9-Hole Golf Games: What to Play When You Have Two Hours
Over 9 holes, choose a format where every hole counts on its own: Skins, The Rabbit, La Chouette for three or Match Play for two. Formats in several phases, like Sixes or Patsome, can be played too: their phases simply go from six holes to three.
Hole-by-hole formats: nothing to adapt
Formats where you score points on every hole work as they are over 9 holes: Skins, The Rabbit, La Chouette, Holes Won, The Wolf, Bingo Bango Bongo. On a short round they even have an advantage: nobody has time to switch off.
The formats that adapt
- 🎯 Quota — the quota (2 points per hole minus the handicap) is worked out pro rata to the number of holes played.
- 🔄 Sixes — three phases of three holes instead of six: everyone still partners each player once.
- 🔀 Patsome — three holes of best ball, three of Greensome, three of Foursomes.
On a pitch & putt
Bingo Pitch & Putt was designed for short holes: the fewest strokes to the green, closest to the pin, first in the hole. A hole in one earns a bonus.
🃏 Mexicaine Las Vegas. In a four, the teams change on every hole: after the drive, the two balls furthest right team up against the two furthest left. Then the scores are read Vegas-style — a 4 and a 5 make 45, a 4 and a 7 make 47. A wayward drive can land you the best partner on the hole, and one big number costs the whole team dearly. The rules of Mexicaine Las Vegas →
Frequently asked questions
What golf game can you play over 9 holes?
Formats where you score on every hole: Skins, The Rabbit, La Chouette (for three), Match Play (for two). They work without any adaptation.
Can you play Stableford over 9 holes?
Yes: the points scale applies hole by hole, however many holes are played. The reference score is simply half what it is over 18 holes: 18 points instead of 36.
Does Quota work over 9 holes?
Yes: the quota of 2 points per hole minus the handicap is worked out pro rata to the holes played. The Game of Swing app does the maths.
9 holes, zero maths
Pick the game, enter the scores: Game of Swing applies the rules, settles the ties and shows the leaderboard live. All 41 formats are in the app — and 5 games are free to get you started.
Try the app for free → 5 free games, no account required — on your phone and computerGot a game in mind? A house variant to share? The app grows with every update — send us your idea, the best ones join the catalogue.