The Best Golf Betting Game For Exactly 3 Players

Picture this. You show up at the first tee on a Saturday morning, and the fourth player in your group has cancelled with a bad back. Now it is just three of you, and half the usual games on your list suddenly make no sense. Nassau is built for two. Vegas needs teams. Sixes falls apart completely.

I have been in that exact spot more times than I can count, and after years of trial and error, one game stands head and shoulders above the rest. Let's walk through it, along with a few solid backups.

Why Three Players Make Golf Betting Tricky?

Most popular golf betting games assume an even number of players. Two against two, or one against one, keeps the math clean and the sides balanced. Add a third golfer and you have an odd man out on almost every format. That awkward gap is exactly why so many threesomes end up playing a boring, unstructured round with nothing on the line.

The Odd Number Problem

When there are three players, you cannot split into equal teams. Someone always sits alone while two others pair up, and that rarely feels fair. A game that works for three has to treat everyone as an individual and reward each person on every hole.

When Partners Don't Work?

Team formats like Vegas, Sixes and best ball lean heavily on partner swaps. With three players, those swaps create lopsided matchups where one golfer carries all the pressure. It is more frustrating than fun, so individual scoring games are your friend here.

Six Points: The Best Golf Betting Game For Exactly 3 Players

Six Points, sometimes called Chicago or Three-Man Points in different clubs, was practically designed for a threesome. Six points are up for grabs on every hole, and they are split based on how each player scores. It rewards good play, softens bad holes, and keeps all three golfers involved until the last green. If you only learn one game for a trio, make it this one. Some groups prefer a 9 point game, which pays five, three and one on each hole, but the idea behind it is exactly the same.

How the Scoring Works?

On each hole, the lowest score earns four points, the middle score earns two, and the highest score earns zero. If two players tie for low, they get three points each and the third gets nothing. If two tie for high, the low player gets four and the others get one each. A three-way tie gives everyone two.

A Real Hole Example

Say you are on a par four. Mike makes par, Dev makes bogey, and you make a double bogey. Mike takes four points, Dev takes two, and you walk away with none. On the next hole, you and Dev both birdie while Mike makes par. You each take three, and Mike gets zero. It adds up fast.

Why It Beats Everything Else?

Here is the thing. Because a bad hole costs you only a few points, you are never out of the match. A blow-up on the third hole will not ruin your day. That keeps the mood light, the banter flowing, and the stakes meaningful for all eighteen holes.

Handicaps and Fairness

If your group has different skill levels, use net scores. Subtract strokes on the hardest holes according to the scorecard handicap ranking, then compare. A 20 handicapper and a scratch player can then compete on level terms, which makes the whole round more entertaining for everyone involved.

Other Great Three-Player Betting Games

Six Points is my top pick, but it is not the only option. Some groups prefer a different flavor, and that is perfectly fine. Depending on whether you like drama, consistency or a little chaos, there is a format that will suit your trio. Here are the best alternatives I have seen work on real courses, with real friends, and real bragging rights at stake.

Skins

Each hole is worth one skin, and the player with the outright lowest score wins it. If two players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole. A big carryover on the seventeenth can swing the entire round, which is why Skins is so dramatic with three players.

Bingo Bango Bongo

Three points are awarded on every hole: one for the first ball on the green, one for the closest to the pin once everyone is on, and one for the first ball in the cup. Because it rewards position rather than raw score, even a high handicapper can win.

Three-Way Nassau

A classic Nassau splits the round into front nine, back nine and overall eighteen. With three players, each segment pays out to the best score, and ties are pushed. It is simple, familiar and easy to explain to a guest who joins you at the last minute.

Wolf, With a Twist

Traditional Wolf needs four players, but a three-man version still works. The wolf tees off first and can choose one partner after seeing a drive, or go alone for double points. It adds strategy and a dash of table talk, though it takes a few holes to learn.

Quick Comparison of 3-Player Golf Betting Games

Not sure which format fits your group? This quick list should help you decide before you reach the first tee.

Six Points: Best overall. Easy scoring, fair for all skill levels, and exciting to the end.

Skins: Best for big swings and high drama. Carryovers create huge payouts.

Bingo Bango Bongo: Best for mixed skill groups. Great for high handicappers.

Three-Way Nassau: Best for traditionalists. Familiar and quick to set up.

Three-Man Wolf: Best for strategy lovers who enjoy a little mind game.

Setting Stakes and Keeping It Friendly

A good betting game should make the round more fun, not more stressful. The goal is friendly competition, not a lost paycheck. Agree on the rules and stakes before anyone hits a tee shot, and you will avoid the arguments that can sour a perfectly good Saturday. A little preparation goes a very long way when money is involved, even small money.

Choose Stakes Everyone Can Afford

Pick a number that nobody will lose sleep over. A dollar per point or five dollars per nine is plenty for most groups. If the loser stops enjoying the round because of the money, the stakes are too high.

Keep a Simple Scorecard

Write the points after each hole, not at the end. Use the back of the card or a notes app on your phone. Disputes almost always come from fuzzy memory, so a clear running tally keeps everyone honest and the mood relaxed.

Tips to Win More at Six Points

After years of playing this format, a few habits have made a real difference in my results. None of them require a perfect swing. They mostly come down to smart decisions and staying calm when things go sideways.

Play for the middle two points. Avoiding the zero is just as valuable as grabbing the four.

Stay patient after a bad hole. Because the penalty is small, one mistake does not define your round.

Know your short game. Most holes are decided by who gets up and down the best.

Watch your opponents. If both are in trouble, a safe par might earn you the full four points.

Use your handicap strokes wisely. Those extra shots on hard holes are free points.

Conclusion

When you are stuck with exactly three golfers, the right game turns an awkward group into one of the best rounds of the season. Six Points is my first choice because it is fair, simple and exciting from the first hole to the last putt. Skins, Bingo Bango Bongo and Nassau all make fine alternatives if your group prefers a different style.

Next time a fourth player drops out, do not panic. Grab a pencil, explain the six points, and enjoy the friendly rivalry. Chances are, your group will ask to play it again the very next weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best golf betting game for 3 players?

Six Points is widely considered the best choice. It gives out six points on every hole, rewards good scores, and keeps all three players competitive throughout the round. It is easy to learn and works well even with mixed skill levels.

2. How does Six Points work in golf?

On each hole, the lowest score gets four points, the middle gets two, and the highest gets zero. Ties split the points fairly. At the end of the round, the player with the most points wins, and bets are settled by the point difference.

3. Can you play Nassau with three players?

Yes. You can play a three-way Nassau where the best score wins the front nine, back nine and overall eighteen. Ties are pushed, so the bet carries or is simply cancelled depending on what your group agrees on beforehand.

4. Is Skins a good game for three golfers?

Skins works well for three players because outright wins are more common than in bigger groups. Carryovers on tied holes can create large payoffs late in the round, which makes the finish exciting for everyone.

5. How do handicaps work in 3-player betting games?

Use net scores by subtracting handicap strokes on the hardest holes according to the scorecard. Each player then compares their net score to the others on that hole. This keeps the competition fair when skill levels vary widely within your group.

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