Best Golf Games for 3 Players

Nines (5-3-1), Split Sixes, Bingo Bango Bongo and Other 3-Ball Formats Explained

When only three golfers are playing together, many traditional formats don’t work particularly well. Formats like fourball or team match play are designed for larger groups.Fortunately there are several golf games designed specifically for 3-ball groups, where every hole creates competition between all three players.Three of the most popular formats are Nines (also known as Nine Point golf game, or 5-3-1), Split Sixes, and Bingo Bango Bongo".
These distribute points based on finishing position, keeping the round competitive right to the final putt.How the Nines (5-3-1) Golf Game WorksIn the Nines golf game, a total of nine points are awarded on every hole depending on finishing order.Standard scoringPlayer A – Lowest score – 5 points
Player B – Second lowest – 3 points
Player C – Highest score – 1 pointNine points are always distributed on each hole.⸻What Happens When Players Tie in 5-3-1?When players tie, the points for the tied finishing positions are shared.Two players tie for firstPlayer A – 4 – 4 points
Player B – 4 – 4 points
Player C – 6 – 1 pointThe tied players split the 5 and 3 points.⸻Two players tie for secondPlayer A – 4 – 5 points
Player B – 5 – 2 points
Player C – 5 – 2 pointsThe tied players split the 3 and 1 points.⸻Three-way tiePlayer A – 5 – 3 points
Player B – 5 – 3 points
Player C – 5 – 3 pointsAll players split the nine available points.⸻Why Nines (5-3-1) Is One of the Best 3-Ball Golf GamesMany golfers consider Nines (5-3-1) the ideal format for a three-ball because:• every hole has points at stake
• all three players remain involved throughout the round
• the leaderboard can change quickly
• the game stays competitive until the final holeHowever, calculating points and resolving ties during a round can quickly become confusing, particularly when handicaps and stroke indexes are involved.⸻The Problem With Scoring ManuallyKeeping track of Nines or Split Sixes scoring during a round can be tricky.Players often need to calculate:• point distribution
• tie scenarios
• handicap strokes
• running totalsTrying to manage this during a round can easily distract from the golf itself. (See details on the 531 App below**)

Other Golf Games for 3 Players

When golfers search for golf games for three players, they are usually looking for formats where all three golfers stay involved on every hole.Several formats work well for a 3-ball group, each offering a slightly different style of competition.⸻Split SixesAnother popular 3-player golf format is Split Sixes.Instead of nine points, six points are divided between the players depending on finishing position.As per Nines, when players tie on a hole the points are shared, which keeps the scoring interesting throughout the round.⸻Bingo Bango BongoBingo Bango Bongo is a fun format that awards points for three different achievements on each hole.• Bingo – first player to reach the green
• Bango – player closest to the hole once all balls are on the green
• Bongo – first player to hole outThis means up to three points are available on every hole, rewarding both good shots and smart play.
It is key to note that the order of play follows standard golf rules. Furthest from the Pin goes first.⸻WolfWolf is a popular golf game where one player becomes the Wolf on each hole and decides whether to play the hole alone or challenge the other two players.The role of the Wolf rotates between the golfers throughout the round.After each player hits their tee shot, the Wolf decides whether to take one of the other players as a partner or play the hole alone.Typical scoring works like this:• If the Wolf plays alone and wins the hole, they earn 3 points.
• If the Wolf plays alone and loses, each of the other players earns 1 point.
• If the Wolf chooses a partner, they play 2 vs 1, and the winning side earns 2 points each.Because the Wolf must decide whether to team up or go alone after seeing tee shots, the game involves both strategy and risk.⸻RabbitRabbit is a simple chasing game where a player “holds the rabbit” by winning a hole outright.If another player wins the next hole outright, they steal the rabbit. If the same player wins again while holding the rabbit, they capture it and score a point.The rabbit can change hands many times during a round, which keeps the game competitive.⸻Three-Ball Match PlaySome groups simply play three-ball match play, where each golfer competes individually against the other two players.While easy to understand, this format can sometimes feel less dynamic than games like Nines, where every hole distributes points between all players.

The 531 Golf App for Nines, Split Sixes and Bingo Bango Bongo Scoring

Many golfers search for a Nines golf scoring app because calculating 5-3-1 points manually can slow down play.The 531 Golf app is designed specifically to make scoring Nines (5-3-1), Split Sixes and Bingo Bango Bongo scoring simple.⸻
The 531 Golf app handles all of it.
✓ Fast game setup
✓ Every hole calculated correctly
✓ Ties resolved instantly
✓ Stroke indexes applied automatically
✓ Results, stats and leaderboards updated
✓ Ability to share results to friends and social mediaSo every hole is settled cleanly, the banter stays "friendly", and the competition stays alive until the final putt.
And if you want to turn up the competition, switch on
Birdie Bandit and Eagle Assassin mode.Optional bonus gameplay that rewards the only birdie or eagle on a hole - adding an extra spark to the round.2-Shot Sweep (Split Sixes)
Rewards a clear winner when a player beats the others by two shots.If you ever play in a 3-ball, this is the app you want in your pocket.

Built for 3-ball golf