What’s the best game for a threeball?

[MarkT]

I’m sure you’ve had this in the past but I’ve never really found a good way of playing as a three. Other than Stableford we always settle on a Split Sixes (4-2-0) points system which is OK but there must be something better?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Skins or Russian Stableford is the main ones with play when there are three players

 

[NearHull]

We play ‘in the chair’ (other names are available). Essentially match play one v two. You take the chair by winning a hole outright. You need to be in the chair to win a point by winning abother hole outright. If one of the other players wins a hole outright, they take the chair. Allegiances swop around all game.

 

[BubbaP]

yep, this one is good if having a bit of a laugh, plenty of opportunity for some chit chat

 

[chrisd]

We play ‘in the chair’ (other names are available). Essentially match play one v two. You take the chair by winning a hole outright. You need to be in the chair to win a point by winning abother hole outright. If one of the other players wins a hole outright, they take the chair. Allegiances swop around all game.

This for us too.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

What about the “tilt” system from the No laying Up guys?

It was explained on here the other day (apologies, I’ve forgotten who by), and in what thread....possibly one by Kennysarmy

EDIT: It was Wabinez - here’s the link : https://nolayingup.com/blog/tilt

 

[KenL]

We play ‘in the chair’ (other names are available). Essentially match play one v two. You take the chair by winning a hole outright. You need to be in the chair to win a point by winning abother hole outright. If one of the other players wins a hole outright, they take the chair. Allegiances swop around all game.

Whenever I have played in the chair, when the person in the chair is knocked out the chair is vacant until someone wins then they are in the chair.

 

[pendodave]

Split sixes.
We play it a lot, and it generally produces an entertaining round of golf.
** edit - just noticed that the op has already dissed it!! Still, if it ain't broke...

 

[jmf1488]

Whenever I have played in the chair, when the person in the chair is knocked out the chair is vacant until someone wins then they are in the chair.

We play "chair" this way too.

Player A wins a hole, they are one up.
Player B wins the next hole, the game is AS
Player C wins the next hole while game AS, he goes 1 up.

We also multiply the stake by how many holes your up at the end. So if after 18 holes a player wins by 3 up with 1 pound per hole. He wins 3 pound of each players. Keeps everyone trying all the way to the end.

 

[Sats]

Split sixes. Though I like the sound of Chair

 

[DanFST]

We play wolf:


2 vs 1, if the pair win the hole 1 point each, if the single; 2 points.

Player 1 choses a partner or to go alone on hole 1.
Player 2 " " hole 2.
Player 3 " " hole 3 etc.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Better ball 2v1 match play can sometimes work well if you have say two middle handicap v one low handicap.

Bits, derived from the old thrupenny bit coin can be fun.
Our youthful evening fourballs used to play 3d accumulators [@1964] which can be an evil game.
For the sake of friendship we all decided to abandon one birdie strewn match at the 14th one night after about 10 halved holes and about £2.12/- each on the table.

 

[williamalex1]

Why not just play individual match play against the other 2 players. We use to have match play bets against players that weren't even in the same 3 ball.
We just worked out strokes received and compared scores on the card , after the game.

Or 6 points available at every hole.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Skins or Russian Stableford is the main ones with play when there are three players

How do you play Russian stableford as a 3 ball, or do you use a revolver, and its definitely over by the 12th?

 

[Liverbirdie]

We play ‘in the chair’ (other names are available). Essentially match play one v two. You take the chair by winning a hole outright. You need to be in the chair to win a point by winning abother hole outright. If one of the other players wins a hole outright, they take the chair. Allegiances swop around all game.

I may give this ago (we normally play carousel - 4-2-0, 3-3, 4-1-1,2-2-2 etc), but what happens when the pair win a hole, who decides who becomes the single next?

Do you pick lots/throw the bals up / toss coins for who goes as the single on the 1st hole, also?

 

[Steve Wilkes]

We play wolf:


2 vs 1, if the pair win the hole 1 point each, if the single; 2 points.

Player 1 choses a partner or to go alone on hole 1.
Player 2 " " hole 2.
Player 3 " " hole 3 etc.

This is what we play, call it "The Wolf" when 4 ball, but call it "Cut Throat" when 3 play, as this seems a more apt name for it
We chose a partner or go it alone after everyone has hit their tee shots to add a bit of strategy to it

 

[garyinderry]

I may give this ago (we normally play carousel - 4-2-0, 3-3, 4-1-1,2-2-2 etc), but what happens when the pair win a hole, who decides who becomes the single next?

Do you pick lots/throw the bals up / toss coins for who goes as the single on the 1st hole, also?

All sqaure on the first. We play it all the time.

 

[garyinderry]

All sqaure on the first. We play it all the time.

When the pair wins you go back to AS. You might get two holes up on the pair but they usually claw it back. Fairly tight games.

 

[Bdill93]

We played a game of "GOLDEN BALLLLLLLLS" last week

Rules are as follows:
GOLDEN BALLLLLLSSS must be said with gusto or not at all - its a real mood lightener and frankly ridiculous but great fun.
Stableford scoring
Each player takes turns using the GOLDEN BALLLLLL, points scored with said ball are worth double! (I advocate using your own golden ball in COVID and not passing around the yellow ball - precautions!)
If the GOLDEN BALLLL is lost -2 points



The GOLDEN BALLLLL is actually a yellow ball..... painting one gold might kill the quality of said balls.

 

[Val]

I may give this ago (we normally play carousel - 4-2-0, 3-3, 4-1-1,2-2-2 etc), but what happens when the pair win a hole, who decides who becomes the single next?

Do you pick lots/throw the bals up / toss coins for who goes as the single on the 1st hole, also?

You are in the chair until a single player wins it outright maybe? The game is the double v the chair rather than me and you v however if that makes sense, it doesnt matter who the double or who the chair is as its the "team" that wins rather than who is in it.