Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
5-3-1 is a three-player golf betting game in which nine points are available on every hole. The lowest score receives 5 points, the second-lowest receives 3, and the highest receives 1. Players agree the cash value of each point before starting.
How it matters in match play
5-3-1 is not Match Play under the Rules of Golf. It is a casual, hole-by-hole points game: each hole is scored independently, so a player can recover after a poor hole and the round is settled from total points rather than Won Hole or Lost Hole results.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | 5-3-1 |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Side Bet, Stake, Pot, Payout, Handicap Competition |
Worked example
Alex scores 4, Ben 4 and Chris 5 on a hole, so Alex and Ben receive 4 points each and Chris receives 1, preserving the 9-point total; at $1 per point, if their 18-hole totals are Alex 70, Ben 58 and Chris 34, Chris pays Alex $36 and Ben $24 under this settlement method.
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.golfcompendium.com , www.usga.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
How many players does 5-3-1 use?
The standard version is designed for exactly three players. A foursome or another group size needs an expressly agreed variation, because the usual 5, 3 and 1 allocation assumes three finishing positions and its tie arithmetic.
How are ties scored in 5-3-1?
In the commonly published three-player version, a tie for lowest score splits the 5- and 3-point places, giving 4 points each, while the high scorer gets 1. A tie for highest gives the low scorer 5 and the tied players 2 each; a three-way tie gives 3 points each.
Does 5-3-1 use handicaps?
No handicap is required. Some groups use handicaps, but 5-3-1 has no specific World Handicap System allowance in the published Appendix C table, so players should agree in advance whether net scores rank each hole and record that as a house rule.
How does money settle in 5-3-1?
Agree the value of one point before teeing off. One commonly described settlement has the player with the lowest final point total pay the point difference to each of the two higher scorers, but groups may choose another house settlement.
Is 5-3-1 an official Rules of Golf format?
No. It is a casual side game, not a format with its own Rules of Golf provision. Apply the Rules of Golf to playing the course, then use the group’s agreed 5-3-1 scoring and settlement rules for the side game.
Can 5-3-1 be played without money?
Yes. The group can track points for a non-cash competition. If money is used, agree the stake and settlement before the round rather than treating a published example as a universal rule.