HIGH LOW: Each team's low score is matched against the other team's low score for 1 point and likewise for the two high scores. As you can see, there

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1 GOLF GAMES Wolf Also called "Wolfman", Wolf is a three-player game. The golfer with the middle-distance drive, regardless of where it lands, is the "wolf". His opponents are the "hunters". The wolf must match twice his net score on the hole against the combined net scores of the hunters. If the amount wagered on each hole is a dollar, the wolf puts up two dollars against one each for the hunters. If the wolf wins, he collects two dollars, whereas the hunters get only one each. On par-three holes, the wolf is the second-closest to the pin after the first shot. If there's a tie, players decide whether the stakes carry to the next hole. Any amount carried over goes to the next winning "team", whether it's the wolf or the hunters. Carryovers make Wolf a more interesting game. Large pots make it advantageous to be the wolf, because the wolf doesn't split the pot. Thus, strategy off the tee becomes important, and players will jockey to become the wolf. Honor off the tee is established by the net score on the previous hole. Play with full handicaps Nassau This is the most popular gambling game in golf today so you probably already know how it goes. You may want to read on for some possible variations to the basic "Nassau". If you don't know this game, the next time someone says, " ", they are referring to a 2 dollar nassau. A Nassau is really three games in one. The front nine being one, the back nine being the second and the entire 18 being the third. ' ' would mean (in my circle of friends, anyway) a two dollar wager on the front nine, a two dollar wager on the back nine and a third, two dollar wager on the entire 18. If you are playing with strangers you want to ensure that everyone understands exactly what the wagers are before starting. Nassaus can be played between two players or teams of two or more players. 'Match Play' is the most popular method for keeping score. Match play means that the score is kept based only on whether holes are won or lost with no consideration given to the winning margin on each hole. Players' net scores (after handicap) are generally used and the most popular format in foursomes is ' Best Ball'. This means that each team's better net score on each hole is used against the opposing team's better score. A team which has won 2 holes and lost 1 hole is said to be "1 up". A team wins one of the three wagers when they are more holes up than there are holes remaining on the 9 or 18. Variations The first variation that a lot of golfers use to add spice to their Nassau games is "The Press". Groups that allow "Pressing" give the team that is down on one of the wagers the option of starting a new wager from the time of the press, to the end of the original bet, for the same stakes as the original wager. For example, if a team is 2 holes down on the 7th Tee, they may choose to "Press" the front 9 wager. This means a new wager is started on the 7th Tee for the same amount as the front 9 wager and will also finish on the 9th hole (it will be a 3 hole match). Both matches carry on until the ninth hole is over. If your group doesn't already allow pressing you should set some guidelines for when pressing will be allowed. Here are some suggestions: Presses allowed only on the 9th or 18th Tees. Presses only allowed when a team has already won the original wager. Presses only allowed when a team is down by at least 2 holes. Pressing allowed any time a team that is down feels like it. This format requires some strategy as well as some courage. Some hyper-aggressive groups allow pressing at any time and for any amount a team is losing. This format can result in a serious escalation of the stakes. If you're not familiar with exponential growth you should look it up before you agree to this last format with strangers!!! Just so you know, there aren't any laws that require you to accept a press if you are ahead in a match but it is a widely held view that anyone who declines a press is 'UN-COOL'!!! Scoring Variations

2 HIGH LOW: Each team's low score is matched against the other team's low score for 1 point and likewise for the two high scores. As you can see, there are two points up for grabs on each hole and the team with more points is in the lead. TOTAL SCORE : Each team adds their two scores together and the total is used in a match play format. TIE BREAKER : This is close to Best Ball with an interesting twist. Each team uses their better score unless those scores tie. In the case of a tie, each teams' high score is used in a tie-breake Vegas Games The Vegas Game is another alternative for your foursome. You must first split into two teams. The game will be played by combining the two net scores on each team to make one two-digit number. For example, if Player A makes a net 4 and his partner makes a net 5, the scores would be combined (low number first) and their team score would be 45. If the other team's score was 47 (a net 4 and a net 7) the first team would win the hole by two points. The rare time when a player makes a net 10 or higher, the high number goes first when combining the scores. The only other decision will be how much each point will be worth. Keep in mind that if one team was to make two net 3's and the other team makes two net 5's, that would be a difference of 22 points. In other words you may want to be conservative with your wagering the first time you play this game. Variations If both players on a team fail to make Net Par or better, that team's high score automatically goes first. You can use Net Bogey or higher if this fits your group better. If it does, you may want to alter your handicaps!!! If a player makes birdie or better, the other team's high score automatically goes first. If you like pressure putts, these variations are right up your alley!! Snake The snake game revolves around three putting. The player who has three putted most recently in the round has "The Snake". You can play the game a variety of ways. As a side bet such as having the player who has the snake at the end of the round buy everyone a drink or pay each other player a set amount. As a bigger game whereby the holder of the snake pays each other player a set amount for every hole that he possesses the snake. For example : If Bob three putts the second green and nobody else three putts until the eighth green, Bob would owe each other player 6 betting units. If Bob was to three putt again you could play that the betting units would double. You can think up all kinds of variations to this theme that will be loads of fun Tournament Formats Medal Play Also known as Stroke Play. Medal Play is the most basic format for golf tournaments. Contestants simply play 18 holes and prizes go to players with the best gross scores and net scores. Use handicaps from % - preferably on the lower side to prevent sandbagging. Medal Play is the most serious and least forgiving tournament format (no gimmies!), so it's often used for club championships. Scramble

3 In a Scramble, each foursome is a team competing against all other foursomes. Each player in the group drives off the tee, then all four golfers play their second shorts from the best-driven ball. All then play their third shots from the best second ball, and so on. Each player in a foursome must have at least four of their drives used by the group. Don't wait until the end! Handicaps are not used during play, but they are used to create teams. All players should split into four handicap groups (lowest to highest). Use four hats, and pick a player from each hat to form a team. "A" and "B" players should tee off from the back markers. A Scramble usually calls for a shotgun start, preceded by lunch or followed by dinner. Seven-oreight-under is usually the score to beat. Flag Tournament In a Flag Tournament, each player receives a certain number of strokes - usually the course par plus two-thirds of the player's full handicap. So, a 15-handicapper on a par-72 course gets 82 strokes. He then plays 82 shots and stops, planting a flag on the spot where his 82nd shot landed. The flags should be provided on the first tee by the tournament director. Each participant should have his name taped to his flag. This way, as players make their way through the back nine, they can see where others bit the dust. If a player finishes all 18 holes before using his total strokes, he should either keep playing until he's out of strokes or stop. Under the first option, the winner is the player who plants his flag farthest on the course. Under the second, the winner is whoever has the most strokes remaining after 18 holes. The reason two-thirds handicap is used, though, is so most people will finish somewhere inside of regulation. One additional rule: You can't plant a flag past a hole that you haven't completed. In other words, if you're five feet short of a green with one stroke left, you can't blast the ball with your 2-iron onto the next fairway. Also, if the farthest two players both finish on the same green, the winner is the golfer closer to the hole. A flag tournament is essentially Stroke Play with a handicap, but the twist makes it a little more interesting. The USGA notes, appropriately, that American flags should never be used as markers. Pink Ball To play Pink Ball, use teams of four. Each foursome has a hideous, bright pink ball that rotates among players. (Of course, the ball can be any color, but the more obnoxious, the better.) Player 1 uses it on the first hole, player 2 on the second, and so on. Take the best two net scores on each hole and add them. Whoever has the pink ball on a given hole must contribute one of the two scores. One variation: The golfer with the pink ball is automatically disqualified if he loses it. This is perhaps too harsh, so I don't recommend it. Players should have a reason to stay interested, after all. Another, less harsh, variation: Keep the overall net score for the pink ball separately, and give a prize to the team with the best pink ball score. If a team loses the pink ball, it's out. This makes for considerable camaraderie (and tension) if you're playing on a course with a lot of water. Trouble Also known as "Disaster". Trouble is a point game in which your actual score isn't relevant, at least not directly. The goal is to collect the least number of "trouble points" possible during a round.

4 Players shoot for a set amount per point, often a dollar. Thus, a player accumulating three trouble points owes each of his opponents three dollars. Points are assigned as follows:

5 score, the hole is tied and nobody wins the cash. When the next hole begins everyone is back in the running. A dollar value is placed on each hole and this value can remain the same or can rise as the round goes on. For example you may decide that every hole will be worth $1.00 or you may decide that holes 1-6 will be worth $1.00, holes 7-12 will be worth $2.00 and holes will be worth $3.00. These dollar values are completely up to the players but should be made clear before the round begins. Skins works best in a group of players with similar skill levels. If this describes your group then go ahead and use the gross scores (without handicaps) to determine if a hole has been won. If the handicaps in your group are spread out, you will most likely want to use your net scores (using handicaps). You may want to use half of everyone's handicap as this will limit any advantage a high handicapper might have. VARIATIONS Carry-Overs: A Carry-Over means that when a hole is tied, the dollar value for that hole is added to the value of the next hole. Carry-overs may happen several holes in a row and result in one hole being worth a considerable sum. If this is appealing to your group, go for it. If not, you can decide that any hole that is tied will be forgotten. When deciding whether to play carry-overs, consider the chance of someone losing all 18 skins and if this will be overly "painful" to one of you. The Throne : Here is a variation that is designed to keep someone who plays 17 bad holes from winning all the cash with that one good hole. I call it the "THRONE GAME". All of the above rules apply. The difference is when one of the players wins a hole outright, they don't win a skin, they sit on the "THRONE". Only the player on the throne can win a skin or skins by winning another hole. To keep the throne that player must have the lowest score on the next hole, either by themselves or as part of a tie. If two different players tie for low score on the next hole, no one has the throne. If one of the others wins the next hole outright, they claim the throne. You have probably guessed by now that there aren't too many skins won in this format but you can be sure that anyone who does win a skin has really earned i Bridge Just like the card game, Bridge on the golf course involves bidding. Teams will alternate having the opening bid on the tee. On the tee, the team with the opening bid will make a bid on what their total team score will be on that hole. The other team can either accept the bid, accept the bid and double the bet or make a lower bid on their own team score. After a bid has been accepted, you play the hole. If the team whose bid was accepted equals or betters their bid, they win. If they don't, the other team wins. You will need to set what each hole will be worth. You can add variations like doubling the bet for each stroke a team is above or below their bid. For example : If a team bids 10 and their total is 9, the bet would be doubled. If their total is 8, the bet would be quadrupled... The same would go for totals greater than the bid. The real fun of this game is the strategy of the bidding, as well as playing 18 little games. Six Point Game The "Six Point Game" is designed for threesomes. As the name suggests, you and your two playing partners will be competing for six points on each hole. There will always be six points awarded on each hole. Decide how much each point will be worth. A typical wager is 25 per point which will rarely cost a player who plays poorly more than $15. The points are awarded as follows :

6 Winning a hole outright is worth 4 points. Tying for second on a hole is worth 1 point each. Finishing second on a hole outright is worth 2 points. Finishing last on a hole on your own is worth 0 points. Tying for first on a hole with one other player is worth 3 points. Tying for first on a hole with the other two players is worth 2 points. The potential point breakdowns are as follows; You can add points to players' totals with such things as birdies, eagles, sandies, chip - ins, putts longer than the flagstick and anything else your group would like. You can use full handicaps in this game and it's perfect when one of your foursome gets unavoidably detained. Nine Point Game The "Nine Point Game" is designed for groups of four and gives you a nice alternative if the old fourball is a little stale. Points are awarded on each hole and must add up to nine. Points are awarded as follows: 5 points for winning a hole outright. 4 points each if two people tie for low score on a hole. 3 points each if three people tie for low score. 3 points if a player is second outright. 2 points each if two people tie for second low score. 2 points each if all four players tie for low score. 1 point if a player is third outright or tied for third. I know, I know. If two people tie for third it will make the point total 10. It's just that "The Nine Point except when two people tie for third which makes it a Ten Point Game" isn't quite as catchy!!! Possible point combinations : * Two people tied for third * Two people tied for third * In the rare occurrence of a 4-way tie. * When two people tie for third, the points will add up to ten. You can also make birdies, eagles, sandies, chip-ins and anything else your group would like worth points as well Cuts and Snips Cuts and Snips is a great game for groups of two or more golfers who are looking to improve their all around games. Points are awarded for different parts of the game and the player who accumulates the most points wins. A dollar value is placed on each point. You can pay everyone with more points than you or just the winner. Points are awarded as follows : 1 point for hitting the fairway off the tee. 1 point for hitting a Par 5 fairway with your second shot. 1 point for hitting a green in regulation (2 shots less than the par) 2 points for hitting a green in less than regulation (2 shots on a par 5) 1 point for a par 2 points for a birdie 4 points for an eagle 1 point for a sand save -1 point for a 3 Putt -2 points for a 4 Putt Anything else you want to add. This game is great if you want to focus on each shot and it will help you keep track of the different parts of your game. This knowledge can then be used to most effectively allocate practice time One Club One club is as simple as it sounds. You only get to use one club. Some people play that you can take along a putter as well. That is up to each group. This is a fun game if you want to play a quick nine. Generally speaking, you can play nine holes in under an hour and you get to learn different shots. It is widely known that Seve Ballesteros learned to play golf with only a 4 - iron. It is also widely believed that he is one of the best shot makers to ever live. This game can be lots of fun and is also good for your game. Choose your club carefully being sure to consider which holes will be played

7 This is a brief overview of the materials that are available. There is a variety of training, software and management tools available from GEMA, the Golf Event Managers Association. For additional information on staff training and management and golf course marketing, please contact: Golf Event Managers Association Tel: Fax: GEMA Help Line: ("Par/Par") info@golfeventmanagers.com