Bingo Bango Bongo Golf Game: Rules and Scoring
Bingo Bango Bongo puts 3 points up for grabs on every hole — Bingo, Bango, Bongo — rewarding accuracy at a specific moment rather than the final score: you don't need to hand in the best card to win the game. The Bingo goes to the first player on the green (or, depending on the variant chosen, to the longest drive that stays on the fairway); the Bango to the player closest to the pin once all the balls are on the green; the Bongo to the first to hole out (or, depending on the variant, to the longest putt holed). A hole in one also triggers an Ace bonus of 3 points. The player with the most points at the end of the round wins. What makes the format unique: a beginner with an accurate putter can take points off the best golfer in the group, since every shot by every player matters, from the tee to the last putt. The trade-off is that the scoring needs attention — 2 to 4 players, Bingo and Bongo variants to set before you tee off, and ties to share where they occur.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play Bingo Bango Bongo, hole by hole
- Set your Bingo and Bongo variants before you tee off (see below).
- Bingo: 1 pt for the first player on the green — or, depending on the variant, for the longest drive that stays on the fairway.
- Bango: 1 pt for the player closest to the pin once all the balls are on the green.
- Bongo: 1 pt for the first in the hole (single player) — or, depending on the variant, for the longest putt holed.
- Ace 🎯: a hole in one earns +3 bonus points (dedicated checkbox, several players possible).
- Most points at the end of the round wins. Tie on one of the three points: it is shared (2 players level → 0.5 points each).
Hole 7, par 4, three players. Léa reaches the green first → Bingo, 1 pt. All the balls on the green, Sofia is closest to the pin → Bango, 1 pt. Thomas holes his putt first → Bongo, 1 pt. Three points, three different players — and the score on the hole decided nothing.
End of the round:
| Position | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Léa | 20 |
| 🥈 | Thomas | 18 |
| 🥉 | Sofia | 16 |
The 3 points of Bingo Bango Bongo
| Point | Who wins it | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Bingo | First on the green (or longest drive that stays on the fairway, depending on the variant) | 1 pt |
| Bango | Closest to the pin, all balls on the green | 1 pt |
| Bongo | First in the hole (or longest putt holed, depending on the variant) | 1 pt |
| Ace 🎯 | Hole in one | +3 bonus pts |
The variants, set in the app
- Bingo (your choice in configuration): first on the green — or longest drive that stays on the fairway.
- Bongo (your choice in configuration): first in the hole — or longest putt holed.
- The Ace bonus (+3 pts) stays active in every case, whatever configuration you choose.
- Fewest strokes (option, off by default): +1 pt for the player with the fewest strokes on the hole — shared when tied, never won by a picked-up ball. It is added to the 3 position points, which reward accuracy rather than the score; each player's strokes are then entered on every hole.
Why we love it
The score on the hole does not count: a beginner with an accurate putter takes points off the best player in the group. Everyone stays involved on every shot, from the tee to the last putt.
Strategy tip
The Bongo is all about the order of play: hole your putt as soon as it is your turn, even from a long way out — an average putt that drops first is worth the point. And with the “first on the green” Bingo, playing safe pays off: aim for the heart of the green, not the flag.
Frequently asked questions
What do Bingo, Bango and Bongo earn?
Each one earns 1 point: the Bingo goes to the first player on the green (or, depending on the variant chosen, to the longest drive that stays on the fairway), the Bango to the player closest to the pin once all the balls are on the green, the Bongo to the first player to hole out (or, depending on the variant, to the longest putt holed). That makes 3 points per hole.
How are the Bingo and Bongo variants set in the app?
The Bingo is set before you tee off: first on the green, or longest drive that stays on the fairway. The Bongo is set the same way: first in the hole, or longest putt holed. The Ace bonus stays active in every case. As an option, a 4th point rewards the player with the fewest strokes on the hole (shared when tied).
What happens if the Bingo is tied?
The point is shared between the tied players: with 2 players level, each receives 0.5 points. The same sharing rule applies to ties on the Bango and the Bongo.
How does the Ace bonus work?
A hole in one (Ace) earns 3 bonus points, on top of the hole's Bingo, Bango and Bongo points. It has its own checkbox: in theory, several players can trigger it in the same round if each of them makes a hole in one.
Every format on a single page: step-by-step rules, a worked example, the points scale and a strategy tip — to read the night before a round or to print. The free sample covers 10 formats, including the 5 you can play for free in the app; Bingo Bango Bongo is in the complete guide.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
Your next Bingo Bango Bongo, without getting in a muddle
Award Bingo, Bango and Bongo with a single tap in the Game of Swing app: it applies your variants, shares the ties and adds the Ace bonus automatically. Bingo Bango Bongo is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
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