Nines, also called 5-3-1 or the 9 point game, is a golf game for three players where every hole is worth 9 points: 5 for the best score, 3 for the middle score and 1 for the worst. Tied players share the points. Most points at the end wins, and the money settles on the gaps between players.
Nines
How to play Nines (5-3-1) in golf: the 9 point game
Nines is a threesome game where every hole is worth 9 points: 5 for the best score, 3 for the middle and 1 for the worst. Rules, ties, a scored nine and the money.
Jim CampbellUpdated 3 min read
On this page
It is the go-to game in a threesome, and one of the simplest golf betting games to keep on a card.
How Nines works
- Three players, each playing their own ball.
- On each hole, the lowest score gets 5 points, the middle score 3 and the highest score 1.
- Ties share the points for the places they cover. Two tied for low get 4 each; two tied for high get 2 each; a three-way tie is 3 each.
- Add up the points over the round.
- Settle on the gaps: each player pays every player ahead of them the difference in points times the stake.
Every hole hands out exactly 9 points, so over nine holes the three totals add up to 81, and over 18 holes to 162. That makes it easy to check the card.
Scoring example
Jim, Mike and Dana play nine holes of Nines with no strokes and $1 a point. Each cell shows the score, then the points.
| Hole | Par | Jim | Mike | Dana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 (5) | 5 (3) | 6 (1) |
| 2 | 5 | 5 (4) | 5 (4) | 6 (1) |
| 3 | 3 | 3 (3) | 4 (1) | 2 (5) |
| 4 | 4 | 5 (2) | 4 (5) | 5 (2) |
| 5 | 4 | 4 (3) | 4 (3) | 4 (3) |
| 6 | 3 | 4 (1) | 3 (4) | 3 (4) |
| 7 | 5 | 5 (4) | 6 (1) | 5 (4) |
| 8 | 4 | 4 (4) | 5 (1) | 4 (4) |
| 9 | 4 | 5 (3) | 4 (5) | 6 (1) |
| Points | 29 | 27 | 25 |
Hole 4 is the tie people ask about. Mike makes a 4 and takes 5 points. Jim and Dana both make 5, tied for second and third, so they share 3 and 1: 2 points each. On hole 5 all three make 4, so everyone gets 3.
Jim wins with 29 points, Mike has 27 and Dana 25. At $1 a point each pair settles its gap: Mike pays Jim $2, Dana pays Jim $4 and Dana pays Mike $2. Netted out, Jim is up $6, Mike is even and Dana is down $6.
Strokes: playing Nines net
Net Nines gives each player strokes on the hardest holes by stroke index, and the points go by net score. With three players of different ability, it keeps everyone in the hole.
Picnic plays Nines net by default with full strokes. Net strokes chooses between Off the low, where the best player plays off zero, and Full handicap. Switch Handicaps to Gross to play without strokes, as in the example.
Variations
- Gross or net. Picnic: yes (Handicaps: Net or Gross).
- Ties share the points. Picnic: yes, always.
- Sweep bonus. A player who beats both others by two or more takes all 9. Picnic: not yet.
- Birdies double. A birdie that wins the hole doubles its points. Picnic: not yet.
- Four players. A 4-2-1-0 or similar split. Picnic: not yet; Nines is for three.
The money
Nines is played per point and settled on the gaps, so the stake is usually small: 25 cents to $1 a point. At $1 a point, a typical nine ends with a few dollars changing hands; a big day can be $10 to $20 over 18.
Picnic keeps the tally and shows who owes whom; your group settles up.
Tips
- Middle points matter. A steady bogey that beats a double is worth 3 instead of 1.
- Nines rewards consistency more than birdies, so it’s a good game for a group where nobody wants big swings.
Nines FAQ
How does the 9 point golf game work?
Three players split 9 points on every hole: 5 for the lowest score, 3 for the middle and 1 for the highest. Points add up over the round, and money settles on the point gaps between players.
How do ties work in Nines?
Tied players share the points for their places. Two tied for low share 5 and 3, so 4 each, and the third gets 1. Two tied for high share 3 and 1, so 2 each. A three-way tie is 3 each.
Can you play Nines with four players?
The classic game is for three. Four-player versions exist with different points, but Picnic scores Nines for a threesome only. Wolf or Skins work well for four.
Is Nines the same as 5-3-1?
Yes. Nines, 5-3-1 and the 9 point game are names for the same threesome game.
Related games
- Quota2 or more playersQuota, also called Chicago, gives every player a points target based on their strokes. Beat it by the most and you win. Rules, a scored round and the money.
- Wolf3 to 5 playersWolf is a rotating partners game: the Wolf picks a partner after each drive or goes it alone for double. Rules, lone and blind Wolf, a scored nine and the money.
- Nassau2 to 8 playersA Nassau is three match play bets in one round: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18. How it works, how presses work, and a scored round.
Built Picnic
Jim built Picnic after too many rounds where someone got the math wrong by the turn. He writes up the games his group plays, and the ones they want to try next.
Rules checked against Picnic 1.1.0
