Nines Golf Game
Nines is a golf points game most commonly played with three players.
On each hole, there are 9 points available. The points are split among the three players based on how they score on that hole.
Nines is a great game when you have a threesome and do not want to play simple stroke play. Every hole is worth the same total number of points, and the players divide those points based on the hole result.
Best for
Nines works best with 3 players.
It can be adapted for other group sizes, but the classic version is a three-player game.
For 2 players, Match Play, Nassau, Skins, or Stableford usually make more sense.
For 4 players, Sixes, Round Robin, Wolf, Vegas, or team Match Play usually fit better.
Handicaps
Handicaps are optional.
Nines can be played gross or net.
If handicaps are used, each player receives strokes based on their course handicap and the course handicap row on the scorecard. The points are then awarded based on net scores.
Net Nines is usually better when the three players have different skill levels.
How Nines works
Each hole is worth 9 total points.
After all three players finish the hole, compare their scores.
The 9 points are split based on the order of finish.
The most common scoring splits are:
- 5 points for the best score
- 3 points for the second-best score
- 1 point for the worst score
That means every hole always awards 9 total points.
Simple Nines example
Three players are playing Nines.
Hole 1:
- Player A makes 4
- Player B makes 5
- Player C makes 6
Points:
- Player A gets 5 points
- Player B gets 3 points
- Player C gets 1 point
Total points awarded:
- 5 + 3 + 1 = 9
What happens with ties?
Ties are where Nines gets its different point splits.
Because there are always 9 points available, tied players split the points for the positions they tied.
Two players tie for best
If two players tie for the best score and the third player has the worst score, the top two players split first and second place points.
First place is worth 5.
Second place is worth 3.
So the tied players split 8 points.
Example:
- Player A makes 4
- Player B makes 4
- Player C makes 5
Points:
- Player A gets 4
- Player B gets 4
- Player C gets 1
Total:
- 4 + 4 + 1 = 9
Two players tie for last
If one player has the best score and the other two players tie behind, the tied players split second and third place points.
Second place is worth 3.
Third place is worth 1.
So the tied players split 4 points.
Example:
- Player A makes 4
- Player B makes 5
- Player C makes 5
Points:
- Player A gets 5
- Player B gets 2
- Player C gets 2
Total:
- 5 + 2 + 2 = 9
All three players tie
If all three players tie the hole, they split all 9 points evenly.
Example:
- Player A makes 4
- Player B makes 4
- Player C makes 4
Points:
- Player A gets 3
- Player B gets 3
- Player C gets 3
Total:
- 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
Net Nines
In Net Nines, handicap strokes are applied before points are awarded.
Example:
- Player A gross 5, receives 1 stroke, net 4
- Player B gross 4, receives 0 strokes, net 4
- Player C gross 6, receives 1 stroke, net 5
Player A and Player B tie for best net score.
Points:
- Player A gets 4
- Player B gets 4
- Player C gets 1
Net Nines helps make the game fair for mixed-handicap threesomes.
Gross Nines
Gross Nines uses actual scores only.
Example:
- Player A gross 4
- Player B gross 5
- Player C gross 6
Points:
- Player A gets 5
- Player B gets 3
- Player C gets 1
Gross Nines works best when all three players are close in skill level.
Money payouts
Nines is usually settled by point differences.
Example:
- Each point is worth $1
- Player A finishes with 62 points
- Player B finishes with 55 points
- Player C finishes with 45 points
Players compare final point totals.
Pairwise payout example
Three players are playing $1 per point.
Final points:
- Player A: 62
- Player B: 55
- Player C: 45
Pairwise settlement:
Player A:
- Beats Player B by 7 points = +$7
- Beats Player C by 17 points = +$17
- Total: +$24
Player B:
- Loses to Player A by 7 points = -$7
- Beats Player C by 10 points = +$10
- Total: +$3
Player C:
- Loses to Player A by 17 points = -$17
- Loses to Player B by 10 points = -$10
- Total: -$27
Totals balance to zero.
Winner-takes-bet payout
Some groups play Nines as a fixed bet instead of per point.
Example:
- Bet is $10
- Player A finishes with the most points
- Player B and Player C each pay Player A $10
This version is simpler, but it makes the point margin less important.
Point value
The point value should be agreed on before the round.
Common options:
- $0.25 per point
- $0.50 per point
- $1 per point
- fixed bet to the winner
Because there are 162 total points awarded over 18 holes, point totals can spread out. Small point values are usually better for casual groups.
Nines vs Skins
Nines and Skins both work well for three players, but they feel different.
In Skins, only the lowest unique score wins the hole. If two players tie for low score, the skin usually carries over.
In Nines, every hole awards points no matter what.
That makes Nines steadier, while Skins can create bigger carryover moments.
Nines vs Stableford
Nines and Stableford are both points games, but the points come from different things.
In Stableford, each player earns points based on their own score against par.
In Nines, players earn points based on how their score compares to the other two players on the hole.
So Stableford is score-vs-par.
Nines is player-vs-player.
Optional carryover rule
Most Nines games do not use carryovers because every hole already awards 9 points.
However, some groups add carryovers for tied holes or special situations.
For example:
- if all three players tie, carry the 9 points to the next hole
- if two players tie for first, only the third-place point is awarded and the rest carries over
This is less common and makes the game more complicated.
For most groups, the standard 5-3-1 / 4-4-1 / 5-2-2 / 3-3-3 scoring is better.
Plus handicaps
Plus-handicap players can be handled the same way as other net games.
Give back to course
A plus golfer gives strokes back on the easiest handicap holes.
Example:
- A +2 golfer gives back strokes on handicap holes 18 and 17
- On one of those holes, gross 3 on a par 4 becomes adjusted 4 for net scoring
Normalize to zero
Some groups normalize the lowest handicap to zero and add the difference to everyone else.
Example:
- +2, 4, 10 becomes 0, 6, 12
Groups should agree before the round how plus handicaps are handled.
Common Nines rules
Before starting, the group should agree on:
- gross or net scoring
- point value
- whether payouts are per point or fixed bet
- how handicap strokes are applied
- how plus handicaps are handled
- whether standard Nines scoring is used
- whether any carryover variation is used
Nines payout example
Three players are playing Nines for $0.50 per point.
Final points:
- Player A: 60
- Player B: 54
- Player C: 48
Point differences:
- Player A beats Player B by 6 points
- Player A beats Player C by 12 points
- Player B beats Player C by 6 points
Payout:
- Player A wins $3 from Player B
- Player A wins $6 from Player C
- Player B wins $3 from Player C
Net totals:
- Player A: +$9
- Player B: $0
- Player C: -$9
Strategy
Nines rewards every position on the hole.
Winning the hole is valuable, but avoiding last place matters too. A player who consistently finishes second can stay close, especially if the other players trade wins.
Because every hole awards points, there are fewer dead holes than in Skins. Even after a bad shot, a player may still be able to save second-place points.
The best strategy is to beat at least one player on as many holes as possible.
Why use a Nines scorecard app?
Nines is simple once the points are assigned, but it is easy to make mistakes with ties and running totals.
A scorecard app can track:
- gross scores
- net scores
- handicap strokes
- 5-3-1 splits
- 4-4-1 ties
- 5-2-2 ties
- 3-3-3 ties
- point totals
- money payouts
Golf Betting Games keeps Nines scoring organized so the group can focus on the round.