Cha Cha Cha Golf Game (Irish Four Ball): Rules
Cha Cha Cha, also known as Irish Four Ball, is a 2 vs 2 that changes its rule on every hole — in a cycle of three that repeats from the first hole to the last. The 1st hole of the cycle is played as Better Ball: only the better score of the two teammates counts, for 1 point. The 2nd hole is played as Aggregate: the sum of both scores counts, again for 1 point. The 3rd hole is played as Double Aggregate: the sum of both scores counts once more, but this time the hole is worth 2 points. Then the cycle starts again, identical, on holes 4-5-6, 7-8-9, and so on. If a hole is tied, the points are simply shared between the two teams. The name comes from the rhythm of the game: one, two, cha-cha-cha — nobody can hide for two holes in a row, because the format never stops changing and the team's weaker player weighs on two holes out of every three.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play Cha Cha Cha, hole by hole
- Form 2 teams of 2; everyone plays their own ball. The points available follow a repeating 3-hole cycle, from the 1st hole to the 18th.
- 1st hole of the cycle — Better Ball (1 point): the better of each team's two scores counts.
- 2nd hole of the cycle — Aggregate (1 point): the sum of each team's two scores counts.
- 3rd hole of the cycle — Double Aggregate (2 points): the sum of the two scores counts, but the hole is worth double.
- The cycle starts again, identical, on the following holes (4-5-6, then 7-8-9…). Tie on a hole: the points are shared between the two teams.
- The team with the most points at the end of the round wins the match.
| Hole of the cycle | Format | Points at stake |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Better Ball | 1 |
| 2nd | Aggregate | 1 |
| 3rd | Double Aggregate | 2 |
Emma & Lucas (team A) against Sarah & Tom (team B) — one full cycle. Hole 1, Better Ball (1 pt): A score 4 and 5 → 4 counts; B score 5 and 5 → 5 counts. 1 point to A. Hole 2, Aggregate (1 pt): A total 4 + 6 = 10; B total 5 + 5 = 10. Tie → 0.5 points each. Hole 3, Double Aggregate (2 pts): A total 5 + 5 = 10; B total 4 + 5 = 9. 2 points to B. Cycle result: B 2.5 pts, A 1.5 pts (all 4 points of the cycle have been handed out). At the end of the round: Team B 13 points, Team A 11 points.
Why Cha Cha Cha is so popular
- The rhythm never stops. On the Better Ball hole, you can attack without fear; on the Aggregate holes, both scores count — and the “double” hole, every third hole, ramps up the tension.
- The team's weaker player counts on two holes out of three. This is real team golf: there is no way to put the whole weight of the match on one partner's shoulders.
- Every cycle starts from scratch. A bad Double Aggregate does not sink the rest of the round: the next cycle gives both teams the same chances.
Strategy tip
Manage your effort according to the hole in play: on the Better Ball hole, one partner can go for the flag while the other plays safe — a single good score is enough. On the Aggregate holes, and above all on the Double Aggregate, ban the big number: two bogeys are always better than a par paired with a triple bogey, since it is the sum of the two scores that counts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hole cycle in Cha Cha Cha?
A 3-hole cycle that repeats from start to finish: the 1st hole is played as Better Ball (1 point), the 2nd as Aggregate (1 point), the 3rd as Double Aggregate (2 points). Then the cycle starts again on holes 4-5-6, 7-8-9, and so on up to the 18th.
What is Double Aggregate in Cha Cha Cha?
It is the 3rd hole of each cycle: the sum of the two teammates' scores counts, as in plain Aggregate, but the hole is worth 2 points instead of one. It is the hole with the biggest consequences in the cycle.
How many points are at stake in a game of Cha Cha Cha?
Each 3-hole cycle hands out 4 points (1 + 1 + 2). Over 18 holes, or 6 full cycles, that makes 24 points in total, shared when a hole is tied.
What happens when a hole is tied in Cha Cha Cha?
The hole's points are shared between the two teams, whatever the format in play — Better Ball, Aggregate or Double Aggregate. On a 2-point hole, a tie therefore gives 1 point to each team.
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; Cha Cha Cha 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 Cha Cha Cha without keeping track of the cycle
The Game of Swing app automatically shows the format of the hole in play — Better Ball, Aggregate or Double Aggregate —, works out the points of the cycle and shares the ties. Cha Cha Cha is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
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