How to play Nines (5-3-1): rules and examples
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. A close game stays close, and the player who is behind always has something to play for.
- Players: 3 players
- Also called: 5-3-1, Nine points, Nine-point
- Teams: Every player for themselves
- Scores needed: Every player's score on each hole
Each golfer's score on every hole. The points are worked out for you.
Score more than the average of the group.
How to play Nines (5-3-1)
- Three players each play their own ball, net with strokes off the low by default.
- On each hole award 5 points to the lowest score, 3 to the middle and 1 to the highest.
- Ties split the points. Two tied for low take 4 each and the third 1. Two tied for high take 2 each and the low player 5. All three tied take 3 each.
- Over 18 holes the total is 162 points and the average is 54.
- Settle each player against the average, or each pair against each other.
A worked example with numbers
Net scores of 4, 5 and 6 earn 5, 3 and 1. Over eighteen holes Ann finishes with 60 points, Bo with 54 and Cy with 48. The average is 54, so Ann is +6, Bo is 0 and Cy is -6.
At 1 per point, settling each player against the average means Cy pays Ann 6. Settling pair by pair gives Ann +12 over Cy and +6 over Bo, so she collects 18 in total. That is three times the 6 of the average method for the same unit value, so pick the method before you start.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross or net | net | gross, net | Net applies handicap strokes; gross ignores them. |
| Stroke method | off the low | off the low, full | Off the low: lowest handicap plays at zero. Full: everyone takes their whole Playing Handicap. |
| Handicap allowance % | 100 | 100, 95, 90, 85, 80 | Percent of the Course Handicap used, applied before rounding. |
| Settlement | average | average, pairwise, pot | average: each player against the average (54 points over 18 holes). pairwise: each pair settles point difference; this pays exactly three times the average method. pot: points leader takes an ante from each player. |
| Sweep | off | off, birdie | birdie: an outright low score that is a gross birdie takes all 9 points. |
| Hole not completed (pick-up) | net double | net double, max | out: player is out of the hole. netDouble: records net double bogey. max: records the maximum score below. |
| Maximum score (strokes over par) | 3 | 2, 3, 4 | Used when pick-up is "max"; 3 means triple bogey. |
| 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
Gross or net?
Net by default, with strokes off the low. Gross is an option.
How do you settle?
Average (each player against the group average) by default. Pairwise and pot are options, and pairwise pays exactly three times the average method.
What if someone picks up?
A net double bogey is recorded by default. You can use a maximum score instead.
Can a birdie sweep all nine points?
There is an optional sweep: an outright low score that is a gross birdie takes all nine.
Frequently asked questions
Can four people play Nines?
The game is built for exactly three. Four players commonly play Sixes or Wolf instead.
How many points per round?
Nine per hole, so 162 for 18 holes.
What are ties worth?
Two tied for low take 4-4-1. Two tied for high take 5-2-2. All three tied take 3-3-3.
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 Nines (5-3-1), 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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