Games within the Game
By Raymond Bunquin

The most common games we play in golf:

SKINS
Skins’ is the most common amongst the betting games. This game is played by pegging a corresponding amount per point and assigning a point value to a skin. A skin is won when you win the hole by posting the best score on that hole. If there is a tie on that hole, the skin carried to the next hole is worth two skins. Now for the twist, you may add bonus bets along the way. Additional points may be garnered by getting a birdie (natural), Greenie (par threes only), or Sandy par (one blast one putt). At the end of the round, each golfer’s points won are subtracted from the total points multiplied by the monetary value assigned per point; that amount is the golfer’s winnings or if negative, his losses.

MINI CORNERS / BIG CORNERS
Mini Corners are usually played within the skins game. Three holes make a mini-corner; the lowest total score of the three holes wins the Mini. An amount is also pegged for the MINI. It is usually double that of the skins’ bet. There are six Minis for the taking. Big corners are front nine, back nine and over all scores.

POKER
True to form, the game of poker is a gambler’s game. That’s why it belongs with the game of golf! Poker in golf begins by drawing lots of 1-2-3-4 among the foursome. The golfer who draws first will represent the house on holes number 1-5-9-13 & 17. Second will be the house on 2-6-10-14 &18. The golfer drawing third is house on 3-7-11-15 and number 4 takes his turn on 4-8-12 & 16. Before the start of the round, an amount is assigned for the minimum bet. The game is the other three players against the house on each hole. Whoever is the golfer representing the house on that hole will always be the last to tee off. The other 3 players will tee off and can declare whether they will double their bets or stay put depending usually how they drive their ball on the hole. This can now be more interesting by doubling the minimum bet after every rotation.

OLYMPICS
Olympics is a putting game. Again before the start of the round, the golfers decide on a monetary value per point. Once on the green, the ball furthest from the hole has a chance to make 4 points, the next 3 points, the next 2 and the closest 1 point. If the golfer holes out, the corresponding points are his. If the golfer misses his putt, no points will be credited to him, but if he 3-putts, a point is deducted from his total. All the points will be accumulated till the end of the round. The point total is tallied and the losers pay up at the round’s end.

Always remember, handicaps are applied to all of these formats. Usually each person’s handicap is spread out on their respective handicap holes, but you can also use the low handicap in the foursome as the foundation. Keep the bets within everyone’s comfort zone, you’ll stay friends longer. Some players just can’t play a decent round without a small wager. A little pressure will strengthen ties amongst golf buddies and steel your nerves for the next wager.