Split Sixes is a three-player golf betting game where 6 points are up for grabs on every hole, distributed based on each player’s score relative to the other two. It goes by a few names — English, Cricket, 6-Point Game — but the concept is the same: best score gets 4 points, middle score gets 2, and last place walks away empty. Simple on the surface, surprisingly cutthroat by the back nine.
If you’ve ever been stuck playing in a threesome and felt like the games didn’t really work, this is your answer. Split Sixes is one of the strongest options on our golf games for 3 players list, but it’s far from the only one.
Split Sixes is competitive, it’s betting-friendly, and it creates pressure on every single hole from the first tee to the last putt.
Split Sixes Golf at a Glance
Split Sixes is a points-based betting game for exactly three golfers. Each player competes individually — no partners, no teams — and earns points based on how their score ranks against the other two on each hole. After 18 holes, whoever has accumulated the most points wins, and payouts are based on the point gaps between all three players.
It’s clean. It’s fast to score. And it punishes blowup holes without punishing you for the entire round.
Game Setup
Here’s everything you sort out before the first tee shot:
Number of Players
Split Sixes is designed for exactly 3 players. No more, no less. (If you want a 4-player version, check out Sixes — a completely different format.)
Handicaps
The game can be played gross or net. For mixed-skill groups, playing net (with handicaps) is the right move. The lowest handicap in the group plays scratch; the other two receive the difference between their course handicap and the lowest handicapper’s. (This stroke allocation method follows WHS guidance for individual stroke play with mixed handicaps.)
For example, if the handicaps are 4, 12, and 18, the 4-cap plays scratch, the 12-cap gets 8 strokes, and the 18-cap gets 14 strokes.
Use our WHS handicap calculator to get everyone’s course handicap dialed in before you tee off — it handles the math across more than 20 formats in seconds. Not sure what handicaps are? Check out our easy to follow handicap explainer.
Point Value
Before the round begins, all three players must agree on a monetary value per point. Common amounts are $0.50 or $1.00 per point, though some groups go higher.
Over 18 holes, 108 total points are in play (6 points x 18 holes). The stakes can add up fast, so choose an amount everyone’s comfortable with. Of course, bragging rights can be the wager as well.
Order of Play
Standard tee box etiquette applies. Use a tee toss to determine who hits first.
How to Play Split Sixes: Rules & Scoring
Once everything’s set up, the game plays like a standard stroke play round — with scoring governed by the USGA’s Rules of Golf — except every hole has a points consequence.
On Each Hole:
At the completion of each hole, compare the three scores (net, if using handicaps) and distribute points using the 4-2-0 system:
| Finish | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| Low score (1st place) | 4 points |
| Middle score (2nd place) | 2 points |
| High score (last place) | 0 points |
Six points are always distributed per hole. No exceptions.
Handling Ties:
Ties are common, and the points split accordingly:
- Two players tie for 1st: Each tied player receives 3 points (4+2 ÷ 2). Third place gets 0.
- Two players tie for last: First place gets 4 points. Each tied player gets 1 point (2+0 ÷ 2).
- Three-way tie: Each player receives 2 points.
Let’s walk through a sample hole so this clicks:
Hole 7, Par 4. Player A makes net par (4). Player B makes net bogey (5). Player C makes net par (4).
Players A and C tie for 1st — they each get 3 points. Player B finishes last with 0 points.
Every hole tallies the same way. Jot the points next to the score after each hole.
Payout at the End:
Add up all 18 holes. The player with the most points collects from the other two based on the point difference — individually.
Example: Player A finishes with 43 points. Player B has 35. Player C has 30.
- Player A collects 8 units from B (43 – 35) and 13 units from C (43 – 30)
- Player B collects 5 units from C (35 – 30)
- Player C pays 13 units to A and 5 units to B
One player always walks away net positive. Two players always pay someone. That’s the reality of this game.
Game Variations
Nine Points (Nines): Same concept as Split Sixes, scaled up. Each hole is worth 9 points with a 5-3-1 distribution. Low score gets 5, middle gets 3, high gets 1. No one walks away completely scoreless, which some groups prefer. The higher point values also give the payout math a little more bite.
Carryovers: Agree before the round that if all three players tie a hole, the 6 points carry over to the next hole — making it worth 12. If that hole ties too, it rolls again to 18. This one variation turns a standard back nine into a white-knuckle experience when the carryover stack gets big enough.
Junk Side Bets: Layer on extras like Dots, Birdies, or Greenies — worth individual points or a flat dollar amount separate from the main game. Birdie nets an extra point. Closest-to-the-pin on par 3s. Sandy (up and down from a bunker). These side bets don’t change the core Split Sixes scoring but keep things interesting on holes where all three players are making pars.
Gross Only (No Handicap): Some groups — especially when the skill gap is small — prefer to skip handicaps and just play gross scores. If all three of you are in the 5-15 handicap range, gross Split Sixes keeps things simple and fast.
Auto Press: If one player sweeps a hole with a clean win (4-2-0 or 4-1-1), a new separate side bet automatically starts for the next hole at the same unit value. This creates a game within the game and adds big swing potential for the player who got shut out.
Tips & Strategies
Winning Strategies
Consistency over hero shots. In Split Sixes, picking up 2 points on every hole beats winning four holes and blowing up on the rest. If you can make net par on 14 of 18 holes, you’re going to be in great shape. Second place wins real money here.
Know the situation on each hole. If two players are fighting for first and one of you is going to lose, the one getting 2 points still matters more than you might think. Pay attention to how the hole is shaping up as you approach the green — sometimes laying up is smarter than forcing a hero shot for a win when 2 points is already locked up.
Pressure the player in first. If one player is running away with the overall points total heading into the back nine, the other two have a shared motivation. You don’t have to collude — the game does it organically. Go for the aggressive line knowing the leader might get cautious.
Handicap strokes are your leverage. If you’ve got strokes on tough holes, you don’t need to overplay them. A net par on a par-5 where you get a stroke is 4 points waiting to happen if the other two press and make bogeys. Let them beat themselves.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting the tie distribution mid-round. The 3-3-0, 4-1-1, and 2-2-2 splits are easy to confuse under pressure. Write them on your scorecard before you start so there’s no debate on the 15th hole when money is tight.
Not agreeing on three-way tie rules before you tee off. Some groups award 0 points to everyone on a complete tie. Others play 2-2-2. This sounds like a minor detail until you’re on hole 16 with a carry-over at stake. Decide before hole 1.
Ignoring the back end of the scoreboard. Third place isn’t just breaking even — third place is paying both first AND second. A lot of players treat this game like “welp screw it, I’m not winning so I’ll just keep being aggressive.” Don’t. The gap between 2nd and 3rd can be expensive.
Going for the win when 2nd is locked up. If you’re sitting in a solid 2-point position going into a green and the path to 4 points involves a risky shot over water — take the safe 2. Split Sixes is a grind, not a highlight reel.
Miscalculating handicap strokes on par 3s. Players often forget to check their stroke index on short holes. If a par 3 is ranked 15th on the card and your opponent has 16 or more strokes, they’re getting a stroke. That changes the dynamic entirely. Check the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play Split Sixes with 4 players?
Technically, no — Split Sixes is designed for exactly three. With four players, the 6-point system doesn’t divide cleanly into a last-place score. If you’ve got four players, check out Sixes (the rotating partner format).
Do you have to use handicaps in Split Sixes?
No, but you should when there’s a meaningful skill gap between players. Playing gross Split Sixes between a 2-handicap and an 18-handicap isn’t really a competition — it’s a points robbery. Use net scoring when the gap is 6 strokes or more. Use the WHS handicap calculator to get accurate course handicaps and stroke allocations for your specific tees and course rating.
What happens if someone makes a double bogey or worse?
It doesn’t change anything structurally — they get 0 points regardless of whether they make bogey or a 9. The downside of a blowup hole in Split Sixes is the same no matter how bad it gets, which is actually one reason higher handicappers enjoy the format. The damage is capped per hole.
Is Split Sixes the same as Sixes?
No. These are two completely different games that share a confusing name overlap. Split Sixes is a 3-player individual points game using the 4-2-0 system. Sixes (also called Hollywood or Round Robin) is a 4-player team game where partners rotate every 6 holes. Don’t mix these up on the first tee or you’ll be mid-round before you realize you’re playing different games.
How much can you win or lose in Split Sixes?
With 108 total points in play and a $1/point value, the maximum possible payout is $108. But in practice, most rounds end much closer to the middle. Realistic swings are in the $20–$50 range at $1/point. That said, if one player absolutely dominates and the point spread is wide, the losses for 2nd and 3rd place compound fast — you’re paying both players above you, not just one.
Can you use carryovers in Split Sixes?
Yes, and it’s one of the best variations to add. Agree before the round that a three-way tie carries the 6 points to the next hole. The next hole is then worth 12 points, and it can snowball from there. This rule turns otherwise boring stretch of pars into genuine drama. Just agree on it before you start — don’t propose it for the first time when you’re standing on hole 15.
Final Thoughts
If you play in a lot of threesomes and you’ve been running the same tired Nassau format, Split Sixes is an immediate upgrade. Every hole matters. Every point counts. Nobody gets to cruise through the round without consequence, and the payout structure makes sure last place actually feels last.
Try it at $0.50 a point your first round and see how much attention everyone starts paying to par saves. By the time you’re halfway through the back nine, someone’s already doing the math in their head. That’s the sign of a good game.
Are you looking for even higher stakes? Start planning your next outting around The Bounty, the betting game that creates huge jackpots throughout the round.
Other Golf Games You’ll Love
Golf Games Hub is home to every golf game imaginable. Explore our various collections of golf games:
- Traditional Golf Games
- Fun & Social Golf Games
- Points-Based Golf Games
- Betting Golf Games
- Drinking Golf Games
If Split Sixes is your speed, these formats deserve a spot in your regular rotation.
Low Ball Low Total — A 2-vs-2 team format that rewards both individual brilliance and team consistency on every hole. You’re playing for two points per hole — one for the low ball, one for the low combined total — which means even when your partner’s struggling, you can still steal a point. It’s a great next step up from Split Sixes if you want to bring a fourth player into the mix.
Flaps — One of the more creative points games out there, Flaps awards bonus points for specific accomplishments — birdies, pars after a penalty, up-and-downs — layered on top of your regular score. Like Split Sixes, every hole has teeth, but Flaps rewards shot-making and scrambling in ways that pure scoring games don’t. Great for groups that want more ways to win.
Greensomes — A team format where both partners tee off, then choose the better drive and alternate shots from there. It’s got team pressure, but with the added stress of your partner watching every shot you hit. Ideal when you want a format that actually requires communication and strategy between partners.
Dots — The ultimate points sideshow that runs alongside any other format you’re already playing. Dots are earned for birdies, sandies, greenies, and other accomplishments throughout the round — tracked independently and paid out at the end. It’s the natural add-on for Split Sixes groups that want another layer of action without replacing the main game.
We add new games every week, so come back again soon. Your new favorite golf game awaits!
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