Page type: Group-size game guide
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Best first choice
Skins is the best first choice for six players. Everyone plays an individual ball and one shared hole-by-hole result avoids trying to coordinate three simultaneous matches. It also scales cleanly to six, provided the group agrees whether scores are gross or a house-rule net version, how tied holes carry forward and what each dollar unit means.
What to agree before play
Do not present net skins as a WHS-recommended format: the USGA says WHS has no equitable method or recommendation for net-skins handicaps Wolf rotations need a written turn order and value for lone-Wolf decisions; six players do not automatically produce a standard recognised competition format Six players can make Bingo Bango Bongo slow if order of play and point ownership are not agreed, while three separate Nassaus create more scorekeeping and settlement than one shared game
Table
| Game or arrangement | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Gross or house-rule net skins | Six players keep one shared pot, with ties carrying skins forward; use written carryover and settlement rules |
| Wolf rotation | A six-player Wolf is a practical rotating-team arrangement, but agree how the six Wolf turns and any lone-Wolf value work before play |
| Bingo Bango Bongo | Three points per hole reward first on the green, closest to the pin and first holed, so weaker players can compete for points without winning the hole |
| Three two-player Nassaus | Pair the six players into three head-to-head matches, each with front-nine, back-nine and overall bets; this is an arrangement of Nassaus rather than a new format |
| Six-player points side game | Keep an agreed points table and settle only at the end, making the scoring a house rule rather than an official Rules of Golf format |
Worked example
Illustrative gross-skins house rule: six players each contribute $2 for every skin, so one outright skin is worth $12. Hole 1 is tied, so one skin carries; hole 2 is tied again, so three skins are carried to hole 3. Alex is the outright low scorer on hole 3, collects 3 x 6 x $2 = $36, and the group resets the carryover to zero. This is an editorial example, not historical player data or a WHS recommendation.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.1 and Rule 3.2; WHS Appendix C (formal formats only)
Sources: www.usga.org , www.usga.org , www.randa.org , whygolf.com
Common questions
What is the simplest betting game for six golfers?
Gross skins is usually the simplest: all six record one score per hole, ties carry the agreed pot, and the outright winner collects it. Agree the unit and carryover rule before teeing off.
Can six players play skins with handicaps?
They can agree a house-rule net method, but do not call it a WHS standard. The USGA says WHS has no equitable way to handle net skins and gives no recommendation for handicaps or stroke allocation in that competition.
Is Wolf an official six-player golf format?
Wolf is a casual betting arrangement, not a separate format governed by the Rules of Golf. With six players, write the Wolf order, whether a player may go alone and the points or dollar values before the round.
Can six golfers play a Nassau?
Yes, but decide whether you want three separate two-player Nassaus or a single team arrangement. Each Nassau normally has front-nine, back-nine and overall contests, so three matches require careful scorekeeping and agreed stakes.
What is a fair betting game for mixed handicaps in a group of six?
Bingo Bango Bongo can give more ways to score points than simply making the lowest gross score. If choosing net skins or another handicapped side game, document the local house method and do not imply that WHS supplies a standard net-skins allowance.
Are these betting games part of the Rules of Golf?
The Rules of Golf govern the underlying round and recognised competition forms, but casual skins, Wolf and similar money arrangements depend on terms agreed by the group. Stakes, carryovers, presses and tie rules are house rules.