Rules for Golf

Golf is a relaxed card game where the goal is to score as few points as possible, just like in the sport. Each player has a layout of cards in front of them and tries to swap in lower-value cards by drawing and discarding. The scores from each round represent the strokes on a hole, and you typically play 9 or 18 rounds. The player with the lowest total score wins.

Golf is a good fit for cabin trips, camping, or a quiet evening at home. It's easy to learn and offers more strategy than it first appears.

Golf can be played as a 4-card or 6-card variant. This guide covers both.

4-Card Golf:

• A standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
• 2–8 players (best with 3–4)
• Pen and paper for scorekeeping

6-Card Golf:

• A standard 52-card deck plus 2 jokers
• 2–4 players with one deck, 5–8 players with two decks
• Pen and paper for scorekeeping

Suit (♠️♦️♣️♥️) does not matter in Golf. Cards score as follows:

In 6-Card Golf: if two cards of equal rank are in the same column, the entire column scores 0 points, even if the matching cards are 2s.

The dealer deals 4 cards to each player, one at a time. The cards are placed face down in a 2×2 grid in front of the player.

The remaining cards form a face-down draw pile in the centre of the table. The top card is flipped face up next to it to start the discard pile.

Before play begins, each player may peek at their two nearest cards without showing them to anyone else. Remember what you saw. You won't be allowed to look again until the round ends.

The dealer deals 6 cards to each player, one at a time. The cards are placed face down in a grid of 2 rows and 3 columns in front of the player, like this:

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The remaining cards form a face-down draw pile in the centre of the table. The top card is flipped face up to start the discard pile.

Before play begins, each player turns any two of their cards face up. The rest stay hidden.

The player to the dealer's left goes first, and play proceeds clockwise.

On your turn, do one of the following:

1. Draw a card from either the draw pile or the discard pile.
2. Look at the card you drew. Now choose:
   • Swap it with one of the cards in your grid. Place the old card face up on the discard pile.
   • Discard it straight to the discard pile if you don't want it (only if you drew from the draw pile).

Important: If you take a card from the discard pile, you must use it to replace one of your grid cards. You cannot put it back.

When you replace a face-down card, you do so blindly. You don't get to peek at it first.

4-Card Golf: If you think you have the lowest score, you may use your turn to knock on the table instead of drawing. Each other player then gets one more turn, and the round ends. All cards are flipped face up and scored.

6-Card Golf: Whenever you swap in a new card, it is placed face up. The round ends when all of one player's cards are face up. Each other player gets one more turn before scoring.

After scoring, collect all the cards, shuffle, and the next player becomes the dealer for the next round.

When a round ends, all players flip their cards face up and calculate their score.

In 6-Card Golf: two matching cards in the same column score 0 for that column. This is the key to keeping your score low.

Record each player's score for the round. A full game is typically 9 rounds (9 holes). For a longer game, play 18 holes.

Alternative: Play until someone reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest total score wins.

The dealer rotates clockwise each round.

Golf mixes memory, luck, and tactics. Some tips:

• Remember your cards. In 4-Card Golf you only see two cards at the start. Try to memorize their positions and values.
• Kings are golden. Kings score 0 points, so always keep them.
• Hunt for pairs in 6-Card Golf. Two matching cards in the same column score 0. Aim for pairs rather than just low cards.
• Watch the discard pile. Always check whether the top card is useful before drawing from the pile.
• Don't knock too early. In 4-Card Golf, wait until you're fairly sure you have the lowest score.
• Aces are valuable. Aces score only 1 point and are nearly as good as Kings.

Popular variants to try:

• Pair bonus (4-card): Two matching cards in your layout score 0, just like in the 6-card version.
• Knock penalty: If you knock but don't have the lowest score, add 10 penalty points.
• Knock reward: If you knock and have the lowest score, you score 0 for the round.
• Jokers in 4-card: Add two jokers worth −5 points each.
• Peeking rules: Some play that you may peek at your own cards at any time, but each peek costs 1 penalty point.
• Four of a kind (6-card): Four matching cards across two columns can score −10 points.

Agree on house rules before you start.