Put Some Hustle in Your Golf Game

It doesn't have to be a mountain of money to make you play better - you can play for a dollar a hole, a quarter, or any amount. I don't care if I'm playing for pennies - it's the competitive edge I need to wind up with the lowest score for the day.

This is a basic one, but it requires a foursome. The premise is that two players team up against the other two.

The reason it's also known as "Sixes" is because after every six holes, you switch partners. You can tack on an additional game within this game - one for every six holes that you play.

When wagering for money, it's done on a six-hole basis, so one person may end up winning all three betting rounds while another wins 2 out of 4.

This works best when everyone plays a similar score. If you have someone with a 6 handicap getting suck with a hacker who can't get it out of the teebox, there's gonna be trouble!

I recently read Win 90% of Your Golf Bets and I have to say it wasn't just informative - it was entertaining.

The author, Action Al Williams, knows all about the mindset and strategies you can use to win your golf games.

Here are some other reviews about this book:

Brent Weber,host, Sports Talk, OCN-TV
Action Al knows what separates the men from the boys and "Win 90%" is his testament to gambling on the links, a practical and historical guide. I was fascinated by the stories and characters. There are great anecdotes as well as gambling strategies and photos we've never seen before.

Bob Kozcor, Editor, Golf Today Magazine
I MUST ADMIT THIS BOOK got my immediate attention because I lose the majority of my golf bets. It is my answer. Action Al Williams, whose own 30 years of experience entitles him to a PhD on the subject, has compiled all you need to know, including the secrets of the sport's greatest gamblers. It is no gamble to read this hardcover.

Order Win 90% of Your Golf Bets today!

Most Popular Golf Betting Games and Side Bets
Golf and gambling go hand-in-glove for many golfers. The USGA takes no position on golf gambling, and neither do we. But it's certainly part of the game at many friendly group outings. The wager can be as large or small as you want, and the bets as varied as you can imagine. Below are some of the most popular golf betting games and side bets.
1. Nassau
The Nassau is three bets in one: low score on the front nine, low score on the back nine and low score over the full 18. The $2 Nassau is perhaps the most common bet among golf buddies.
2. Round Robin
Round Robin, also known as Hollywood or Sixes, is a betting game for groups of four that involves two members of the foursome teaming up against the other two. The catch is that partners rotate every six holes.
3. Sandies
Sandies have a set value throughout the round. A golfer automatically wins the bet (depending on the rules being played) either by making par on a hole in which he was in a sand trap; or by getting up-and-down from a greenside bunker.
4. Bingo Bango Bongo
Bingo Bango Bongo awards points throughout the round for three different accomplishments. At the end of the round, points are totaled and the differences are paid out.
5. Barkies
Barkies, sometimes called Woodies or Seves (as in Seve Ballesteros), are paid automatically to any player who makes par on a hole on which he hit a tree. The value of a Barkie is determined before the round.
6. Wolf
Wolf is one of the classic golf betting games for groups of four, but it gets a little complicated. Players rotate as the "Wolf." On each hole, the player designated as the Wolf has to choose whether to play 1 against 3, or 2 on 2; and if 2 on 2, then the Wolf has to choose a partner. The Wolf can win or lose more money by going it alone.
7. Arnies
Arnies are side bets whose value should be determined prior to the round. They are won automatically by any golfer who makes a par without having managed to get his ball into the fairway. Named in honor of Arnold Palmer, who made quite a few "Arnies" in his time.
8. Aces and Dueces
Aces and Dueces, or Acey Ducey, is a bet in which there is a winner, two modest losers, and one big loser on each hole. It's a game for groups of four, obviously. The low scorer on each hole wins a certain amount from each of the other three players; while the high scorer on each holes owes each of the other three.
9. Gruesomes
Gruesomes is betting game that pits 2-person teams against each other. Both team members tee off, then the other teams gets to choose which of the drives your side has to play. Obviously, they'll choose the worst - or most gruesome - of the two drives.
10. Criers and Whiners
Criers and Whiners is known by many different names, but the gist is the same: it's a game of mulligans for those players who are always crying and whining about that handful of shots they screwed up. "If only I could have hit that one again ..." The number of do-overs golfers get in Criers and Whiners is based on their handicap index.

Well whoever created the layout for THIS green had an evil sense of humor. If you're playing on a course ripe with bunkers, why not make some side wagers?

There are two ways to play Sandies. The first is to bet on whether the person in the bunker can make par (or better) on a hole when you land in a sand trap.

The second is a bet to see if the player who lands in a bunker can get out of it and into the hole in two strokes (up and down and in the hole).