Golf Games for Two Players
Most golf games are written for a foursome, but some of the best are for two players. The simplest is match play: you play each hole against each other, and whoever wins more holes wins the match. From there you can add side games, points or a fair handicap to keep every hole interesting.
Match play
In match play, each hole is a separate contest. The lower score wins the hole; equal scores halve it. You keep score as holes "up" or "down", not total strokes.
- If you've won three holes and your partner has won one, you're 2 up.
- If you're 3 up with two holes left, you've won 3 and 2: the match is over.
- A level match is all square.
Match play suits two players because one bad hole costs you only that hole. See stroke play vs match play for how it compares with counting every shot.
Making it fair: if your handicaps differ, the higher handicap player usually receives the difference in strokes, taken on the holes with the lowest stroke index.
Skins for two
Each hole is worth one skin. Win the hole outright and you take it; tie and the skin carries over, so late holes can be worth several skins. The full rules are in wolf and skins.
The Nassau
A Nassau is three matches in one: the front nine, the back nine and the full eighteen, each worth a point. It means a poor start doesn't end the contest, because the back nine is a fresh match. It can be played for points rather than money. The Nassau explained covers presses and scoring.
Stableford head to head
Both players score Stableford points (2 for par, 3 for birdie, 1 for bogey, 0 for worse) and the higher total wins. It's gentler than stroke play for mixed abilities, because a blow-up hole costs you a couple of points at most.
Snake
Snake is a putting side game. The first player to three-putt "holds the snake". Whoever three-putts next takes it over. Whoever holds the snake at the end of the round loses.
Bingo bango bongo
Three points on every hole: first on the green (bingo), closest to the pin once both balls are on the green (bango), and first to hole out (bongo). The player furthest from the hole plays first, and a short hitter can easily beat a long one.
Which game for which pair?
| Game | Best for | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Match play | Any two players | Holes won |
| Skins | Similar abilities | Holes won outright, ties carry over |
| Nassau | Wanting three chances to win | Front, back and overall |
| Stableford | Mixed abilities | Points per hole |
| Snake | Adding pressure on greens | Avoid the last three-putt |
| Bingo bango bongo | Long hitter against a good putter | Three points a hole |
A worked match play example
| Hole | Par | Player A | Player B | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | B 1 up |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | B 1 up |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | All square |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | A 1 up |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | A 1 up |
Player B took 21 strokes and Player A took 19, but the match is close: A is only 1 up because the six on hole 3 cost B just that hole.
Two-player games in Mashy
Mashy is a free pixel-art golf game in the browser, and most of these formats work in it with two people and two phones or laptops.
- Match play on the daily course. Both play the daily (same pins and wind for everyone that day) and compare scorecards hole by hole. Your first card counts, so there are no do-overs.
- Closest to the pin duel. One tee shot on each of the course's par 3s; the lower total of feet from the pin wins.
- Snake, Mashy-style. Count three-putts on each card. Fewest three-putts wins, and the most three-putts buys the coffee.
Invite each other to your clubhouse: TODAY'S BOARD ranks you both by the daily score, and you can see each other's best stroke play and closest to the pin rounds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best golf game for two players?
Match play is the classic choice. You compete hole by hole, the lower score wins each hole, and the player who wins more holes takes the match. It's quick to score, keeps both players in the contest after a bad hole, and can be made fair with handicap strokes.
How do handicaps work in a two-player match?
The usual approach is that the lower handicap player plays off scratch and the higher handicap player receives the difference in strokes. Those strokes are taken on the holes with the lowest stroke index, which are the hardest holes on the card. Check your club's rules for any allowance it applies.
Can you play skins with only two players?
Yes. Each hole is worth a skin, the lower score wins it, and tied holes carry the skin forward to the next hole. With two players, ties are common, so several skins often build up and one late hole can decide the whole game.
What happens if a match play game is tied after 18 holes?
In friendly golf, a match that finishes all square can simply be a halved match. If you need a winner, play extra holes until someone wins one, known as sudden death, or use a quick putting or chipping contest as a tie-breaker.
Can two people play match play in Mashy?
Yes, informally. Both players play the same course, ideally the daily course, which has the same pins and wind for everyone that day. Then compare the two scorecards hole by hole: the lower score wins each hole, and the player who wins more holes wins the match.