La Chouette Golf Game: Rules for 3 Players
La Chouette (“the owl”) is THE format for three-player rounds: on every hole, 6 points are up for grabs and split between the three players according to their ranking — 4 points for the best score, 2 for the second, 0 for the last. At the end of the round, the player who has collected the most points wins. Playing golf as a three is common… and awkward: teams of 2 are impossible, and a duel always leaves someone out. La Chouette solves the problem elegantly: everyone plays their own ball, everyone counts for themselves, and the scale — which always totals 6 points, ties included — means no hole is ever played for nothing. A format that is simple to score, fought out to the very end, and perfect for spicing up three-balls used to plain stroke counting.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play La Chouette, hole by hole
- Play as a three, everyone with their own ball. The scale is built for exactly three players — not two, not four.
- Write down the 3 scores on the hole. As in a normal round: each player's number of strokes.
- Split the 6 points by ranking. All scores different: 4 pts to the first, 2 pts to the second, 0 pts to the last.
- If there's a tie, apply the scale (table below): the hole always totals 6 points.
- Add up over 18 holes. The player with the most points wins the game.
The full La Chouette points scale
| Situation on the hole | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 3 different scores | 4 pts · 2 pts · 0 pts | 6 |
| Top two tied | 3 pts each · 0 pts for the last | 6 |
| Clear 1st, other 2 tied | 4 pts for the 1st · 1 pt for each of the others | 6 |
| All tied | 2 pts each | 6 |
Hole 5, par 4: Julie makes 4, Marc 5, Paul 6 → Julie 4 pts, Marc 2 pts, Paul 0 pts. Hole 6: Julie 5, Marc 5, Paul 4 → Paul is alone in front of two tied players: Paul 4 pts, Julie 1 pt, Marc 1 pt. After two holes: Julie 5 pts, Paul 4 pts, Marc 3 pts — everyone is still in the game, and that is exactly what La Chouette guarantees.
Why La Chouette works so well with 3
- Nobody is a spectator. Even when playing the 3rd best golf in the group, every hole offers 2, 3 or 4 points to take as soon as the others slip.
- Second place pays. Unlike “winner takes all” games, finishing 2nd on a hole is worth 2 points: consistency pays as much as heroics.
- The total is always 6. No room for argument: if a hole's points don't add up to 6, there is a mistake in the maths — a safety net the app checks for you.
Frequently asked questions
Why is La Chouette played by 3 players?
The whole scale is built for three: 6 points split 4-2-0 according to the ranking on the hole. It is the ideal format for a group size in which duels and teams of 2 work badly.
How are the points split when there is a tie?
The total is always 6: top two tied → 3 pts each and 0 for the last; a clear first ahead of two tied players → 4 pts for them and 1 pt each for the others; all tied → 2 pts each.
How many points can you score in a game?
At most 4 points per hole, so 72 over 18 holes for a player who wins everything alone. The three players share exactly 108 points over 18 holes.
Is La Chouette played with handicaps?
Most often off gross, with the actual scores — that is how the La Chouette game in the app works. A group can agree on strokes received before splitting the points, but simplicity is the charm of the game.
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. La Chouette is in it, along with the 5 formats you can play for free in the app.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
Your next three-ball is a game of La Chouette
Enter the scores: the Game of Swing app splits the hole's 6 points, handles every tie and keeps the leaderboard live. La Chouette is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
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