Golf Card Game

Golf card game rules (6-card golf)

Golf is a card game for 2 or more players where you try to get the lowest score, like in the sport. A game is played over 9 holes (deals), and the player with the lowest total wins. This page plays 6-card golf, with 9-card golf in Settings.

1. Each player gets 6 cards face down in 2 rows of 3 and turns any 2 of them face up. The top card of the deck starts the discard pile.
2. On your turn, draw the top card of the deck or take the top discard, and swap it for one of your cards, face up or face down. The old card goes face up on the discard pile. A card drawn from the deck can be discarded instead; a card taken from the discard pile must be swapped in.
3. When a player has all 6 cards face up, the hole ends. Everyone turns up their remaining cards and the hole is scored. After 9 holes, the lowest total wins.

Scoring

Example: the hand below scores 11.

• Golf card game rulesHow to play and score, with pictures and a score calculator. 6, 9 and 4 cards

The last turn and 9-card golf

By default, when a player turns up their last card, everyone else gets one more turn; “Ends now” in Settings ends the hole at once, as in the standard rules. “9 cards” plays 9-card golf, where only three of a kind in a column scores 0. Jokers, other house rules and 4-card golf are on the rules page.

Tips

• Go for pairs: a column with two cards of the same rank scores 0, even two Queens. If you hold a face-up 9, a 9 from the discard pile is worth taking.
• Kings and 2s are gold: a King is 0 and a 2 is −2. Swap them in for face-down cards early, and never give them away.
• Know when to turn up your last card: turning up your last card ends the hole after one more turn for everyone else, so do it when your score is lower than what the others are showing. If you are behind, swap into a face-up card instead and keep the hole going.
• Watch what you discard: the next player can take it. Don't throw away a card that pairs with one of their face-up cards, or a King or 2.

How to play on this page

• You play against 1 to 3 computer players (2 players by default), or with friends online. Tap 2 of your cards to turn them up, then on your turn tap the deck or the discard pile. The drawn card appears in the middle; tap one of your cards to swap it in, or tap the discard pile to throw it away (a card taken from the pile can be put back instead).
• Columns that score 0 get a green ring and a “0” mark. Above your cards you see the points you are showing and your total. The bar in the middle tells you what to do next.
• Settings (the “2 players” button): players, 6 or 9 cards, 9, 1 or 18 holes, and whether the others get one more turn after someone turns up their last card. Computer strength: Easy, Normal or Hard. Your game is saved, so you can close the page and continue later.
• Play with friends online: press “Play a friend”, create a link and send it. Friends who open it play from their own phones or computers, with no sign-up. 2 to 4 players; any empty seat goes to the computer. The game uses your current settings (9 cards with 3 or more players is limited to 9 holes).
• Keyboard: Tab to your cards, arrow keys to move, Enter to choose, D to draw from the deck, T for the discard pile.