The 531 Golf App

The Best Game for 3-Ball Golf

Why 5-3-1 is Perfect for 3-Ball GolfIf you’re searching for the best game for 3 ball golf, 5-3-1 (also known as Nines) is built specifically for three players and keeps all competitors in the match from the first tee to the 18th green.5-3-1 golf turns every hole into a contest. On each hole, nine points are shared between three players based on how they finish — creating constant momentum shifts where no one is ever out of it (think of it as matchplay for 3-ball!)
But once the rivalry kicks in, keeping track of points, ties, stroke indexes and shot allocation can quickly pull attention away from the golf.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 mediaAnd if you want to raise the stakes, 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.So every hole is settled cleanly, the banter stays "friendly", and the competition stays alive until the final putt.If you ever play in a 3-ball, this is the app you want in your pocket.

Built for 3-ball golf

How to Play
531 / Nines golf game — rules, modes & scoring
The Basics

531 (also known as Nines) is a fun 3-player golf game where each hole is worth exactly 9 points.

After every hole, points are divided among the three players based on who played best.

At the end of 18 holes, each player should have earned points totalling 162 between them (9 × 18).

The player with the most points wins.

Game Modes
Manual or Handicap scoring

This app offers two ways to record scores:

Manual Mode

Enter each player's finishing position (1st, 2nd, 3rd) on each hole based on their net scores.

You'll need to work out handicap strokes and net scores yourself — see Handicaps & Shots below.

Best for: When you prefer to calculate net scores manually, or playing without handicaps.

Handicap Mode

Select a saved course with stroke indexes, enter each player's playing handicap, and then record gross scores on each hole. The app automatically:

  • Calculates strokes received for each player
  • Shows which holes each player gets shots on
  • Works out net scores from gross scores
  • Determines positions based on net scores
  • Tracks gross and net totals on the scorecard

Best for: When you want the app to handle all handicap calculations for you.

To use Handicap Mode, first add your course with stroke indexes in the Courses tab.

Point Scoring
5 / 3 / 1 — and how ties split

When there are no ties:

5
1st place
3
2nd place
1
3rd place

When players tie (points are split):

3 - 3 - 3
All three tie for 1st
4 - 4 - 1
Two tie for 1st, one 3rd
5 - 2 - 2
Clear winner, two tie for 2nd
Birdie Bandit & Eagle Assassin
Optional scoring variant

To add extra excitement to a round, 5-3-1 includes an optional scoring twist.

Birdie Bandit

If one player only makes a gross birdie, they score 7 points. The other two players score 1 point each.

Normal finishing positions are ignored for that hole.

Eagle Assassin

If one player only makes a gross eagle, they score all 9 points. The other two players score 0 points.

Eagle Assassin takes priority over Birdie Bandit.

Notes
  • This mode is optional and selected before the round
  • Birdies and eagles are manually selected on the scoring screen
  • If no birdie or eagle is selected, the hole uses standard 5-3-1 scoring
  • Resetting a hole returns it to normal scoring
Handicaps & Shots
For Manual Mode

When using Manual Mode, you'll need to work out net scores yourself. Here's how to calculate each player's shots:

Quick Method
  1. Find the lowest handicap player — they play off scratch (0 shots)
  2. Subtract the lowest handicap from the other two
  3. Those differences are how many shots each player gets
Example

Three players with handicaps of 6, 11, and 18:

  • Player A (hcp 6): Gets 0 shots (lowest)
  • Player B (hcp 11): Gets 5 shots (11 − 6 = 5)
  • Player C (hcp 18): Gets 12 shots (18 − 6 = 12)

Shots are given on holes based on the Stroke Index (SI).

Player B gets a shot on SI holes 1–5, and Player C gets a shot on SI holes 1–12.

Check the scorecard at your course for stroke index numbers — SI 1 is the hardest hole, SI 18 is the easiest.

Tiebreaker
How winners are decided on equal points

If two players finish with the same total points, the winner is decided by counting their individual hole results:

  1. Who has the most 5-pointers?
  2. Still tied? Most 4-pointers
  3. Still tied? Most 3-pointers
  4. Still tied? Most 2-pointers
  5. Still tied? Fewest 1-pointers (last places)

Tiebreakers are calculated automatically by the app, and the scorecard shows the status of your tiebreaker points.

Pro Tips
  • Always try to avoid coming last — a 1-pointer really hurts!
  • If you can't win the hole, focus on beating at least one player
  • Keep track of shots given — a net birdie beats a gross par!
  • Add courses with stroke indexes in the Courses tab to take advantage of automatic handicap calculations
  • Only enable Birdie & Eagle mode when all players have a similar chance of making one — otherwise it can unfairly sway the scoring
  • Great for friendly competition and keeping everyone engaged on every hole
Frequently Asked Questions
How 531 Golf fits alongside your other golf apps
Does 531 Golf replace my golf GPS app?

No. 531 Golf isn’t a GPS or yardage app — it’s built specifically to manage competitive 3-ball scoring formats like 5-3-1 (Nines).

Think of it as the scoring companion you use alongside your regular golf GPS app when the round gets competitive.

Do I need this if I already use a scorecard or handicap app?

Most scorecard apps track strokes. Very few are designed for 3-player formats or automatically calculate 5-3-1 scoring, tie splits and net positions.

531 Golf focuses specifically on competitive 3-ball rounds.

When does the app become useful?

The moment your group decides to play a competitive 3-ball format like 5-3-1. Instead of working out points after every hole, scoring is handled instantly.

Do all three players need to download the app?

No. Only one player needs to run the scoring during the round. Results can then be shared with the group.

Will using the app slow down our round?

No — it usually speeds things up. Points, ties and stroke allocations are handled automatically so there’s no debate on the tee.

Does it work properly with handicaps?

Yes. Stroke indexes and net scoring are applied automatically during handicap-based 3-ball rounds, ensuring accurate results every time.

Why do golfers keep 531 Golf on their phone?

Because whenever a 3-ball round turns competitive, it’s easier to open the app than to start calculating points by hand. It becomes the go-to scoring tool for 5-3-1 rounds.

531 (also known as Nines) is a fun 3-player golf game where each hole is worth exactly 9 points.
After every hole, points are divided among the three players based on who played best.
At the end of 18 holes, each player should have earned points totalling 162 between them (9 × 18).
The player with the most points wins!