Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Tug of War is a four-player, two-team golf betting game in which low-ball, high-ball and natural-birdie points pull a running score towards one team or the other. The first team to reach three points on its side wins that match; teams normally reset between matches.
How it matters in match play
Tug of War is a casual side game, not a format defined by the Rules of Golf. It borrows a head-to-head idea because teams compare hole results, but its three-point running score and changing stakes are house rules. Agree whether scores are gross or net, how ties cancel, the stake, and whether partners are redrawn before play.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Tug of War |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Team Competition, Four-Ball, Better Ball, Birdie, Stake |
Worked example
With a $2 starting value, Alex and Ben win low and high ball on hole 1, moving 2 up; Chris makes a natural birdie and wins low ball on hole 2, bringing the score to zero, so the agreed house rule raises the point value to $4 before Alex and Ben win one point on hole 3.
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.randa.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How many players do you need for Tug of War?
The documented version is for four players arranged as two teams of two. A group should not silently adapt the scoring for another number: agree a written house variation if the group is smaller or larger.
What points are available on each hole?
The published version has three possible points: one for the lower score between teams, one for the higher score between teams, and one for a natural birdie. Ties do not award that comparison point, and the group should agree how a shared birdie is treated.
Is Tug of War an official Rules of Golf format?
No. It is a casual betting game with house rules. The Rules of Golf describe official match play as holes won, lost or tied, while Tug of War adds its own running three-point target and stake escalation. Use the Rules of Golf for playing the holes, not as an official definition of this game.
Can you use handicaps in Tug of War?
You can agree a net version, but do not assume an official Tug of War allowance. WHS Appendix C lists 100% for individual match play and 90% for four-ball match play; a group should choose the applicable structure in advance and record how strokes are allocated.
How is money settled in Tug of War?
The group sets a stake per point before teeing off. In the documented version, the point value rises when the running score returns to or crosses zero, and a team that reaches three points is paid at the closing value. Treat the escalation and any reset as house rules.
Can partners change during the round?
Yes, the published version redraws teams after a match finishes, commonly by tossing or otherwise assigning balls on the next tee. Fixed partners are also a possible house variation if everyone agrees before play.