BUILT FOR THREE-BALL GOLF
Four competitive 3-ball golf games—Nines (5-3-1), Split Sixes, Bingo Bango Bongo and Wolf—scored automatically on iPhone.
Explore the games531 Golf / Shots Sorted / My Golf Season
THE 531 GOLF COLLECTION
01 / PLAYKeep your three-ball competitive with four game formats. We’ll keep the points straight.
Explore 531 Golf
02 / PREPAREKnow who gets what before you tee off. Clear handicap calculations for your group.
Explore Shots Sorted
03 / PLANYour club competitions, tee times and golf-day weather. A glance away.
Explore My Golf SeasonEVERY HOLE IS A NEW CONTEST.
01 / THE THREE-BALL SCORING APP
Make every hole count with Nines, Split Sixes, Bingo Bango Bongo and Wolf. Record scores and keep your attention on the next shot.
For iPhone · See the App Store for current pricing
THREE PLAYERS. FOUR GAMES IN THE APP.
5 / 3 / 1
Best score earns five points, second gets three, third gets one. Ties share the points. Most points at the end wins.
THE BEST 3-BALL GOLF GAMES
Three golfers do not fit neatly into many traditional team formats, but the right game keeps everyone involved on every hole. Here is how the four games included in 531 Golf work, plus two other popular three-player golf games to try.
Every hole is worth nine points. The lowest score receives 5, second gets 3 and third gets 1. Use gross scores for level play or net scores when handicaps apply. Across 18 holes, 162 points are shared and the player with the highest total wins.
When players tie: two tied for first score 4-4-1; two tied for second score 5-2-2; a three-way tie is 3-3-3.
Six points are available on each hole: 4 for the best score, 2 for second and 0 for third. It has the same hole-by-hole momentum as Nines with a slightly sharper penalty for finishing last.
When players tie: split the points for the tied places — 3-3-0, 4-1-1 or 2-2-2. The optional 2-Shot Sweep rewards a clear two-shot win.
There are three separate points on every hole. Bingo goes to the first player on the green, Bango to the golfer nearest the hole once all balls are on, and Bongo to the first player to hole out.
Keep the correct order of play: the player furthest from the hole plays first. Because points reward timing as well as score, it is a useful leveller and does not rely on handicaps.
One golfer is the Wolf on each hole, with the role rotating through the group. After the tee shots, the Wolf chooses a partner for a two-against-one contest or decides to play alone.
Typical scoring: a lone Wolf earns 3 points for winning; if the Wolf loses alone, the other two golfers receive 1 point each. With a partner chosen, each golfer on the winning side scores 2 points.
Win a hole outright to take possession of the Rabbit. If another golfer wins the next hole outright, they steal it. If the current holder wins again, they capture the Rabbit and score a point before a new chase begins.
Tied holes do not move the Rabbit. The game can swing repeatedly, so a quiet start never puts anyone completely out of the contest.
Each golfer plays a separate head-to-head match against both of the others at the same time. Compare gross or net scores on every hole, record a win, loss or half in each match, and settle all three matches after 18 holes.
It is familiar and easy to organise, although the three simultaneous matches can be harder to follow than a single shared points table.
Pick Nines for constant leaderboard movement, Split Sixes for a tougher last-place penalty, Bingo Bango Bongo for shot-by-shot variety, or Wolf for strategy and changing partnerships.
THREE-BALL GOLF QUESTIONS
Straight answers for choosing a format, using handicaps and keeping a competitive three-player round moving.
Nines (5-3-1), Split Sixes, Bingo Bango Bongo and Wolf all keep three golfers involved on every hole. 531 Golf includes all four formats and handles their scoring.
No. 531 Golf is a three-player scoring companion, not a GPS or yardage app. Use it alongside your usual GPS when the round becomes competitive.
Most scorecard apps record strokes but do not calculate 3-ball formats, tie splits and net positions. 531 Golf focuses specifically on competitive three-player rounds.
Yes. Add a course’s stroke indexes and each player’s playing handicap, then enter gross scores. The app calculates shots, net scores and finishing positions automatically.
No. One golfer can score the round for the group and share the results afterwards.
No. It is designed to remove the mental maths by calculating points, ties and stroke allocation as scores are entered.
Whenever a three-ball wants more than ordinary stroke play. Open it for Nines, Split Sixes, Bingo Bango Bongo or Wolf and keep the competition clear to the final hole.
FIRST-TEE MATHS. ALREADY DONE.
02 / THE WHS HANDICAP CALCULATOR
Turn Handicap Indexes and course ratings into clear player or team allowances, with the workings shown so everyone can agree.
Independent calculator. Confirm competition allowances with your organiser.
YOUR NEXT ROUND. AT A GLANCE.
03 / YOUR CLUB CALENDAR COMPANION
Bring upcoming club competitions and playing-day forecasts to your iPhone Home Screen.
You’ll need your personal ICS calendar subscription, usually found in MyGolf → Preferences → Diary Subscription. Details depend on your club’s feed; iOS manages refresh timing.
Independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by IntelligentGolf.
THE APP COLLECTION
For three-ball scoring, choose 531 Golf. For handicap calculations, choose Shots Sorted. For your IntelligentGolf club calendar and Home Screen widgets, choose My Golf Season: Widgets.
It currently works with clubs using IntelligentGolf, and requires your personal ICS diary subscription address. Check your member profile before downloading.
Each app’s App Store listing has its current price, purchase options and iOS requirements. Use the download links above for the latest details.
BUILT AROUND REAL ROUNDS
Have a question about one of the apps? Get in touch.