Page type: Glossary / definition
Free tool: Open the calculator →
Meaning
Criers and Whiners is a casual golf game in which a player's handicap is converted into a set number of mulligans, or replay strokes, rather than ordinary handicap strokes. Players spend those replays on unwanted shots during the round, subject to agreed house conditions.
How it matters in match play
Criers and Whiners is not a match-play format or a World Handicap System allowance. If a group adds it to a match, the players must agree whether the replay changes the hole's score before the match result is compared, and whether the contest is gross or net. The common versions use individual play, allow replays anywhere during the round, prohibit replaying the first tee shot, and prohibit replaying the same shot twice.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Criers and Whiners |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Handicap Competition, Handicap Stroke, Stroke Play, Match Play, Side Bet |
Worked example
With a course handicap of 12 and a three-quarter house rule, Alex receives 9 replays (12 × 3/4); after using 2 on the third hole and 1 on the fifth, Alex has 6 replays left.
Sources: www.golfcompendium.com , www.beezergolf.com , www.randa.org
Common questions
Is Criers and Whiners an official Rules of Golf format?
No. It is a casual side game with house rules, so leave rule_ref blank and agree the replay and scoring conditions before starting. Do not describe its mulligan conversion as a WHS handicap allowance.
How many replays does a player get in Criers and Whiners?
There is no single mandatory number. Common descriptions convert a player's course handicap at full value or at two-thirds or three-quarters; the group should state the chosen fraction and how any rounding works before play.
Can the first tee shot be replayed?
The common version says no: the first tee shot of the day cannot be replayed. This is a house condition, not a universal Rule of Golf, so a different casual agreement should be written on the scorecard before play.