Dots / Junk Golf Game
Dots, sometimes called Junk, is a flexible golf side game where players earn or lose points for specific events during the round.
Instead of being one fixed game, Dots is more like a menu of bonus bets. Groups can add points for birdies, sand saves, greenies, long drives, closest to the pin, or penalties like three-putts and lost balls.
Dots is one of the easiest games to combine with other formats because it does not need to replace the main game. It can run alongside Wolf, Skins, Nassau, Match Play, Stableford, or almost anything else.
Best for
Dots / Junk works best with 2 to 5 players.
It is especially good for regular groups that already have inside jokes, favorite side bets, or small bonus games they like to track during the round.
Handicaps
Handicaps are optional.
Most Dots games are played gross because the dots are usually based on events, not final net score.
For example:
- gross birdie
- sandy
- greenie
- three-putt
- closest to the pin
However, some groups allow net dots.
Example:
- net birdie
- net eagle
- net par save
- net skin-style dot
Groups should agree before the round whether each dot is gross, net, or event-based.
How Dots works
Before the round, the group chooses which dots are active and how much each dot is worth.
Example:
- Birdie: +1 dot
- Eagle: +3 dots
- Sandy: +1 dot
- Greenie: +1 dot
- Three-putt: -1 dot
- Lost ball: -1 dot
At the end of the round, each player's dots are totaled.
If each dot is worth $1, a player with +5 dots wins $5 against the group depending on the payout style.
Simple Dots example
Four players are playing $1 dots.
Active dots:
- Birdie: +1
- Sandy: +1
- Greenie: +1
- Three-putt: -1
Hole 4:
- Player A makes birdie
- Player B gets up and down from a bunker
- Player C three-putts
Dots:
- Player A: +1
- Player B: +1
- Player C: -1
- Player D: 0
The dots continue to build throughout the round.
Common positive dots
Groups can create almost any dots they want, but some are more common than others.
Birdie
A player earns a dot for making birdie.
Some groups only count gross birdies. Others allow net birdies if handicaps are being used.
Eagle
A player earns extra dots for making eagle.
Example:
- Birdie = 1 dot
- Eagle = 3 dots
Sandy
A sandy is usually awarded when a player gets up and down from a greenside bunker.
Example:
- Player hits into a bunker
- Player gets out and makes par
- Player earns a sandy dot
Groups should decide whether sandy requires par or better, or simply getting up and down.
Greenie
A greenie is usually awarded for hitting the green in regulation on a par 3.
Some groups award it to the closest tee shot on a par 3 that finishes on the green.
Common rule:
- closest to the pin on a par 3
- must be on the green
- must make par or better to validate, depending on house rules
Closest to the pin
Closest to the pin can be used on par 3s or approach shots.
The player closest to the hole earns a dot.
Groups should decide whether the ball must be on the green.
Long drive
A long drive dot can be awarded on selected holes.
Common rule:
- longest drive in the fairway
- must be in play
- usually only on par 4s or par 5s
Poley
A poley is usually awarded when a player makes a putt longer than the flagstick.
Some groups use the length of the putter or flagstick as the standard.
Barkie
A barkie is usually awarded when a player hits a tree and still makes par or better.
This is more of a fun trash-game dot.
Arnies / Seve
Some groups award a dot when a player makes par without hitting the fairway.
This rewards recovery shots and creative saves.
Common negative dots
Three-putt
A player loses a dot for three-putting.
This is one of the most common junk penalties.
Four-putt
Some groups make four-putts cost extra.
Example:
- Three-putt: -1 dot
- Four-putt: -2 dots
Lost ball
A player loses a dot for losing a ball or hitting out of bounds.
Water ball
A player loses a dot for hitting into a penalty area.
Some groups separate water balls from lost balls. Others treat them the same.
Double bogey or worse
Some groups add a negative dot for making double bogey or worse.
This can make Dots more punishing, so it should be agreed on before the round.
Validation rules
Some dots require validation.
Validation means the player must finish the hole with a certain score for the dot to count.
Example:
- Greenie must be followed by par or better
- Sandy must be par or better
- Closest to the pin must be par or better
- Long drive must be par or better
Validation makes dots more meaningful because the player has to finish the hole.
Example:
- Player A is closest on a par 3
- Player A three-putts for bogey
- If validation is required, Player A does not get the greenie
Groups should decide which dots need validation before starting.
Gross dots vs net dots
Dots can be gross or net.
Gross dots
A gross dot is based on the actual score or event.
Example:
- gross birdie
- gross eagle
- gross par save
Net dots
A net dot uses handicap-adjusted score.
Example:
- gross par with a stroke becomes net birdie
- player earns a net birdie dot if net birdies are allowed
Net dots can make the game fairer for mixed-skill groups, but they can also create more dots and more math.
For casual groups, the cleanest version is often:
- gross birdie/eagle dots
- event-based dots
- optional net birdie dot only if the group wants it
Money payouts
Dots can be paid in several ways.
Per dot
The simplest version is a dollar amount per dot.
Example:
- $1 per dot
- Player A finishes +6 dots
- Player B finishes +2 dots
- Player A beats Player B by 4 dots
If settling pairwise, Player B owes Player A $4.
Total dot standings
Another version compares every player's total dots and pays based on final standings.
Example:
- Player A: +6
- Player B: +3
- Player C: -1
- Player D: -8
The group can settle based on point differences or winner-takes-bet.
Dot pool
Some groups create a pot for dots.
Example:
- Each player contributes $5
- Player with the most dots wins the pot
This is simple, but it does not reward the exact point difference as much.
Pairwise payout example
Four players are playing $1 per dot.
Final dots:
- Player A: +6
- Player B: +3
- Player C: 0
- Player D: -2
Pairwise results:
Player A:
- Beats B by 3 = +$3
- Beats C by 6 = +$6
- Beats D by 8 = +$8
- Total: +$17
Player B:
- Loses to A by 3 = -$3
- Beats C by 3 = +$3
- Beats D by 5 = +$5
- Total: +$5
Player C:
- Loses to A by 6 = -$6
- Loses to B by 3 = -$3
- Beats D by 2 = +$2
- Total: -$7
Player D:
- Loses to A by 8 = -$8
- Loses to B by 5 = -$5
- Loses to C by 2 = -$2
- Total: -$15
Totals balance to zero.
Dots as a side game
Dots works well because it can sit on top of another main game.
Example:
The group plays Wolf as the main game, but also tracks dots for:
- birdies
- sandies
- greenies
- three-putts
The Wolf score decides the main payout, while the dots create bonus action throughout the round.
Custom dots
Every group has its own version of junk.
Some custom dots might include:
- cart path save
- up and down from the trees
- fairway hit on a selected hole
- closest to the pin in two
- chip-in
- long putt
- no sixes
- bunker-to-bunker penalty
- water ball penalty
The best Dots games are simple enough to track without slowing down the round.
Common Dots / Junk rules
Before starting, the group should agree on:
- which dots are active
- how many points each dot is worth
- whether dots are positive, negative, or both
- whether each dot is gross, net, or event-based
- which dots require validation
- payout style
- dollar value per dot
- whether dots are settled pairwise or by pot
- how ties are handled
- whether dots are combined with another main game
Dots payout example
Four players are playing $1 dots.
Active dots:
- Birdie: +1
- Eagle: +3
- Sandy: +1
- Greenie: +1
- Three-putt: -1
Final dots:
- Player A: +4
- Player B: +1
- Player C: -2
- Player D: -3
If the group uses pairwise settlement, each player pays or collects based on dot differences.
If the group uses winner-takes-bet, Player A wins.
Strategy
Dots rewards more than just low score.
Players can win dots by:
- making birdies
- hitting good approach shots
- getting up and down
- avoiding three-putts
- staying out of trouble
Because dots can be positive or negative, the best strategy is to collect bonus points while avoiding easy penalties.
A player who does not win the main game can still make money through dots.
Why use a Dots / Junk scorecard app?
Dots can be fun, but it is easy to lose track of everything during a round.
A scorecard app can track:
- active dot types
- custom dots
- birdies
- eagles
- sandies
- greenies
- three-putts
- penalties
- validation rules
- dot totals
- money payouts