Vegas golf game rules
Vegas is a two-against-two team game where the two partners' scores are put together to make one number. Small mistakes get expensive fast.
How to play
Pick two teams of two. On each hole, put each team's two scores together with the lower first: a 4 and a 5 make 45. The team with the lower number wins the difference in points — 45 v 56 is 11 points.
Birdie flip
If one team makes a birdie, the other team's number is flipped high-first: 56 becomes 65. If both teams make birdie, the flips cancel. Side Pot can also double points for an eagle.
Daytona
A popular variant: a team that makes bogey or worse writes its number high-first even without a birdie from the other side.
Scoring
Each point is worth an agreed value. Each player on the losing team pays each player on the winning team the points times the value. Scores of 10 or more are written as a three-digit number (4 and 10 make 410).
Worked example
Dave & Mike against Sam & Jon, 25¢ a point, birdie flip on. Hole 1: 45 v 56. Hole 2: Dave birdies, so 35 v 54. Hole 3: 56 v 55.
Dave & Mike win 11, then 19, then lose 1 — 29 points. Each loses or wins 29 × 25¢ against each opponent: Dave +$14.50, Mike +$14.50, Sam −$14.50, Jon −$14.50.
These numbers come straight from the scoring Side Pot uses in a real round. Load them into the calculator below and change anything.
Vegas calculator
Dave, Mike, Sam, Jon · teams: Dave & Mike v Sam & Jon
- Dave+$14.50Net up
- Mike+$14.50Net up
- Sam−$14.50Net down
- Jon−$14.50Net down
Why (12 entries)
- Sam → Dave $2.75 · Vegas hole 1: 45 v 56, Dave's team +11
- Jon → Dave $2.75 · Vegas hole 1: 45 v 56, Dave's team +11
- Sam → Mike $2.75 · Vegas hole 1: 45 v 56, Mike's team +11
- Jon → Mike $2.75 · Vegas hole 1: 45 v 56, Mike's team +11
- Sam → Dave $4.75 · Vegas hole 2: 35 v 54 (birdie flip), Dave's team +19
- Jon → Dave $4.75 · Vegas hole 2: 35 v 54 (birdie flip), Dave's team +19
- Sam → Mike $4.75 · Vegas hole 2: 35 v 54 (birdie flip), Mike's team +19
- Jon → Mike $4.75 · Vegas hole 2: 35 v 54 (birdie flip), Mike's team +19
- Dave → Sam $0.25 · Vegas hole 3: 56 v 55, Sam's team +1
- Dave → Jon $0.25 · Vegas hole 3: 56 v 55, Jon's team +1
- Mike → Sam $0.25 · Vegas hole 3: 56 v 55, Sam's team +1
- Mike → Jon $0.25 · Vegas hole 3: 56 v 55, Jon's team +1
Common questions
Why is Vegas so swingy?
Because one big number — a double bogey next to a par makes 46 or 64 — can be worth 20 or 30 points on a single hole. Most groups play for cents per point.
What happens if both teams make birdie in Vegas?
In Side Pot the flips cancel and the numbers are compared normally.
Can three players play Vegas?
Not really — it needs two teams of two. With three, try Wolf or Stableford.
Related games
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