Golf Match Formats

💰 Skins

Skins is one of the most popular golf gambling formats. Each hole is worth one "skin." The player with the lowest unique score on a hole wins that skin. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole, accumulating value until someone wins outright.

How It Works

• Each hole is worth one skin (or a dollar value your group assigns).
• The player with the lowest unique score on a hole wins the skin.
• If two or more players tie for the low score, the skin carries over to the next hole.
• Carryovers keep stacking until someone wins a hole outright.
• A player can win multiple skins in a single round.

Scoring Example

Handicapped Skins

Many groups play net skins using handicap strokes. Each player's net score (gross minus stroke allowance on that hole) is compared rather than the raw stroke count. TeeItUp applies stroke-index-based handicap allocation when handicap mode is enabled.

🐺 Wolf

Wolf is a strategic four-player game where one player — the Wolf — must decide after each tee shot whether to take a partner or go it alone. The pairing decision adds a layer of strategy that rewards both shot-making and game management.

Rotation

The Wolf role rotates every hole in a fixed order. On an 18-hole round with four players, each player is Wolf on exactly four holes, with a final rotation on hole 17–18 for fairness.

How the Wolf Decides

• After each player hits their tee shot, the Wolf can choose that player as a partner — or pass.
• The Wolf must decide immediately after each shot, before the next player tees off.
• If the Wolf passes on all three players, they become the Lone Wolf and play against all three.
• The Wolf can also declare Lone Wolf before any tee shots for a higher points multiplier.

Scoring

Note: exact point values vary by group agreement. TeeItUp uses the values above by default.

🏌️ Low Ball (Match Play)

Low Ball is a classic two-team match-play format. On each hole, the best (lowest) score from each team is compared. The team with the lower score wins the hole. The match is tracked in the traditional match-play ledger: "X Up," "All Square," or "Dormie."

How It Works

• Played 2 vs 2 (two teams of two players each).
• Every player plays their own ball every hole.
• Each team's low score counts for that hole.
• The lower team score wins the hole (+1); ties are a push (0).
• Match ends when one team's lead exceeds the holes remaining.

Scoring Example

Dormie

A match reaches Dormie when the leading team's advantage equals the number of holes remaining — meaning the trailing team can tie at best, not win.

Match Result Notation

Final results are expressed as "X & Y" (e.g., "3 & 2"), meaning the winner was 3 Up with 2 holes to play when the match was concluded.

🎯 Low Ball / Low Total

Low Ball / Low Total combines two independent scoring points on every hole, creating up to two points per hole and making a sweep possible. It rewards both individual excellence (Low Ball) and collective team performance (Low Total).

Two Points Per Hole

Scoring Example

Possible Hole Outcomes

🏆 Nassau

Nassau is the most traditional golf betting format. The round is split into three independent match-play contests: Front 9, Back 9, and Overall 18. Each leg can carry a separate wager, giving players three opportunities to win or lose.

Three Separate Matches

How Scoring Works

Each of the three legs is tracked as its own match-play contest with its own "X Up / All Square" running total. A player can win the front, lose the back, and win the overall — or any other combination.

Dormie & Early Conclusion

Each leg follows standard match-play rules. A leg is decided once one side's lead exceeds the remaining holes for that leg. Results like "3 & 2" mean the winner was 3 Up with 2 holes of that leg to play.

Presses

Many Nassau groups allow presses — optional side bets initiated by the trailing side. A press starts a brand-new mini-match for the remaining holes of the current leg, running alongside the original.