Golf junk (dots): greenies, sandies and birdies explained
Junk, also called dots or trash, is a set of small side bonuses such as greenies, sandies and birdies that run alongside your main game. Each player who earns one is paid by everyone else.
- Players: 2 to 5 players
- Also called: dots, trash, side games, greenies and sandies
- Teams: Every player for themselves
- Scores needed: Every player's score on each hole
Tap the golfer next to each prize that was earned on the hole. Birdies come from the scores.
Earn more prizes than the others.
How to play Junk
- Choose which items count today. Greenie, sandy and birdie are on by default; the others are off.
- Set a value for each item in units. One unit each is the default.
- Play the round. When a player earns an item on a hole, they are paid its value by each other player.
- Choose how strict you are: a greenie by default needs par or better to be paid.
- In team games, junk can be set so that only the opposing team pays.
A worked example with numbers
On a par 3 Ann's tee shot is closest on the green and she makes par, so she earns a greenie worth 1 unit from each of the other three players, +3 for Ann. On the next hole she hits out of a bunker and makes par, a sandy, another +3.
The definitions of the rarer items vary from group to group, so agree them on the first tee. If birdie doubles other junk is on, a gross birdie doubles the value of any other junk that player earns on the same hole.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenie on | on | on, off | Whether a greenie counts as junk. |
| Sandy on | on | on, off | Whether a sandy counts as junk. |
| Barkie on | off | on, off | Whether a barkie counts as junk. |
| Arnie on | off | on, off | Whether a arnie counts as junk. |
| Hogan on | off | on, off | Whether a hogan counts as junk. |
| Polie on | off | on, off | Whether a polie counts as junk. |
| Chippie on | off | on, off | Whether a chippie counts as junk. |
| Birdie on | on | on, off | Whether a birdie counts as junk. |
| Three-putt on | off | on, off | Whether a three-putt counts as junk. |
| Water ball on | off | on, off | Whether a water ball counts as junk. |
| Out of bounds on | off | on, off | Whether a out of bounds counts as junk. |
| Score of 8+ on | off | on, off | Whether a score of 8+ counts as junk. |
| Greenie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a greenie is worth from each other player. |
| Sandy value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a sandy is worth from each other player. |
| Barkie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a barkie is worth from each other player. |
| Arnie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a arnie is worth from each other player. |
| Hogan value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a hogan is worth from each other player. |
| Polie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a polie is worth from each other player. |
| Chippie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a chippie is worth from each other player. |
| Birdie value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a birdie is worth from each other player. |
| Three-putt value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a three-putt is worth from each other player. |
| Water ball value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a water ball is worth from each other player. |
| Out of bounds value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a out of bounds is worth from each other player. |
| Score of 8+ value (units) | 1 | 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a score of 8+ is worth from each other player. |
| Eagle value (units) | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | How many units a eagle is worth from each other player. |
| Birdie / par-or-better tests | gross | gross, net | JNK-1: gross by default; net uses handicap strokes. |
| Stroke method (net tests) | full | full, off the low | Whether net tests use the full handicap or strokes off the low. |
| Greenie validation | par | par, none | par: must make par or better to collect. |
| Nobody hits the green | none | none, carry | carry: the greenie value carries to the next par 3. |
| Sandy scope | any | any, greenside | greenside: only a greenside up-and-down counts. |
| Polie scope | any | any, par or better | Whether any polie counts or only when it saves par or better. |
| Team junk | off | off, on | JNK-2: in a team game, junk is paid only by the opposing team. |
| Birdie doubles other junk | off | off, on | JNK-3: a gross birdie doubles the value of any other junk that player earns on the same hole. |
| 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. |
Common disputes
What if nobody hits the green on a par 3?
No greenie by default. You can have the value carry to the next par 3.
Do I need par to collect a greenie?
By default yes. Turn off validation to pay for being closest alone.
What counts as a sandy?
A par or better after a bunker shot. A stricter version requires the bunker to be next to the green.
Gross or net?
Gross for birdie and par tests by default. Net uses handicap strokes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a greenie?
A point for the ball closest to the pin on a par 3, usually needing a par or better to count.
What is a sandy?
Getting up and down from a bunker for par or better.
What is a barkie?
Making par or better after hitting a tree on the hole.
How many items can be on?
Any combination; the app has a switch for each.
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 Junk, 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.
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