining team scores, the lower score always comes first, except if one golfer scores 10 or more, in which case the higher number is placed first. This helps keep the scores from becoming too high.

Las Vegas can be an enjoyable game, but it can also be risky, particularly if you’re wagering a substantial amount of money. It’s crucial to understand the rules and agree on the stakes before playing.

7: Enjoyable Golf Games For Three-Balls

Playing golf with your buddies can be a blast. Usually, we aim for a group of four, but sometimes someone might cancel last minute due to reasons like an injury.

Forgetting their partner’s birthday, or having a wild night before. So, we end up with just three players.

What can you do in this situation? Your choices are a bit more limited, but there are still some options available.

8: Enjoyable Golf Games: Split Sixes / Nines

Here’s a fun golf game called Split Sixes or Nines where you can win either 6 or 9 points on each hole. It’s pretty simple.

You’ll play with your full handicap allowance and use strokeplay scoring.

In Split Sixes, the player who wins a hole outright gets 4 points. The second-best score gets two points, while the third-best score gets zero points.

If scores are tied, the points are shared. For example, if two players have the same best score, they each get 3 points out of the 6 points available for that hole. So, the score on that hole would be 3-3-0. Make sense?

In Nines, the points are allocated as follows: 5 points for the lowest score on the hole, 3 points for the second-lowest score, and 1 point for the player with the highest score on that hole.

9: EnjoyableGolf Games: Middle Ball

In this game, we play strokeplay with a full handicap allowance, and we use a points-scoring system.

Three players start by teeing off. The player who hits the middle shot (all three players agree on this) plays by themselves against the other two players.

When playing alone, winning a hole earns two points whereas a pair earns one point each for a win. If the hole is tied, then no points are awarded.

For an added thrill, the player playing alone may choose to declare “double” before their second shot, which is a high-risk move but could pay off in the end if they win the hole.

If they win the hole after announcing “double,” they score double the points (4 points). However, they must win the hole; otherwise, they lose points. If someone ties the hole, each member of the pair receives one point, and if the pair wins, they each receive two points.

The individual player must execute this daring maneuver with caution.

Here are the reasons why it makes sense:

The other two players are struggling with their tee shots.
The solo player has a good chance of scoring well on the hole.
The solo player is far behind in the match and needs to take a risk to catch up.

10: Fun Golf Games: 44 Balls

This is a cool game where you have to use some strategy and keep track of your scores.

You play with 4 people and go through 18 holes, so there are 72 possible scores in total. However, you only get to choose the best 44 scores. It may sound easy, but it’s not as simple as it seems!

One person chooses the Team Captain, and the Team Captain collects the scores from each player on every hole. Before starting the next hole, the team needs to decide how many scores they want to keep. You can’t go back and change your selection later in the round if things get tough.

In reality, with 44 scores to count over 18 holes, it means you need to average about 2.44 scores per hole.

Here are some important things to consider when making your choices:

Don’t fall too far behind; a score equal to par is good enough.
You don’t want to have too many scores required to score well in the final holes.
It’s best to avoid putting a bogey score on your scorecard.
Be mindful of what’s coming up ahead, like difficult holes, holes where you need to make a challenging shot or holes where you don’t need to take a shot at all.

Scores are tallied according to the par system outlined below, with the example of yellow balls being used as a demonstration.

The player of Hole Par 1

Below are the net scores of Player 2, Player 3, and Player 4, along with the total number of balls utilized.The following are the net scores for Player 2, Player 3, and Player 4, as well as the total number of balls used.

How does the score of the chosen running team measure up against the established benchmark?

1 4 3 4 4 4 3 1 under par

2 5 5 3 6 5 6 3 under par

3 4 4 4 3 7 8 4 under par

4 3 2 5 4 3 10 5 under par

5 5 5 4 4 6 13 7 under par

6 4 4 5 4 3 16 8 under par

7 3 3 4 3 5 18 8 under par

8 4 4 7 5 6 19 8 under par

9 4 5 3 5 5 20 9 under par

Golf Games: A Summary

You have many options available and can have plenty of enjoyable experiences.

It’s the perfect opportunity for your golf crew to think outside the box and try out a new style of play from our collection of enjoyable golf games suitable for all golfers.

We’re eager to hear from you, sharing your experiences with the different fun golf games you’ve played and which one has become your new favorite. Leave us a comment and let us know how it went!

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Playing golf by yourself can be sublime—like when you’re sneaking in a few holes at sunset after work. Going out as a single with strangers can be rewarding, too, especially if you’ve queued from 5 a.m. to get out on the Old Course and exit the 18th green with three new friends.

But the best golf is the golf you get to play with old friends—or family members. Guys (or gals) you wish you could see more often—like my close friends Doug and Ray, with whom I’ve gone on a bunch of trips over the years. Even better are the too-infrequent opportunities to take a golf trip with your best pals to some far-flung bucket-list destination. You want to make the most of those chances.

Here’s a checklist to help you do that.

Traveling with others can be equal parts joy and stress. To avoid the latter, choose your fellow road warriors carefully. That guy who complains about everything may be tolerable in small doses, but a steady diet of him over the course of a week may not go down well. Large groups (more than eight) can also create logistical challenges. Confine your group to no more than one or two foursomes, and if you’re not sure whether a player can go the distance, consider leaving him or her off the invite list.

Any place can be special when you’re with good friends. But given the time and expense that goes into a buddies’ trip, you need to make sure the majority of the courses you’ll be playing are first-rate. At the end of the day, food is food. A hotel room is a hotel room. But every time you set foot on a new first tee, it’s like opening a present. Whether you’re staying in the U.S. or venturing overseas, play the best courses you can, with a lesser-known gem or two thrown in for variety.

It’s never easy to find a window that works for everyone. But I like to target the months of June and July. Why? There’s more daylight, which gives you the option of playing 36 without rushing—or to rejigger your tee times in case of bad weather. Shoulder seasons are normally cheaper, and winter golf down south is always welcome. But you gotta love those long summer days.

Once you’ve agreed on your dates and destination, pick an organizer—preferably someone who’s a stickler for details. Then, everyone else get out of the way. You’ll want consensus on details like how many rounds, how much you wish to spend, and other activities on top of golf. You can share info and opinions back and forth on a private Facebook page or Google doc, but planning a trip by committee usually ends in disaster—so don’t go there!

If you can, use a tour operator. They do so much for so little upcharge, and they can recommend special experiences along the way that would never even occur to you. If you can’t use a tour op, at least hire a transportation provider. For groups of more than four, this is a must. But even when you’re just a foursome, if your trip will involve any appreciable amount of time on the road you should leave the driving to someone who isn’t just coming off a career round and eager to celebrate. Nothing beats the taste of a cold post-round beer when you’re relaxing in a comfortable coach. And in truth, no rental vehicle that supposedly seats four will ever be big enough for four players plus their clubs and luggage. Trust me on this.

You also need to give some thought to sleeping arrangements. Yes, sharing rooms is cheaper, but nobody wants to be kept up all night by a roommate’s buzz-saw snoring. Separate rooms give everyone privacy—and room to decompress.

Finally, whenever possible, try to take advantage of stay-and-play packages. Those kinds of discounts really add up when multiplied by a bunch of travelers.

5. MAKING IT SPECIAL

Just spending time with close friends is special. Add in golf, and it’s a can’t-miss situation. But it’s often the little things that everyone remembers most fondly. Consider a group gift—customized balls or a hat or shirt. Include some “tournament” rounds for prizes (flasks make good trophies). Bring glow-in-the-dark balls and see if you can squeeze in a couple holes of night golf or a postprandial putting contest.

Make sure to also leave time for non-golf adventures. Take in a historic site or natural wonder. Visit a winery or distillery. Make reservations at a few special restaurants. And when you get home, create a Dropbox file or Google page where everyone can upload their favorite photos and videos. Those memories will sustain you until the next time you can hit the road together.

Ever been on a buddies’ golf trip? Let us know your best tips in the comments section below.

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You may dream up the perfect golf trip, and then worry how things might go off the rails. Expectations can differ, personalities can clash, money conflicts, and decisions about venues can all be a source of difficulties. So how do we make it the best possible experience ?

Choose participants carefully Think about the various personalities and their compatibility. Control freaks, umpires, and penny pinchers usually don’t make for good travel mates. I’ve been on trips where there was a lot of fussing about who pays for what and how much. It puts a damper on the fun. The best groups compete for who can grab the bill first. This attitude gets contagious and sets the right tone for a great time.

Agree on how expenses are going to be shared. Sorting out the money issues is a sensitive process. Communicate clear expectations about what things will cost right up front. Remember, not everyone is in the same financial position, so try to avoid any surprises. If some participants have budget concerns, create optional rooms or golf courses where one might choose a less expensive choice. Plan for how expenses will be managed. I’ve done trips where I just pay for everything on my credit card and then sent a closing summary to everyone with their allocation. On a recent trip to Vegas, we divided the big expenses among each other. One paid for the Airbnb and rental car, one paid for football tickets, another paid for the golf, and our fourth picked up dinners. We all sent our receipts to our designated “accountant” who calculated the final amounts due, and we used Venmo to make it square. Consider having people pay a deposit if you have any concerns about a sincere commitment .

Agree on expectations Are you doing the blitzkrieg to play as much golf as possible , or are you looking for a total experience that includes other activities and a slower pace? How many nights will you plan to stay? Don’t forget that travel days can include unexpected events that disrupt your timing. So be careful about locking in golf reservations on travel days. It’s best to plan for flexible activities on the first and last days. Is the group interested in using caddies? A caddy certainly adds cost but can dramatically improve the experience.

Too many choices can lead to endless debates, especially with larger groups. It’s better for key people to make the plan and limit the decisions . Then it’s more about going or not for the rest of the group. Much simpler. I’ve done trips to Bandon Dunes where we book a foursome and then let other friends know we are going and invite them to add another foursome. This is easier than getting eight or more to agree on a plan. This approach can also avoid any hurt feelings by someone not invited.

Choose the right dates and book early Getting your selected group to agree on dates is often the hardest part of planning a trip. Start with a wide date range and ask for everyone’s availability. It is easier to ask which dates they are not available as a place to start. There’s never a perfect date, so compromise is essential. Keep in mind that someone may have to cancel out. Have a back-up plan in the event you lose a participant.

Pair the right roommates These days I prefer having my own room. But when I was younger and a little more money conscious, we would double up. And sometimes individual rooms just aren’t available. So, when you are picking the group, be sure to think about who would room well with whom .

Pick a leader Who will be the point person to keep all the plans together? Someone who isn’t afraid to make decisions, and everyone generally trusts. This person will be the main communication channel.

Delegate tasks You need a leader, but you don’t want to put all the burden on them. Look at the various strengths and resources of your group and pick different people to handle reserving accommodations, tee times, restaurant reservations, other events, rental cars, etc.

Plan for individual interest and time Even the best of friends can get on each other’s nerves. Try to allow for time alone or optional activities that not everyone has to participate in.

Travel arrangements Flexibility is the key here. If you’re flying, allow people to arrive in a time window so they can use their preferred airline. Many want to use frequent flyer benefits. Be aware that luggage will often get lost. Pack your essentials in a carry-on. And make sure the golf courses you are playing at have rental clubs available. If your clubs are sacred to you, consider using Shipsticks.com as a more reliable way of getting your clubs to your destination. If you are doing an overseas trip and want to do it right, hire a driver. It’s a game changer! Good luggage is essential. I have had many golf travel bags fail after just a few uses. A golf pro finally told me that the best on the market is Club Glove Last Bag. I’ll never need another! Consider using a golf travel agency. We had a good experience with Hidden Links. The PGA Tour sponsors Golf Breaks . And a new one I just ran across- Golf Trip Junkie! Here’s a Top 10 list of golf travel companies from Golf Travel Guru.

Choosing a golf course This is THE priority. Is your trip going to be about camaraderie, experiences, or playing top-rated courses to check off a bucket list? Agree on a budget. Get your most important venue reserved first and then build around it. In my first trip to Scotland, I followed the process to get a tee time at St. Andrews and then we built the rest of the trip around that day. Creativity is the key to getting the best courses lined up. There are always booking agencies but check with the courses directly first. On a trip to play Torrey Pines we used a booking agency. The Covid lockdowns caused us to cancel and they weren’t much help getting a refund. I finally had to go directly to Torrey Pines and they told me it’s always best to book directly with them. Ask your club pro or manager for help too. They often have industry connections giving you VIP access. Don’t forget to research club dress codes. Replay rounds are another good thing to be aware of. Many courses will offer a discount if you play the same course twice a day. For example, on my last trip, Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon charged $295 a round in its summer peak season, for example. That dropped to $150 for your second round. Some courses even let you play unlimited same day golf. Do your research ahead of time using web searches and visiting club websites. More knowledge equals better trips. Here’s Golf Digests 23 best buddy trips

Include competition Here’s where the fun starts. Size up the group and plan some betting competitions . Having a plan and creating a pool of money in advance is a great way to go. Use gg4golf.com to pick some game formats. I always like to have a daily game and a cumulative game to keep it interesting. Provide a way for both individual and team wins. Another fun idea is to find a group at your destination to play against . On my last trip to Scotland, we connected with a group of Swedes and played a two-day Ryder Cup match at Old Prestwick. We had commemorative beverage bottles and went out to dinner together. Great fun!

Prepare to Compromise People have different habits and preferences. Make sure the main elements are attaining the goal, and then try to make room for some individual priorities.

Weather Do your research on the area’s weather and plan to pack the proper attire. Weather can change though, so be prepared for any outcome and use layering to manage daily weather changes.

Maintain flexibility Things will not always go as expected. Make decisions about what reservations are necessary and what to keep open. In my last overseas trip, we made a couple of dinner reservations on key days, but otherwise relied on the feel of the day. We’d often ask locals about the best venues. You can also lock down a reservation, and then cancel it if better options emerge. Do some research on “local favorites” wherever you go. Chat people up when you have an opportunity. When we went to the 150 th Open we ended up in a local pub and were the only Americans in sight. We met a fine fellow who invited us to join him at his nearby club for a drink. We got the complete tour of what turned out to be “the oldest golf club in the world.” We didn’t even know of its existence before our new friend showed us around.

Print a trip itinerary Build and share a reference sheet that includes dates, contact info, golf and room reservations, travel reference, emergency contacts, side bet summary, etc… Put it in a format that can be printed or kept digitally. Group Code of Conduct

We will….

Be flexible
Not fuss over who pays
Be patient with each other
Show up on time
Pay our expenses and bets promptly
Keep a good attitude about our golf game

A new golf season is almost here. Let’s start planning!!

Print Version HOW TO SURVIVE PLANNING A GOLF TRIP WITH YOUR BUDDIES

Here’s an example of a Trip Summary that can be a great reference source for each other:

BOYS TORREY PINES TRIP SUMMARY

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Guys Golf Trip Format

Golf Trip Format Suggestions: So you are organizing a golf trip? There are lots of thing to consider including which courses to play, where to stay and what to do at night. One important detail to work out is the game format (ie, captain’s choice, best ball, mixed format). Getting the golf games nailed down early can help keep your golf trip running smoothly and make your life easier. Below is the golf trip format I have used for both an 8 man and 12 man trip . . . in both cases we play 5 rounds in 3 days. The goal is to have a format where a mix of skills can all compete together but also make it such that there is healthy individual competition.

NOTE: After reading this post, be sure to check out our Planning a Ryder Cup trip and Guide to Bandon Dunes.

A few wrinkles that I have worked in that I find are very useful are pre-setting foursomes prior to the event so that the organizer is not stuck juggling groups. However, you will note, that the foursomes are not actual names but placeholders dependent of situations (full explanation below). I also have a draft system for the two man games which is fun because, again, it takes decision making out of my hands and gives the players an opportunity to make choices (more explanation below).

Guys Golf Trip – nothing better!

For this example, every round has a $10 bet per man per round but you can change this as you see fit.

Day 1 Morning Format: 4 Ball Team Play (but you still keep your own score)

Rules: Each team will have one A, B, C and D player. The top 3 scores count for each hole. Points awarded in this way: 5 points for eagle, 3 points for birdie, 2 points for par, 1 point for bogie. For example if the team has 2 pars, 1 bogey and a double the team gets: 2+2+1-5 points for the hole. Highest total points for the 18 holes wins.

NOTE: Simply group everyone into A,B,C, & D based on handicap or reputation then can draw cards for teams.

Total Pot: $120.00

Payout PER TEAM:

1st place: $100
2nd place: $20

Day 1 afternoon Format: Two man match play

Rules: Teams are drafted in the following way: Player with the highest score in the morning chooses his playing partner followed by the next highest scoring player. This draft is done in this order until all teams are picked. Teams will take their combined score (triple bogey max). Low gross score wins. ie. an 84 and a 97 is 181.

Payout PER TEAM

1st place: $60
2nd place: $40
3rd place: $20

NOTE: I like to pre-determine foursomes so that there is no confusion that day so we pre-set the foursome like this:

Group 1: Draft 1 and partner, Draft 3 and partner

Group 2: Draft 2 and partner, Draft 4 and partner

Group 3: Draft 5 and partner, Draft 6 and partner

Day 2 Morning Format: Individual handicapped

Rules: Take the average individual score from the 1st two rounds. The lowest persons average will set the bar at zero. Everyone else will get the number of strokes difference between their average and the lowest average. Low NET score wins (triple bogie max). ie. if the low average is 81 someone with a 90 average gets 9 strokes.

Payout PER MAN

1st place: $45
2nd place: $30
4th place: $15
5th place: $10

Again, I pre-set the foursomes. This is done to group similar skill levels and to avoid confusion at the course.

Group 1: Ranked player 1,2,7,10

Group 2: Ranked player 3,4,8,9

Group 3: Ranked player 5,6,11,12

Day 2 Afternoon Format: Two man captain’s choice

Rules: Player with the highest score gross in the morning chooses his playing partner. This draft is done in order till teams are picked (must choose different parnter than in draft one). Each team member will hit a drive and then play from their preferred spot. This process is repeated until ball is holed.

Foursomes will be made as follows: Free for all: Attempt to play with anyone you have not played with yet.

Day 3 Morning Format: Flighted Championship

Rules: Take total gross scores from the three individual rounds and make three flights. Play is individual net

Total Pot: per foursome $40.00

1st place: $30
2nd place: $10

Group 1: Lowest 4 gross players over 3 individual rounds

Group 2: next lowest 4 gross players over 3 individual rounds

Group 3: next lowest 4 gross players over 3 individual rounds

So that’s it. This format works well for all skill levels. Teams should end up being mixed up so that you get to play with everyone. In terms of betting, it puts everyone on a level playing field and allows everyone a good chance to win. Moreover, by doing a lot of pre-planning the organizer can focus on having fun and not herding cats.

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This is a great way to organize the games once you reach your location.

Lots of room for fun and strategy and of course trash talk.

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Tips for Planning Your Buddy Golf Trip

The best golf trips for guys are buddy trips, when you travel with friends to challenge yourself with uninterrupted time on a new course. Along the way, you’ll push each other to play better and spend quality time on and off the course. If you’re getting ready to head out on your first golf trip or preparing to lead one, read up on these buddy golf trip games and ideas to have the trip of a lifetime.

1. Plan Your Golf Trip with Friends in Advance

The best buddies golf trips take months of preparation. If you and your friends can all agree on dates, you’ll each have to ask for time off of work, check with partners, and arrange transportation. Don’t wait until the last minute only to find out that one of your buddies can’t get out of work on those days. Planning early can also help you score deals on transportation, lodging, and golf packages , making it easier for everyone to commit to buddy golf trips.

Buddy Golf Trip To Tpc Danzante Bay Loreto Mexico

2. Set a Tone for Your Golf Trip with Friends

Before taking off, start to set a tone for the trip. All buddy golf trips are unique, so setting a tone helps each player adjust their expectations. Are you planning a trip with multiple rounds of golf each day with strict rules, competitive buddy golf trip games, and steep wagers? Or are you planning on playing each day but also enjoying other activities in the destination? When everyone knows what to expect on the trip, things will go much smoother.

3. Wager a Friendly Bet

For many players, the best golf trip game ideas are those that put a price on the competition. Since you’ll be playing a variety of buddy golf trip games, make sure the wagers each day keep everyone in the game. Play a skins game where the winner of each hole takes the pot, compete for the best ball, or play in teams for an overall best score. Placing a bet on these buddy golf trip games motivates each person to play their best, and improving your overall game is part of what makes up the best golf trips for guys.

4. Mix Up the Competition for Your Golf Trip

Some groups of friends prefer to mix things up with more creative golf trip game ideas, and betting on something like an ugly plaid jacket or caddying for the other team drives competition but without so much pressure as monetary bets. However, sometimes one of the best golf trip game ideas is to simply play for the fun of it. When you’re playing through a new course for the first or last time on buddy golf trips, sometimes it’s best to take it slow and soak up the breathtaking views before you tee off.

5. Spend Time Off the Golf Course

Memories of the best golf trips for guys are often made off the course. Traveling to a foriegn destination opens the doors to a variety of other activities. Explore the local culture, and try out other sports, like kayaking, scuba diving, or mountain biking. No matter how you fill each day, slowing down over a delicious dinner and round of beer is the best way to refuel for another day of golf. Taking time for new experiences off the course helps old friends reconnect and new friends grow closer, and that’s what makes for the best buddies golf trips.

Planning out the best buddies golf trips takes time, from choosing a date to setting up partners for each competition. Rather than just winging it and hoping everyone gets along, do the prep work to set expectations and plan a variety of games. This way, at the end of the trip, you’ll arrive home with stronger skills and deeper connections with your buddies.

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The Ultimate Buddies Trip

The golf "buddies trip" is a tradition as old as the game itself—a group of friends plan a trip to a golf destination where they will play more golf in a long weekend than they thought humanly possible, and pair it with great food, activities and camaraderie. The golf professionals at the American Club Resort in Kohler, Wis., are used to seeing buddies trips visit their facilities year-round, and they've recently created a service that customizes these trips for the groups of men and women who come to Kohler for this specific purpose. They call the personalized experience "The Ultimate Buddies Trip," and it takes all the usual elements of a buddies trip—from golf and dining to spa services and leisure activities—and adds a bunch of personal event touches that make smaller groups of guests feel like they're on the trip of a lifetime.

"About 75 percent of our Buddies Trips consist of guys, but we get couples and groups of women too," says Dirk Willis, the director of golf operations at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, American Club's two golf clubs, each of which features two courses. "The focus is on a lot of golf and a lot of socializing."

The trips, which are geared for groups of 12 to 20, are built around a minimum of three nights and four rounds of golf. "We can make it as custom as a group wants to," says Willis. "The itinerary is based on a group's needs," he adds, "and an individual golf concierge stays with the group throughout their entire stay."

Guests can choose from any of the courses at the American Club. "The quality and variety of the golf courses offer dramatically different styles and layouts so you don't feel like you're playing the same course every day as you can at some resorts," says Willis. Kohler's four championship courses were all designed by the legendary Pete Dye, and named to Golf Digest's 2015/2016 list of America's Greatest Golf Courses. Adding to the allure, Whistling Straits will be the host site for the Ryder Cup the next time the prestigious international team event is played on American soil, in 2020.

The buddies trip tournament format depends on the make-up of the group. "Ryder Cup-style match play is the most popular format requested," says Willis. "But for mixed groups with varying skill levels, we would suggest a scramble or similar low-pressure competition." Leaderboards, personalized on-course scoreboards, customized cart signs, team shirts and hats all add to the official feel. You can even request name plates for the range, where players have stations set up with their names on display just like the Tour pros do. The most popular add-ons are the caddie bibs with the player's or team name printed on it, says Willis. "People love that. Seeing a caddie standing on the tee carrying your bag with your name on it really gives you the tournament feel."

But the Kohler buddies trips are not always all about golf. "We've done Scotch tastings, excursions to Lambeau Field and tours of the Kohler design studio," says Willis. "We can do anything under the sun, within reason. The key to a successful trip is to keep the group together and keep the party rolling."

Best Buddies-Trip Tournament Format Ever!

By dpb5031 February 18, 2014 in Groups, Tourneys, and Partners Matching

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zachsilverman

@dpb5031 I am organizing an 8 man golf trip to Palm Springs in May. Is there any way you could post your spreadsheet for me to use to organize? This format looks like a great time!! If you can email it to me that would be awesome... [email protected] Thanks so much!

We're cheap golfers... We play for $.10 per hole.. and the 9th and 18th are $.20 .. that makes the whole round $2. The winner of the hole must shoot a bogey or better. If there's a tie at the end of 18, then the winner of the pot is the person that was closest to the hole on the shortest par 3.

1 month later...

I've had some guys reach out and ask me to email them the format document and scoreboard spreadsheet. I'm happy to send it, just shoot me a PM if you want it and I'll get it to you ASAP.

Thanks for sharing. We do a similar thing with our guys We did 8 guys for Scotland but the focus was on individual Stablefords and double bogey was a -1 penalty. Team games were all side bets on that Epic 8 round trip We have another 8 guy trip coming up this April in Lauderdale (while the Masters is on) and are toying with formats . .so thanks again I like the idea of bonus points if you win your two man matches that day. I will send a PM

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[quote name='cardoustie' timestamp='1424293257' post='10980089'] Thanks for sharing. We do a similar thing with our guys We did 8 guys for Scotland but the focus was on individual Stablefords and double bogey was a -1 penalty. Team games were all side bets on that Epic 8 round trip We have another 8 guy trip coming up this April in Lauderdale (while the Masters is on) and are toying with formats . .so thanks again I like the idea of bonus points if you win your two man matches that day. I will send a PM [/quote] Yea, my guys really like the match play element added in, and many times those maatch play points make a difference on daily winners/payouts. This year we had one day decided by 1/2 of a point. I also get a lot of questions as to why I keep the handicaps locked for the match play component, whereas they change/adjust daily for the Stableford. The reason for that is so the four-ball matches stay fair and competitive throughout the trip. I'd hate for teams to face each other in match play and have the outcome be a foregone conclusion. When I first started using this format, I ran it as an individual event. I switched it to teams a few years ago and it has been very well-received. More camaraderie and so forth... There is still a daily individual pay-out and an overall individual winner in the end, so the guy who plays the best throughout the week still gets well-rewarded. The minus 3s seem to create the most drama. No one likes to give any points back, so it adds pressure. Pump a tee shot into the ocean and your grinding like hell to make par on your second ball to avoid triple bogie and -3 points!

11 months later...

Just returned from another great trip utilizing the format detailed above in this thread. It never disappoints!

I've had a bunch of requests for the WORD document describing the format and the EXCEL doc used for the scoreboard. Anyone interested just PM me with an email address and I'll send 'email to you. Also happy to answer any questions!

2 weeks later...

Do you think this format will work for 2, 4 man teams?

Yes, no problem.

We are doing this for our trip to Ireland this weekend. Seems like a great format

WannabePaperTiger

This makes me want to become friends with you. I have to organize almost everything for our group and I still have a few who complain or won't bother keeping a handicap but will want a crazy # of strokes. Kudos to you.

We just returned from a 7 round trip to Ireland with 12 guys. I am "the Committee" and organized the trip, When thinking about the format, I happened upon this thread and found it intriguing, After a few emails with the leader of this thread, I decided to adopt the format. At our pairings dinner a week before we left, I rolled out the format. There was some discussion that it was complicated but the Committee paid no attention, Once we got into it, everyone fell in line and felt it was great. We played it as described and then used the winners after the 6th round to be captains of a Ryder Cup singles format on the final day.

We had an awesome time. Used Celtic Golf to organize the trip. Played Waterville, Old Head, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Royal County Down and Portmarnock. I highly recommend the format and Ireland!

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Ryder Cup Style Golf Trips: A Complete Guide Loaded With Ideas

Written by Graeme Hay | Last Updated: 09/05/2024

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play in the Ryder Cup?

I have now played in six ryder cup format golf trips over the past 15 or so years and I can genuinely say they have been the best experiences of my golfing life.

Who would have thought that a phone call from a friend of my brother would lead me to represent ‘Team Europe’ six times against ‘Team USA’ on some amazing courses on both sides of the Atlantic?

A ryder cup format buddies trip is one of the best golfing events you can play in so in this article I wanted to give you a few ideas for games and formats to consider playing with your friends on your next trip to make it a ryder cup style event.

Copying the Ryder Cup Event Format is Not Always the Best Option

The Ryder Cup itself involves 24 players in total, 12 each from the USA and Europe playing a match play event every couple of years with the venue alternating from one side of the Atlantic to the other.

It is a match play tournament and the official format is as follows:

28 matches played over the course of the three-day tournament with one point going to the winner of each match. A tied match results in half a point being awarded to both sides.
On the first day 4 foursomes or ‘alternate shot’ matches are played over the initial 18 holes with fourballs being played again in 4 matches in the afternoon’s 18 holes.
8 matches then take place on the second day and follow the same format as day 1 – foursomes or ‘alternate shot’ in the morning 18 holes with fourballs in the afternoon.
On the final 3rd day twelve individual singles matches are played with the winning team being the first that reaches the magic number of 14.5 points.
In the event of a drawn match with 14 points each the holder retains the trophy.

So if you are planning to play a ryder cup format game with your friends the official tournament itself clearly gives a itinerary to follow.

The issue with the official format though is that it can often be hard to get exactly 24 friends away to play golf together.

In addition, the foursomes or ‘alternate shot’ format is not necessarily the best one when it comes to groups of friends on a trip with a wide variety of handicaps.

Most buddies golf trips will involve a different number of players.

Sometimes you will have 16, or 18 or 22 and it’s not often you will have the same numbers as the official Ryder Cup.

If you can have 12 a side match on your buddies golf trip then that’s obviously great but if you don’t you can still easily make the event work and there are plenty of ideas you can use or adjust to get a trip that works for all your friends.

Indeed I would recommend, particularly if your group involves a big variety of standards of player that you don’t follow the exact format of the Ryder Cup itself.

And remember if you follow the official ryder cup format exactly 4 members of each side would be missing out on a match for the first two days and you would have to play a total of 90 holes in 3 days

That’s a very heavy workload for a relaxing golf trip away and most importantly does not leave a lot of time for downtime at the all important 19th hole!

Format and Team Ideas for Ryder Cup Style Golf Trips

For a ryder cup style golf event to work you probably need at least 8 players on each side but I have seen these type of events work with as few as 4 players on each side.

Less than 8 friends on your golf trip though and I think you’re probably better thinking of a different style of trip to play.

But if you are able to get 16, or 20 or the ideal 24 of your buddies away on a golfing trip here are some ideas to make it into a ryder cup style event.

With a few adjustments you can even accommodate an odd number of players so don’t think you always need an even number.

It makes things easier for sure but it can still work if you don’t.

And don’t worry if you have a wide variety of standards of players and handicaps.

Or indeed if some of the players don’t even have a handicap.

These format ideas have that specifically in mind to make sure everyone stays involved and enjoys themselves throughout.

They can also be amended to cover any amount of rounds you want to make part of the ryder cup format event.

For example rather than 3 rounds in 3 days you could amend them to work over 4 rounds in 4 days or 5 rounds in 5 days.

Idea 1 – Mix up the formats each day

One of the simplest ways to run your ryder cup style golf trip is to stick to the same format as the Ryder Cup itself – i.e. four player matches for the first two or three days followed by singles on the last day – but simply change the format of the matches themselves.

For example rather than making each match traditional match play where the low net score wins the hole you could make each four player match a scramble.

Scrambles involving 2 person teams working this way:

Each player on the team hits a tee shot.
The team then decides what was the best shot.
The team member whose shot was not taken pick up their balls and move them to within one club length of the spot of the best shot.
Each player then plays again from that spot and again select the best shot and this continues until the team holes out.

This format is great for the less able players on the trip as it lets them ignore their bad shots but also contribute at any point to the team during the round.

Or as we do in our events we play a ‘greensomes’ format on day 1 where each team member drives after which the pair switches to alternate shot.

On day 2 we then just play normal fourball better ball with handicaps where the low net score wins the hole.

Another format option for matches is Nassau which splits the round into 3 different parts.

The first is played over the front nine, the second over the back nine while the third is counted over the full 18 holes.

This game is great because it can be applied to any format – for example match play, stableford, stroke play etc – but most importantly because it is based on the idea that the game’s result cannot be any worse than 3-0.

And that’s a great thing because it allows teams to have a chance throughout the round and not be out things straight away if they get off to a bad start.

To be honest you can choose whatever format you want for all the rounds (best ball, alternate shot, scrambles, shambles, las vegas, stableford, nassau, multiplier, ringers etc).

You could also mix up the formats during a round itself to make things even more interesting.

All can work well and provided you keep the ‘singles’ day – which in my view is an absolute must to make it feel like the real thing – the options are unlimited.

Just make sure everyone is clear on the rules at the outset before they start!

Idea 2 – Team selection

When it came to putting the teams together for our own ryder cup style event the selection of the teams was based simply on ‘Team USA’ vs ‘Team Europe’ so the make up of the teams was already decided.

If on the other hand your golf trip simply consists of a big group of friends and you need to find some way to create the teams in the first place here are a couple of ideas for you to look at:

Use handicap categories/divisions – one way to create a set of teams is based on their handicaps. You want to make sure you have a good mix of standards across the two teams and that one team doesn’t end up being way better than the other. To do this you could divide all the players on the trip into A, B, C & D category players. These categories could be category A – handicaps of 6 or less; category B – handicaps of 7 to 13; category C – handicaps 14 to 21 and category D – 22+ handicaps. Once you have your categories made up the teams could be put together by putting the best player in group A and the highest handicapper in group D in team 1, then the second-best player in group A and second highest handicapped player in group D in team 2 and so on. Or you could draw a player from each of the groups into Team 1 and then draw a player from each of the groups into Team 2 until everyone is allocated to a team. To be honest the categories can be based on any grouping and the key is simply to split up the spread of playing abilities evenly across the group as far as possible.
Draft your teams – Another option to put your teams together is to use use the first round of the trip to create a ‘draft’ system for the team picks. You can play whatever format of round you want for the ‘qualifying round’ but afterwards the ‘draft’ could work in the following way: the player with the best score start becomes the Captain of Team 1 and chooses their first teammate. The next best scoring player then becomes the Captain of Team 2 and chooses the first member of their team and so on and so on until all the players are allocated to the team. Again you will want to make sure there’s a good mix of abilities across both teams but it should work ok as the two captains get alternate picks. Just make sure though nobody is going to get offended at getting picked last. It’s a bit of fun after all and can lead to great stories afterwards if the lowest draft pick then makes the decisive contribution in the overall match!

The best thing about a ryder cup style event is that anybody can play no matter their standard of golf.

You could be friends from rival universities, colleagues from old companies or just a group of golfing buddies who fancy a crack at testing their skills in the most emotionally charged pressure-cooker environment in match play golf.

All that is going to be missing are media celebrities and the galleries of rabid fans!

Idea 3 – Focus on Singles Day

Another idea is to use a scoring system in the first 2 or 3 days to help you create the best match ups for the singles day.

For example if you use a stableford scoring system for the four player matches you can use each pair’s combined points score to determine who wins the match and one point for their side but also use the individual scores to give everyone a scoring average over the first couple or few rounds.

You can then use those individual scores to create the singles pairings – i.e. top Stableford points average on one side vs. top Stableford points average on the other side and so on.

This can really help keep everyone involved and make those who are not playing so well during the trip feel like they still have a chance to contribute to the team because they’re up against someone who is also struggling a bit in the singles.

One other method we have used in the past is to reduce the handicap of players who won their last match by one stroke and increase the handicap of those that lost for the next round.

Some may think this unfair but we found it a great way to make sure a team didn’t run away with the match which isn’t always the most fun.

We have had only one event thankfully which ended up as a runaway for one of the sides and although it was still a great trip we definitely missed a trick by not adjusting the format to stop it being so one sided.

The best ryder cup style trips with friends are always the ones where the result is still in doubt up until those last few matches on the last day!

Idea 4 – Dealing with odd numbered teams

Ideally you are looking for a number of players which when divided by 2 gives you an even number (e.g. 16, 20, 24) so that you can have an even number of four player matches before the singles but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t.

In one of our ryder cup style trips we ended up with 11 a side.

For the first two days therefore we had a spare body after the initial 5 fourball pairings had been drawn.

So what we decided to do was simply have the additional player each day play a singles match even though it wasn’t officially singles day.

It worked great and provided the individual doesn’t have to play singles twice on those days – so that they are essentially only playing singles matches throughout the trip – it still lets you have a great event even though you maybe don’t technically have the ideal number of players.

As long as you have an even number overall you can make it work!

Take Your Venue into Account

When it comes to venues for your ryder cup format golf trip I genuinely think you can’t go wrong wherever you go.

That’s not to say some courses aren’t better than others and it is a big part of the trip if you are lucky enough to get to somewhere which has a great reputation.

Our ryder cup style golf weeks have taken us to some of the best golf courses and resorts in the world – Pinehurst, Turnberry, Valhalla, Kiawah Island, Royal County Down in Northern Ireland and Vilamoura in the Algarve in Portugal – and getting to play these courses has without question provided me with lifetime golfing highlights.

But the best thing about all of these trips has been the friendships made and the venues have simply proven the huge dollop of icing on the cake.

If you have a great bunch of people together and manage to get the format right I’m a firm believer that the venue does not matter.

The event itself and the stories which result will provide top billing.

The one thing I would say on venues though if you are heading to a venue or resort which has a signature course – such as Pinehurst No.2, the Ailsa Course at Turnberry or the Ocean Course at Kiawah Valhalla course which provided the location for the official 1991 Ryder Cup matches – is to organise the event if possible so you get to play the signature course more than once.

Lots of golf trips I know will head to the one course and play all their rounds on the one course but if you are spreading your ryder cup trip events days across a few different courses then I would suggest trying to get two of the rounds on the best course culminating with the singles matches.

Our absolute best events involved having a round earlier in the trip on the main signature course, either as the fourballs or foursomes or even a fun practice day event where the teams got mixed up, before finishing things off the singles matches on that same signature course.

And this was especially important to the group we found if it was somewhere we were going for the first time.

We would always play a couple or more courses across the rest of the trip but there was definitely something special playing the final set of matches on the ‘big course’ of the week having already had a chance to get to know it in less ‘pressurised’ circumstances than the deciding singles!

Finally venues with courses which had loads of different tee options to allow different standards of golfers play from the sets of tees they wanted was another big advantage when it came to putting the matches together.

It allowed everyone no matter their ability to enjoy the course.

The less able players didn’t feel they were having too much of a slog and the better players got to play off the back tees without thinking they couldn’t because it would make the course too hard for everyone else.

5 Top Tips for Any Ryder Cup Format Golf Trip

If you get a chance to play in a ryder cup format event with friends I would take it.

Don’t hesitate.

Just say yes first and work out later how you are going to manage to fit it into your everyday life later.

Trust me it’s one of the best golf trip experiences you can have and having played in 6 of them now on great courses on both sides of the Atlantic, I can honestly say they have given me lifelong friendships and some of my best golfing memories.

To help make sure your event is as much fun, and competitive, for everyone who is playing as possible here are my 5 top tips for any amateur ryder cup style golf event:

Keep the format simple

Whatever format you decide on for your event, and there are lots of options, my advice is to keep things simple.

Too many rules or even games within games can get tough to keep track of and even a bit annoying in my experience.

Lots of events I know run an individual event in addition to the ryder cup style team event.

There’s nothing wrong with that obviously but for me it takes away a bit of the point of the ryder cup style trip which is to play ‘team golf’.

If players are also focused on individual side games it can sometimes take the attention away from the team stuff which can then remove some drama from the overall matches, particularly as they build towards a climax.

There can no better feeling than having your team mates head out on the buggy after their match is finished to watch your match and keep you updated on how the outcome will effect the overall match.

It can really get the nerves going and half the time you think you’re playing in the main ryder cup event itself!

And if you want individual stuff why not just have each Captain nominate their ‘player of the week’ and award them a prize.

When it comes to choosing the format I would always thing about the less able players on the trip first and make sure it works for them.

There’s nothing worse than struggling with your game and then not feeling part of the event.

And that risk is highest for the high handicappers who are not as familiar or comfortable with dealing with loads of rules at the same time as trying to play well.

Choose a format that keeps it competitive

Being on the winning team at a ryder cup style event is a great feeling.

The stories at the 19th hole after the event are sometimes worth the trip alone as the length of the winning putt gets longer and the quality of the shots improve as time passes in the bar!

But ask anyone who has played in our series of matches and they will all agree, whichever side they played on, that the best events are the ones which are the most competitive.

One of our ryder cup trips even ended up going to the last green on the last hole on the last match!

After ‘Team Europe’ holed a 25ft putt across the 18th green to what we thought was to ‘win’ the match ‘Team USA’ followed in with an 18ft putt to steal the trophy with the last shot of the week.

There was pandemonium from both sides, particularly as that final putt secured ‘Team USA’ a 5 point comeback on the final singles day.

Even on the losing side, it provided one, if not the best, memories in our events history and nobody who was there will ever forget it.

And you can imagine how long those putts are now when talked about all these years later!

You want a good competition of course and want to create something which everyone thinks is fair but watch out for formats which can potentially let one side run away with things.

It’s great to win but trust me it’s just not as much fun.

Honesty with handicaps is vital

Not everyone on your trip may have a handicap and other players may have an ‘official handicap’ but having not played for a while are worried they won’t get near to playing to it at the event.

In our experience as long as everyone is honest about their handicaps then things will work out.

We’ve never had the situation where someone has given a doggy handicap which others felt unfair.

In each event we have had two Captains set up the matches before each round splitting their teams up using their knowledge of the playing abilities involved.

Our group has always had a wide range of handicaps with some of the group not really having an official one and having the captains set the match-ups after a bit of debate has always let things even out.

If you’re a bit worried about handicaps also you could think about adding a rule where if a player wins a match their handicap goes down 1 the following day or if they lose their handicap goes up 1 so help ensure things even out over the event.

The night before the trip can often involve a drink or three and hours of arguing over what guys handicaps actually are but if everyone is honest it will work out.

The good news also is with the introduction of World Handicap System in 2020 it will be much easier to handicap players, even from different parts of the world from now on.

So ensuring a balanced set of handicaps on different courses for your next ryder cup style event should now be much more straight forward.

Flexibility is key

We have also found a bit of ‘flexibility’ has always helped on our trips.

For example if a particular match wants to play of a particular set of tees then let them decide amongst themselves.

Or indeed if a group wants to mix up the tees within the same match then what’s the problem if everyone in the match agrees?

Or if its a Stableford format you could let the groups decide if they want to handicap the individual holes or use the final points tally for each team decide the result.

It may not be traditional match play format but all that really matters is who gets the winning ‘point’ from the match.

Just remember to make sure it stays simple though!

Sometimes also we’ve found that some individuals within the event want to make sure they play at least one round against a member of the other team.

We’ve always found that if the captains add a bit of flexibility to accommodate these sorts of things it always leads to some great matches and better overall event.

Make an effort with the gear

This is a much easier thing to do now than it used to be and if you can get matching team ‘outfits’ organised for your event it will undoubtedly add a bit of uniqueness and specialness to your ryder cup format golf trip.

The night before each of our events each of us would be ‘presented’ with our different polo shirts for each of the 3 ‘ryder cup’ days and it was a real thing to look forward to each time.

You could also get trousers or shorts ordered for everyone also if you want to really take things to the next level!

We even ended up getting our own logo designed as we had more events and I’ve still got every one of those shirts from all of the trips I went on.

Walking to the putting green before the matches began and seeing two sets of teams in matching outfits getting ready for ‘battle’ really adds a sense of theatre to things and gets the butterflies going as you start to imagine what it would be like to play in the real thing!

And if you want to add that little bit extra too as we did, and introduce a trophy, you can get the winning team to take that famous ryder cup shot which happens at the end of every set of matches where all the winning players gather around the trophy and touch it.

These ‘extras’ can make the trip a bit more expensive but if you’ve got the time and money to get them organised they are well worth it to help build up the sense of occasion and drama!

Final Thought

Whatever type of match or venue or trip you choose for your ryder cup style trip with your friends though the overriding mantra is always to have a good time.

Having too much to each and drink, often into the small hours of the morning, playing some great golf mixed in with alot of very ‘suspect’ shots and then repeating for as many rounds as you can get away with is really the core of the recipe for these types of events.

They are very special trips, win or lose, if you get a chance to play in one and can make you very lucky as I have been over the years to make some friends for life!

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5 Fun Buddy Golf Trip Games for a Wide Range of Handicaps
5 Fun Buddy Golf Trip Games for a Wide Range of Handicaps
5 Fun Buddy Golf Trip Games for a Wide Range of Handicaps
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5 Fun Buddy Golf Trip Games for a Wide Range of Handicaps
3. Multiplier. Multiplier is another fun game to play on a buddy golf trip where is a real mix of handicaps and abilities. Just like Las Vegas it is played in teams of two and is designed to not let the best players run away with things by using the creative method of multiplying a team's scores together to give the team score.
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1. Skins: Each hole is worth a certain amount of money or points. The player with the lowest score on each hole wins the "skin" for that hole. You can include carry-over value if no one wins a skin on a given hole. 2. Best Ball: Create teams and then each player plays their own ball, and the team takes the lowest score on each hole as the ...
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So to help the next time you need to organise golf games for odd numbers of players here are 11 fun ideas for you to consider whatever the range of handicaps of those involved. 1. 'Lone' Wolf. This is a great game to play with three players in a group. Before the round gets underway the group determines an order of who is going to be the ...
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Low-Ball, Low-Total. A great game for a foursome is low ball, low total. In this game you play two on two, and there are two points up for grabs on every hole. As is implied in the name, one point goes to the team with the individual with the best score. The other goes to the team with the best aggregate score for the duo.
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"It's a marathon, so . . . get ready for a marathon," says Shifflett, a spinal surgeon who has a 5.2 Handicap Index, playing out of Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, Calif. "Getting ready for the ...
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8: Enjoyable Golf Games: Split Sixes / Nines. Here's a fun golf game called Split Sixes or Nines where you can win either 6 or 9 points on each hole. It's pretty simple. You'll play with your full handicap allowance and use strokeplay scoring. In Split Sixes, the player who wins a hole outright gets 4 points.
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Include some "tournament" rounds for prizes (flasks make good trophies). Bring glow-in-the-dark balls and see if you can squeeze in a couple holes of night golf or a postprandial putting contest. Make sure to also leave time for non-golf adventures. Take in a historic site or natural wonder. Visit a winery or distillery.
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Here's Golf Digests 23 best buddy trips. Include competition. Here's where the fun starts. Size up the group and plan some betting competitions . Having a plan and creating a pool of money in advance is a great way to go. Use gg4golf.com to pick some game formats.
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There's a lot on the line when you organize a buddies golf trip. But done right, the memories last forever. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor. 2 of 3. As a group leader, make sure you don't schedule too much driving between rounds. It can be exhausting. 3 of 3. Every group has a dispersion of talent, so plan games and groups accordingly. There's a lot ...
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A buddy golf trip isn't just about the game; it's also a chance to bond with friends: research local attractions, restaurants, and entertainment options for off-course activities. Make dinner reservations, plan a night out, and explore the area's unique offerings. Step 8: Maintain a Competitive Spirit
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Replay rounds are another good cost-saving trick. Many courses will offer a discount if you play the same course twice in a day. Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon charges $295 a round in its summer ...
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One important detail to work out is the game format (ie, captain's choice, best ball, mixed format). Getting the golf games nailed down early can help keep your golf trip running smoothly and make your life easier. Below is the golf trip format I have used for both an 8 man and 12 man trip . . . in both cases we play 5 rounds in 3 days.
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THE BEST GOLF GAMES TO PLAY WITH FOURSOMES Four buddies, or four girlfriends, on a golf course. It's a pretty standard combination. Golf, of course, can be a solitary game. But it's always nice to have a few like-minded friends along for the walk. Over the years, players ambling along on the fairways, or passing the time in the 19th hole post-game, have come up with some imaginative ways ...
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Aggregate Birdies and Deuces: A popular side game for golf trips, keep track of the total birdies (or deuces) for every player on the entire trip. Setup Instructions: Go to Trip > Multi-Round Tournaments > Add New Tournament. Select the rounds to be used. Select "Birdies" or "Deuces" as the format.
Ginella's ultimate buddies golf trips in the U.S.
Buddies-trip must: After 36 holes, or 18 and a round at Bandon Preserve, the 13-hole short course, head to Pacific Dunes and enjoy the Punchbowl putting course. The 18-hole course is set up every day at 2 p.m. Drinks are served to the green by smiling staff, and there are drink holders at every "tee box." 2.
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Shanty Creek Resort: Summit. Bellaire, MI. Shanty Creek Resort is spread across 5,500 acres in northern Michigan and offers five 18-hole courses. The most playable of the five, Summit is a short ...
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Placing a bet on these buddy golf trip games motivates each person to play their best, and improving your overall game is part of what makes up the best golf trips for guys. 4. Mix Up the Competition for Your Golf Trip. Some groups of friends prefer to mix things up with more creative golf trip game ideas, and betting on something like an ugly ...
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Last year on a buddy trip we had some games like this and it was fun, but way too stressful. We played 36 every day and only gambled on the morning 18. ... Used Celtic Golf to organize the trip. Played Waterville, Old Head, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Royal County Down and Portmarnock. I highly recommend the format and Ireland!
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Idea 1 - Mix up the formats each day. One of the simplest ways to run your ryder cup style golf trip is to stick to the same format as the Ryder Cup itself - i.e. four player matches for the first two or three days followed by singles on the last day - but simply change the format of the matches themselves. For example rather than making ...
My Buddies Trip
Plan your golf trip like never before. MyBuddiesTrip is an online golf travel planning company, dedicated to helping golfers build top end golf experiences, without paying top end dollars. A one stop shop where you can search and book your flights, stays, car rental, tee times and more.