- Players
- 2–6
- Time
- 20 min (9 holes)
- You need
- 1 deck; 2 decks for 4+
- To win
- Lowest total score
Golf card game rules
Setup
- One standard deck for two or three players; two decks shuffled together for four or more.
- Deal six cards face down to each player. Lay them out in two rows of three without looking.
- Put the rest of the deck face down as the stock and turn the top card up to start the discard pile.
- Each player turns any two of their cards face up.
Your turn
- Take the discard and swap it for any of your six cards, face up or face down. The card you replace goes face up on the discard pile.
- Or draw from the stock. Swap it for one of your cards, or put it straight on the discard pile.
You always have six cards in front of you. Cards you swap in are always face up.
End of a hole
When one player has all six cards face up, every other player gets one more turn. Then everyone turns their cards over and scores the hole.
Scoring
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| Two | −2 |
| Three to ten | Face value |
| Jack, queen | 10 |
| King | 0 |
| A pair of the same rank in one column | 0 for the column |
Play nine holes. The lowest total wins.
Strategy
- Kings and twos are gold: grab them from the discard pile whenever you see them.
- Build pairs in columns. Two queens in the same column score 0, as good as two kings.
- Don't rush to turn your last card. If your visible score is high, ending the hole hands the win to someone else.
- Watch the discard pile: don't throw away a card the next player needs for a pair.
Popular variations
- Four-card Golf: a 2×2 grid, turning up two cards at the start.
- Nine-card Golf: a 3×3 grid; three of a kind in a row or column scores 0.
- Jokers: add two jokers worth −2 or −5.
- Knocking: instead of turning all cards up, a player knocks to start the last round.
More classic games: play Go Fish, or learn Speed and Spoons.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the Golf card game?
Each player has six face-down cards in two rows of three and turns two of them up. On your turn, take the top discard or draw from the stock, and swap it for one of your cards (or throw the drawn card away). When someone has all six cards face up, everyone else gets one more turn. Add up the cards: lowest score wins the hole, and the lowest total after nine holes wins.
How do you score Golf?
Aces are 1, twos are minus 2, three to ten are face value, jacks and queens are 10 and kings are 0. Two cards of the same rank in the same column cancel out and score 0.
How many cards do you get in Golf?
Six in the standard game, laid out in two rows of three. Four-card and nine-card versions are also popular.
How many players can play Golf?
Two to six or more. With four or more players, shuffle two decks together.
How many holes are in a game?
Nine is standard, like a round of golf. Play 18 for a long game, or three for a quick one.
Can you play Golf online against the computer?
Yes, right here: play against one to three computer players, free, with no download or sign-up.