Blog · Guides
How to Play 9 Holes of Golf Online
A real nine-hole round takes about two hours, plus the drive, the tee time and the parking. An online round takes about ten minutes, and you can play it from the couch.
Mashy is a pixel-art golf game built around exactly that idea: nine short holes, played with irons, chips and putts. Here's how a round works from start to finish.
Step 1: Open Mashy and tap Play
Go to playmashy.com and hit Play a Hole. There's no download, no account and no credit card. Your first hole is free, and you're on the tee in one tap.
Step 2: Pick your club
Each hole shows your distance to the pin and a suggested club, such as a 9 iron with its carry distance. Use the arrows on either side of the club to swap up or down. A shorter club goes less far but is easier to control. A longer one gets you closer but leaves less room for error.
Step 3: Swing with two taps
Golf in Mashy comes down to timing:
- Tap Swing to start the meter.
- Tap again when the marker reaches the green zone.
Land your second tap in the zone and the ball flies true. Miss it and you'll see it in the result. The tighter the zone, the more the shot rewards a steady thumb.
Step 4: Get on the green, then putt
Irons and chips get you to the green. Once you're there, putting takes over. Same rhythm, softer touch. Most holes are short, so a good approach shot sets up a real chance at a birdie.
Step 5: Finish all nine
The course has nine holes, each with its own name and personality, from Buttercup to Duck Pond to the Clubhouse. You keep a running scorecard, and every hole is scored against par:
- Hole in one: one stroke, the dream
- Birdie: one under par
- Par: what the hole was designed for
- Bogey: one over par
New to the terms? See our guide to golf scoring explained.
Step 6: Save your score
After your first hole, Mashy asks for your email so you can keep your score and see how it compares with other players. We send a six-digit code, so there's no password to remember. You can also skip it and keep playing as a guest.
Tips for your first round
- Don't rush the first swing. Learn where the green zone sits.
- Check the club before every shot. The default isn't always right.
- Treat each hole as a fresh start. A bogey on hole 3 doesn't matter on hole 4.
Ready? Play your first hole free.
Next up: How to play golf with friends online.