NINES
The 3-Player Point Game
🎯Objective
9 points are distributed on each hole: 5 for best score, 3 for second, 1 for third. Ties split points. After 18 holes, settle up based on point differences!
Requirements
📊Point Distribution
Total per hole: 9 points | Total for 18 holes: 162 points
🤝Tie Handling
3-Way Tie (All Same Score)
9 ÷ 3 = 3 points each
2-Way Tie for Best
(5+3) ÷ 2 = 4 points each | Third gets 1 point
2-Way Tie for Second
Best gets 5 points | (3+1) ÷ 2 = 2 points each
⚡Optional Variations
Spice up your Nines game with these optional rules you can enable when creating your round:
💥Blitz Rule (9-0-0)
When one player beats both opponents by 2+ strokes, they get ALL 9 points!
Example - Blitz Triggered:
Chad: 3
9 pts
Blitz! 💥
John: 5
0 pts
-2 strokes
Mike: 6
0 pts
-3 strokes
🐦Birdies Double Points
When any player makes a birdie, ALL points on that hole are doubled!
Example - Par 4 with Birdie:
Chad: 3
10 pts
Birdie! (5×2)
John: 4
6 pts
Par (3×2)
Mike: 5
2 pts
Bogey (1×2)
💡 Note: These variations are optional and must be enabled when creating your round. They add excitement and can dramatically change the outcome!
📝Example Holes
Hole 1 - Normal Distribution
Chad: 4
5 pts
John: 5
3 pts
Mike: 6
1 pt
Hole 2 - Tie for Best
Chad: 4
4 pts
John: 4
4 pts
Mike: 5
1 pt
Hole 3 - Three-Way Tie
Chad: 4
3 pts
John: 4
3 pts
Mike: 4
3 pts
💰Settlement
Set a value per point (e.g., $0.25). After 18 holes:
- • Total points available: 162 (9 × 18)
- • Average per player: 54 points
- • Settlement based on difference from average
Example ($0.25/point):
Chad: 72 points → +18 above avg → +$4.50
John: 54 points → 0 (average) → $0.00
Mike: 36 points → -18 below avg → -$4.50
🧠Strategy Tips
Avoid Third Place
The gap from 3 to 1 point is significant. Second place is 3x better than third!
Ties Hurt Winners
A tie for best gives 4 points instead of 5. Sometimes it's better to lose cleanly.
Consistency Wins
Every hole is worth 9 points. No hole is more valuable than another.
Big Numbers Are Costly
A blow-up hole almost guarantees only 1 point. Play smart, not risky.
💡 Why Exactly 3 Players?
The 5-3-1 point system is mathematically designed for 3 players. It ensures everyone gets points every hole while rewarding better scores. With 4+ players, you'd need a different point distribution (like Wolf or Skins).
Got a threesome? Try Nines!