Golf Games for 2 Players: What to Play When There Are Just Two of You
For two players, the go-to format is Match Play: a hole-by-hole duel where you win holes rather than count strokes. For more suspense, Skins make the stake grow with every tie; to even out a gap in ability, Stringball gives a helping hand in proportion to the handicap.
The pure duel
🥊 Match Play
The lowest score wins the hole; if the scores are level, the hole is halved. You count the lead (“2 up”), and the match ends as soon as the lead is bigger than the number of holes left: “3 & 2” means won with a 3-hole lead and 2 holes to play. A disastrous hole only costs one hole. The rules of Match Play
🏅 Holes Won
Even simpler: the best score on the hole earns 1 point, and whoever has won the most holes takes the round. The rules of Holes Won
To raise the stakes
- 🏆 Skins — every hole is worth a skin; if it's tied, it carries over to the next and is added on. Hole 7 can suddenly be worth three.
- 🔨 The Hammer — either player can “hammer” during the hole to double the stake. The other accepts, or gives up the hole. The bluffing game for two, bar none.
- 🐍 The Snake — whoever takes the most putts on a hole takes the Snake. Whoever is still holding it at the end gets a penalty.
To level things up, or to practise
- 🧵 Stringball — 50 cm of string per handicap point, to move your ball whenever you like. The fewest strokes wins.
- 📊 Against Par — each player compares their strokes with the par of each hole; the lowest total wins.
- 😬 Worst Ball — two balls on every shot, and you keep the worse one. The most demanding practice format, ideal for two.
- 🎯 Bingo Bango Bongo — three points per hole (for example first on the green, closest to the pin, first in the hole): you play every shot, not just the score.
🃏 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 with 2 players?
Match Play, the hole-by-hole duel, is the go-to format for two. Skins add suspense thanks to carry-overs when a hole is tied, and The Hammer brings a real bluffing game.
How can two players of different abilities play together?
Stringball gives the weaker player a piece of string in proportion to their handicap, to move their ball. Match Play also limits the damage: a bad hole only costs one hole.
Can you play La Chouette or The Wolf with 2 players?
No: La Chouette is played with exactly 3 players and The Wolf with exactly 4. With two, go for Match Play, Skins or Holes Won instead.
Your next duel, scored for you
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