Nines

Setup

Handicaps

Optional. With handicaps on, each hole is scored on net strokes.

Points

Nine points per hole, split by finishing order: 5 for the best, 3 for the middle, 1 for the worst.

How to play Nines

1. Exactly three players.
2. On every hole, rank the three net scores.
3. Award 5 points to the best, 3 to the middle, 1 to the worst.
4. Ties split the shares: two tied for best get 4/4/1; two tied for worst get 5/2/2; all three tied get 3/3/3.
5. Every hole hands out exactly 9 points.

Scoring

Ties: Tied players split the combined shares of the slots they occupy.

Most total points after 18 holes (162 points available).

Strategy

• Steady middle finishes (3s) add up — you rarely need to win every hole.
• A hole you win outright is a 4-point swing over finishing last.
• With handicaps on, a well-placed stroke can flip your finishing order.

Example

• Ana6 HCP
• Ben12 HCP
• Cal18 HCP

Par 4. Net scores come in at Ana 4, Ben 4, Cal 5.

What happens

1. Ana and Ben tie for the best net score (4).
2. They split the top two slots (5 + 3 = 8): 4 points each.
3. Cal is alone in last and takes the final slot: 1 point.

Ana 4, Ben 4, Cal 1 — total 9 points for the hole.

Two players tied low, so the 5 and 3 slots merged into 4/4, with 1 left for last. The hole still totals exactly 9.