My grandparents believed that owning a deck of standard playing cards would tempt the owner into a life of sinful gambling. You should definitely start praying for me because I own about a dozen decks. Those playing cards come in handy when my kid requests we play his favorite new card game, GOLF, 200 times in a row. We LOVE easy card games!
The Golf card game, also known as Nine Holes, or Crazy Nines, or sometimes Six Card Golf is a huge hit in our house and so far our family has resisted the shackles of major vice, and I'm guessing yours will, too–no matter how many decks of cards you own.
I've seen several variations of this game and I will first share the instructions we have been using. This variation is perfect for two players and one deck of cards. I've seen Golf card game rules that call for two decks, but we've only ever used one and it works just fine. (This post contains affiliate links.)
To begin: acquire a deck of standard playing cards.
Golf Card Game Rules
Objective: to earn the lowest score
What you need:
2 enthusiastic players
1 52 card deck, plus the Jokers
Paper and pencil to keep score (optional)
Instructions:
Deal 9 cards to each players. Place the remaining stack in the middle of the table, turn the top card over and place face up to start the discard pile.
Players arrange their nine cards, face down, in a 3x3 grid. Choose any three cards and turn them over, face up.
Opening layout for player one.
If a player turns over two cards of the same value (for example, two tens), he can move one so that both cards are in the same row or column in order to aim for a triple (explained below).
In the Golf card game, as in regular golf, players aim to have the lowest scoring cards in their nine card layouts. On his turn, player either draws the top card of the discard pile or the top card of the stock pile. If he choses the discard pile he must replace one of his nine cards with that card and put the rejected card on the discard pile. If he draws from the stock pile, he may either replace one of his cards or place the card on the top of the discard pile.
The player drew a 6 and replaced her queen. The queen is discarded.
On their turns, players can replace either a face up, or a face down card. If replacing a face down card then the card is now placed face up.
Player has replaced the 8 with a 3, and after drawing a King, she replaced a face down card, which turned out to be a 10. The 10 is discarded and the King stays face up.
The round ends when one player has all nine cards face up. Then each player gets to draw one more card in turn before tallying points.
Normal game play is nine rounds. At the end of nine rounds the cumulative score is tallied and the player with the lowest score wins.
Based on the below values, the final score of the above hand is 1+0+3+1+6+0+0 = 11. The final zero is because the three 4s are a triple so instead of 12 point, the three 4s total 0.
Golf card game card values:
- Ace: 1
- 2-10: face value
- Jack and Queen: 10
- King: 0
- Joker: -2
- Triple: If a player has three cards of the same face (e.g. three 2s, three Qs) in a row or in a column, then the total for all three cards is zero.
Notes:
You may run out of cards before one player has completely turned over their cards. No problem! That ends the round, and everyone reveals their cards and tallies up the points.
You may replace a card as many times as you like.
We have played with three players and one deck. The deck inevitably runs out before any player has completely turned over their cards. This is fine for us, but alternatively you may choose to play with two decks of playing cards.
For 4 or more players, use two decks of cards.
Golf, or Nine Holes card games can also be played with six cards per player instead of nine. In this case players arrange two rows of three cards face down and turn the middle two cards face up at the start of the game. Instead of aiming for a triples, two matching cards (one in the top row and one in the bottom row, same column) will earn 0 points.
A single round is quick. Most of the time we simply play round by round instead of playing all "nine holes."
More card games with a standard deck we love:
Almost Unschoolers says
Golf is a huge favorite here too!
Sarah Grimm says
In the third photo, where did the 3 of hearts (that replaces the 8) come from?
Erica says
The player would have drawn it from the top of the stock pile.
Sarah Grimm says
Oh ok. So she drew the 3 from the stockpile, discarded the 8 and then on her next turn drew the king from the stockpile? I was thinking the change in photos reflected one turn. Thanks!
Erica says
Yes, it's a 2 person game, so I didn't show each play because I didn't want to imply it was a solitaire game. Sorry for the confusion!
Kelly says
Thanks so much for introducing me to this game. I can't wait to teach my boys!!
Erica says
Enjoy!
Chris Rodgers says
We play with Queens are 20 points and Jacks are -2 points. And you have to keep the card you draw off pile, can't discard till your next turn. sometimes you get burned on last draw. makes it interesting.
mike a says
We just played last night for the first time, what a blast!!! We had so much! Thanks!!
Erica says
That's wonderful! So glad to hear it.
Karen Edgell says
If scores are even ,does anyone have to double,?
Connie says
I have a scoring question…
My hand
J. J. J
5. 4. J
5. K. J
How is this hand scored?
JED says
jacks all add up to 0, k is 0
5 + 5 + 4 = 14
three jacks in each row = 0
Mary Long says
We play this, but just a couple of extra rules. Queens are 20 points,. deuces (2s) are wild, jokers are wild minus 4,. And if you are the first person to go out and you have the lowest score (after everyone gets their one more turn) then you get
to subtract 10 from your score. But if you go out first and you don't have the lowest score you have to add 10 to your score. We love it. My husband and I play it all the time with my sister and her husband. Use 2 decks for 4 players.
Erica says
Fun! I love to try new rules for games to see how they change.
Andrew Bruce says
Thanks, Erica for the informative post! Card games, especially Golf, have been a love of mine since childhood. I especially enjoy the games that can be played 1v1 or with groups because we are often hanging out with a partner. Although I never foresaw designing a card game myself, in 2019, I did just that! It's best described as "Golf with abilities" - and goes be the name of KOMBIO. One significant rule variation is that it incorporates a component of speed that really spices things up! I love introducing card game enthusiasts KOMBIO, especially those that like Golf because it has a similar playing format.
Tracy says
We play with 4 people and we use 6 instead of nine cards to match