Game Format

3 Putt Poker

Also known as: Three Putt Poker, Putting Poker

3 Putt Poker is a golf side game that blends putting skill with the luck of a poker hand. Players earn physical playing cards based on how many putts they take on each hole, and at the end of the round, the player who can assemble the best poker hand from their collected cards wins the pot. It’s a fun, social game that keeps everyone engaged on the greens and adds a gambling twist to any round.

At a Glance

Type: Individual game
Players: 2 or more
Scoring: Cards earned based on putts per hole
Handicaps: On by default (net putts)
Wins: Best poker hand at end of round

The Rules

Before the round, each player pays an ante into the pot. In return, each player receives 1 starting card dealt from a standard deck of playing cards.
On each hole, players count the number of putts they take on the green.
After each hole, players receive (or lose) cards based on their putt count:
- 0 putts (chip-in) — earn 2 cards
- 1 putt — earn 1 card
- 2 putts — no cards earned, no penalty
- 3 putts — no cards earned, plus a money penalty to the pot
- 4+ putts — lose 1 card, plus a money penalty to the pot
At the end of the round, each player builds the best 5-card poker hand they can from all the cards they’ve collected.
The player with the best poker hand wins the entire pot.

Handicaps: Handicaps are enabled by default in 3 Putt Poker. When handicaps are on, players receive strokes on certain holes which can reduce their net putt count, giving higher-handicap players a fairer chance at earning cards.

Card Chart

The default card and penalty settings for each putt count:

Putts	Cards	Penalty
0 (chip-in)	+2 cards	—
1	+1 card	—
2	0 cards	—
3	0 cards	Owes to pot
4	−1 card	Owes to pot
5+	−1 card	Owes to pot

Customizable: All of these values — the number of cards earned or lost and the penalty amounts — are fully customizable in Squabbit. You can adjust the settings to match your group’s preferred stakes and rules.

Example Round

Four players each pay a $5 ante and receive 1 starting card. Here’s how Player A’s cards accumulate over a few holes:

Player A — Sample Holes

Start 1 card (from ante)

Hole 1 2 putts → 0 cards earned. Running total: 1 card

Hole 2 1 putt → +1 card. Running total: 2 cards

Hole 3 0 putts (chip-in!) → +2 cards. Running total: 4 cards

Hole 4 3 putts → 0 cards, owes $1 to pot. Running total: 4 cards

Hole 5 1 putt → +1 card. Running total: 5 cards

After 5 holes Player A has 5 cards and has paid $6 total ($5 ante + $1 penalty)

At the end of 18 holes, all players reveal their cards and build the best poker hand they can. The best hand takes the pot, which includes all the antes plus any three-putt penalties collected during the round.

Setting Up in Squabbit

To create a 3 Putt Poker game in Squabbit:

Create a new tournament or casual game.
Under format, choose 3 Putt Poker.
Optionally adjust the card chart — change how many cards are earned or lost for each putt count, and set the penalty amounts for three-putts and worse.
Set the number of starting cards each player receives with their ante (default is 1).
Add players to the game.

During the round, Squabbit tracks each player’s putt count per hole and automatically calculates the total cards earned and any amounts owed to the pot. The leaderboard shows each player’s card total so you know who’s collecting the most cards heading into the final poker showdown.

Tip: Remember to bring a physical deck of playing cards to the course! Squabbit tracks the card counts and pot amounts, but you’ll need real cards to deal out and build your poker hands at the end.