The Snake Golf Game: Rules of the Putting Game
In the Snake — “Le Serpent” in France — only putts count, not strokes. On every hole, each player notes their number of putts, and whoever took the most picks up the Snake 🐍, with one more bite on their tally. The reptile passes from green to green, from hand to hand… and nobody wants it: whoever is still holding it on the 18th gets a final penalty (+1 bite by default, configurable). The ranking could not be clearer: the player with the fewest bites wins. It is the game that puts right one of golf's injustices — putts make up a good half of your score and are the great forgotten stat on scorecards. Here, the three-putt becomes a public event, cheered or mocked, and the pressure builds as the clubhouse comes into view. 2 to 4 players, no calculations at all: one of the simplest formats to score, ideal alongside a classic round.
▶ The rule in 60 seconds, in French with English subtitles — the Game of Swing channel
How to play the Snake, hole by hole
- On every hole, note each player's number of putts — the only stat that counts.
- The player with the most putts on the hole gets the Snake 🐍 (and one more bite on their tally).
- Tie for the most? It is configurable: the Snake stays put, or a draw among the tied players.
- End of the round: the Snake's holder gets a penalty — configurable, +1 bite by default.
- Ranking: the player with the fewest Snake bites wins.
Hole 6: Malo 3 putts, Tom 2, Agathe 1 → Malo gets the Snake. Hole 7: Tom, Malo and Agathe take 2 putts each — tie for the most, “The snake stays put” setting: the Snake stays with Malo (no new bite). End of the round: Malo 4 bites, Tom 5… but it is Agathe (6 bites) who holds the Snake on the 18th: penalty +1 → 7. Malo wins.
| Player | Bites | Final penalty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Malo | 4 | — | 4 |
| 🥈 Tom | 5 | — | 5 |
| 🥉 Agathe | 6 | +1 (holder on the 18th) | 7 |
Two settings to choose in the app
- Tie for the most (configurable): the Snake stays put — or a draw among the tied players.
- Final penalty (configurable): +1 bite by default, adjustable.
Why the Snake is so popular
Because it finally puts the spotlight on the short game: putts, half your score and the great forgotten stat on scorecards. Every three-putt is paid for on the spot — and in public. And the end of the round is pure theatre: on the 18th, nobody wants to walk back into the clubhouse holding the Snake. As for strategy, the Snake is won on the approach: a ball 2 metres from the flag is worth more than a green hit 15 metres away. On the closing holes, play your long putts as a safe two-putt — the three-putt on the 18th is the most expensive of the round.
Frequently asked questions
Do you count strokes or only putts in the Snake?
Only putts: they are the only stat that counts. On each hole, you note every player's number of putts — the score on the hole plays no part in this format.
Who gets the Snake on a hole?
The player who took the most putts on the hole: they pick up the Snake and add one bite to their tally. That way the Snake passes from hand to hand throughout the round.
What happens if players tie for the most putts?
It is configurable in the app: either the Snake stays put with its current holder (no new bite), or it is given out by a draw among the tied players.
What penalty does the Snake's holder get at the end of the round?
The player holding the Snake on the last hole gets a penalty: +1 bite by default, adjustable in configuration. The final ranking is then by number of bites — the fewest bites wins.
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; The Snake is in the complete guide.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
Who will walk into the clubhouse holding the Snake?
Enter the putts: the Game of Swing app tracks who holds the Snake, counts the bites, handles ties and applies the final penalty automatically. The Snake is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games 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.