Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Bundle is a four-player golf betting game built around one shared pot. Each player contributes an equal ante, and the cash passes in a set order when the holder makes an agreed mistake or another player makes a birdie. The holder at nine and 18 settles the pot.
How it matters in match play
Bundle has no special match-play scoring and is not a recognised match-play format; any separate Bundle side bet needs agreed triggers and terms explaining how handicaps and concessions affect settlement.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Bundle |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Side Bet, Skins, Rabbit, Snake, Stake |
Worked example
Alex, Ben, Chris and Dana each put in $20, making an $80 Bundle; Alex starts with it, loses it after a three-putt, and if Chris holds it after the ninth hole Chris keeps $40, with the final holder taking the remaining $40 after 18.
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.golfgameshub.com
Common questions
How many players normally play Bundle?
The described version is designed for four players, with a random order that determines who starts and where the pot moves next.
How does the Bundle move?
In the standard description, the holder passes it on after going out of bounds or into a hazard, making a double bogey or worse, or three-putting. A birdie by someone who does not hold it also moves the pot to the next player in order.
How is the Bundle paid out?
The holder after nine keeps half of the original pot, and the holder after 18 keeps the other half. With four $20 antes, that means two $40 payouts; agree any alternative timing or trigger before starting.
Can Bundle use handicaps?
The sourced standard version is a gross side game. A group may agree a net variation, but that is a house adjustment rather than an automatic WHS allowance for Bundle.
Is Bundle governed by the Rules of Golf?
It is a casual betting game, not a Rules of Golf competition format. Treat its triggers, timing and settlement as agreed house rules.
Can the pot move immediately during a hole?
Groups should agree the timing. One published explanation says most groups settle the transfer at the end of the hole, rather than arguing over an immediate handover.