How to play Bingo Bango Bongo: rules and examples
Bingo Bango Bongo gives out three points on every hole: one for the first ball on the green, one for the ball closest to the pin once everyone is on, and one for the first to hole out. Scores do not matter, so every handicap competes on equal terms.
- Players: 2 to 5 players
- Also called: BBB, three points a hole
- Teams: Every player for themselves
- Scores needed: Not just scores: some results come from order of play or putting
Tap the golfer for each of the three awards on the hole.
Collect the most points, whatever your handicap.
How to play Bingo Bango Bongo
- Play the hole in the correct order: the player farthest from the hole always plays next.
- Bingo goes to the first player to get their ball on the green.
- Bango goes to the player whose ball is closest to the hole once all balls are on the green.
- Bongo goes to the first player to hole out.
- Add up the points over the round. By default each pair settles the difference in points at the value of one point.
A worked example with numbers
On hole 4 Ann is first on the green and takes the bingo. Once all balls are on, Bo is closest and takes the bango. Cy holes out first and takes the bongo. Each of them scores 1 point.
After 18 holes Ann has 20 points, Bo has 18 and Cy has 16. At 1 per point Bo pays Ann 2 and Cy pays Ann 4 and Bo 2. The points differences between each pair are what money games use.
Options and defaults
These are the rules groups change. The first column is the setting, the second is what Hole19Tally starts with, and the last says what it changes.
| Option | Default | Choices | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bingo definition | time | time, fewest strokes | time: first ball on the green. fewestStrokes: fewest strokes to reach the green (needs strokes entered). |
| What counts as on the green | surface | surface, fringe | surface: putting surface only. fringe: a ball on the fringe counts. |
| Bingo weight | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Points for the bingo. |
| Bango weight | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Points for the bango. |
| Bongo weight | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Points for the bongo. |
| Sweep bonus | off | off, double | double: a player winning all three on a hole scores double. |
| Bongo condition | first | first, one putt | onePutt: the bongo must be a one-putt or a hole-out from off the green, otherwise its point carries. |
| Gimmes | none | none, counts | none: everything is holed in turn. counts: a conceded putt counts as holed when conceded. |
| Tee order on par 3s | rotation | honors, rotation, reverse | reverse sets the tee order from standings, so no other game may control tee order. |
| Unawarded point | none | none, split, carry | none: point lost. split: shared by the tied players. carry: added to the next hole's same award. |
| Settlement | pairwise | pairwise, pot | pairwise: each pair settles point difference x unit. pot: everyone antes the unit; the points leader wins. |
| Player withdraws | stand as is | stand as is, void, forfeit | standAsIs: that player's bets settle as they stand. void: bets with that player are cancelled. forfeit: they score nothing for the remaining holes. |
| Round cut short | segments | segments, void, last | segments: only completed segments settle. void: nothing settles. last: settle on standings at the last completed hole. |
Common disputes
What if two balls are on at the same time?
The default definition of bingo is the first ball on the green in time. You can use fewest strokes to reach the green if strokes are entered.
Does the fringe count as on the green?
Not by default. You can allow the fringe.
Are conceded putts allowed?
By default everything is holed in turn. Another setting counts a conceded putt as holed at the moment it is conceded.
What if nobody earns a point?
The unawarded point is lost by default. It can be shared or carried to the next hole.
Frequently asked questions
Who plays first in Bingo Bango Bongo?
The player farthest from the hole, every shot. That is what stops a long hitter getting an unfair edge from playing last.
Does handicap matter?
No. The game is about order of play, not scores, which makes it popular with mixed ability groups.
How many points per hole?
Three, with all weights at one by default. You can weight them differently.
Is Hole19Tally a betting app?
Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
Score it in Hole19Tally
Hole19Tally keeps the score for Bingo Bango Bongo, applies the handicap strokes and shows who owes whom. Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
Related games
Nines is a three-player game where nine points are split on every hole: five for the low score, three for the middle and one for the high.
Read more RabbitRabbit is a game where one player holds the rabbit at a time, and whoever holds it when the nine ends collects from everyone else.
Read more JunkJunk, also called dots or trash, is a set of small side bonuses such as greenies, sandies and birdies that run alongside your main game.
Read more