How to Play The Card Game
The Card Game is a golf-and-poker add-on: every three-putt adds to a pot, every one-putt earns you a playing card, and after 18 the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. It hands the worst ball-striker a way back into the money. Here's how it works.
What's the deal?
The Card Game stacks poker on top of whatever you're already playing. Every three-putt feeds the pot; every one-putt earns you a card. Putt well and you build a bigger hand to play at the end.
After 18, everyone gets five cards minimum, plus one extra for every one-putt they made. Best five-card poker hand takes the whole pot. Had a rough day tee-to-green? Drain a few and you can still walk off a winner.
Setting the stakes: the only stake is the ante that goes into the pot on every three-putt — set it on the first tee ($1, $5, $10, your call). Bring two or more decks so a big group doesn't run out of cards.
How to play The Card Game
- 1Set an ante on the first tee — $1, $5, $10, whatever the group likes.
- 2Every time you three-putt, you drop the ante into the pot.
- 3Every time you one-putt, you earn a card. (A putt is a stroke from the green — a 2-putt from the fringe still counts as a one-putt.)
- 4After the round, everyone draws a base hand of 5 cards, plus one extra card for each one-putt earned.
- 5Make your best five-card poker hand. Best hand wins the pot. Use two or more decks so you don't run out.
Now Grab the Hat.
Wear it, drain your putts, and let your short game pay for the round.
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