Golf Card Game Rules
A card game for 2 or more players where the lowest score wins, just like the sport.
Play golf online (free)How to play 6-card golf
turn up any 2
for one of yours
scores 0
the hole. Low wins
Your turn: draw a card and swap it in
You can throw away a card from the deck, but not one from the discard pile.
A hole ends when a player has all cards face up
On this site, the others get one more turn first (“Ends now” in Settings stops at once).
Scoring: Kings 0, 2s −2, column pairs 0
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 | −2 |
| 3 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen | 10 |
| King | 0 |
| Same rank in a column | 0 for that column, even two 2s |
Add up the 3 columns. After 9 holes, the lowest total wins.
Score calculator
Set your cards to see each column and the total.
Tap a card to change it
Col 15Col 20Col 37
Total: 12
9-card golf: only three of a kind in a column scores 0
Play with two decks. The hole ends as soon as one player has all 9 face up.
4-card golf: keep your cards face down, and knock
For 3 to 7 players. The golf page plays 6-card and 9-card golf.
House rules
| Two 2s | Score −4 instead of 0 |
|---|---|
| Jokers | −2 (and 2s +2), or −5, −3 or 0 |
| Four of a kind | −10 for two matching columns, −20 for a 2×2 block |
| Starting cards | Turn up 2 in the same column, or in different ones |
| 9 cards | Rows and diagonals of three score 0; a 2×2 block −25 |
| Queen = 12 | In some 9-card games |
| 18 holes | Instead of 9 |
FAQ
- How many players can play golf?
- 2 or more, with a second deck from 5 (or 4) players. This site plays 2 to 4.
- How many cards do you deal?
- 6 each in 2 rows of 3. 9-card golf deals 9, and 4-card golf deals 4.
- How many points is a King?
- 0. Jacks and Queens are 10, Aces 1, and 2s −2 (+2 in 4-card golf).
- Do two 2s in a column score 0 or −4?
- 0 in the Bicycle rules, and on this site. Some groups keep them at −4.
- Who goes first?
- The player to the dealer’s left, then play goes clockwise.
- Can I take the top discard and throw it away?
- No. A discard you take must be swapped in.
- Do I look at a face-down card before swapping it?
- No. You see it only when it goes face up on the discard pile.
- What if the deck runs out?
- On this site, the discard pile (except its top card) is shuffled into a new deck.
- Is there another way to start?
- Some groups turn no cards up, and each player looks once at the 3 cards nearest them.
- Can I use Jokers on this site?
- No. The game on this site has no Jokers.
- How many decks for 9-card golf?
- At least two (some rules use one for up to 3 players). This site uses two with 4 players.
- What can I do on a turn in 4-card golf?
- Draw and swap face down (or discard it), take the discard and use it, or knock.
- Can I peek in 4-card golf?
- If you look at a face-down card during the hole, you must discard it.
- Is this the same as Golf solitaire?
- No. Golf solitaire is a one-player game where you clear cards from a layout onto a pile.
- What else is golf called?
- Polish Polka. Also Turtle (4 cards), Hara Kiri (6) and Crazy Nines or Nines (9).
