Closest to the Pin & Long Drive golf game rules
Closest to the Pin (CTP) and Long Drive are the simplest side games: a prize for the best shot on chosen holes, usually par 3s for CTP and a par 5 for Long Drive.
Closest to the Pin
On each picked par 3, the tee shot that finishes on the green closest to the hole wins. A ball off the green doesn't count.
Long Drive
On each picked hole, the longest drive that finishes in the fairway wins.
Payouts
Per event: every other player pays the winner an agreed amount. Pot: everyone puts in a buy-in that's split evenly across the picked holes; unawarded holes go back to everyone.
Worked example
$5 per event. Closest to the Pin on holes 1 and 4, Long Drive on hole 2. Sam wins CTP on 1, Dave on 4, and Jon wins Long Drive.
Each winner collects $5 from the other three. Mike won nothing: Dave +$5, Sam +$5, Jon +$5, Mike −$15.
These numbers come straight from the scoring Side Pot uses in a real round. Load them into the calculator below and change anything.
Closest to the Pin & Long Drive calculator
Dave, Mike, Sam, Jon
- Dave+$5Net up
- Mike−$15Net down
- Sam+$5Net up
- Jon+$5Net up
Why (9 entries)
- Dave → Sam $5 · Closest to Pin hole 1: Sam
- Mike → Sam $5 · Closest to Pin hole 1: Sam
- Jon → Sam $5 · Closest to Pin hole 1: Sam
- Mike → Dave $5 · Closest to Pin hole 4: Dave
- Sam → Dave $5 · Closest to Pin hole 4: Dave
- Jon → Dave $5 · Closest to Pin hole 4: Dave
- Dave → Jon $5 · Long Drive hole 2: Jon
- Mike → Jon $5 · Long Drive hole 2: Jon
- Sam → Jon $5 · Long Drive hole 2: Jon
Common questions
Does closest to the pin count if you're off the green?
Usually not — the ball has to be on the green. Agree it before the round.
Does a long drive have to be in the fairway?
Yes. The longest drive in the fairway wins; anything in the rough doesn't count.
Related games
Let Side Pot keep the book.
Tap scores, and every Closest to the Pin & Long Drive result, the money and the settle-up are worked out for you.
Score your next Closest to the Pin & Long Drive round