How Snake works
- Agree on the stake before the round — say $5.
- The first player to three-putt (or worse) takes the snake.
- The snake moves to whoever three-putts next. If the player holding it three-putts again, they just keep it.
- Whoever holds the snake after the 18th hole pays the stake to each of the other players.
If nobody three-putts all day, nobody pays — a nice bonus for a group that putted well.
A worked example: $5 snake
| Hole | What happened | Who holds the snake |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Ben three-putts | Ben |
| 8 | Anne three-putts | Anne |
| 14 | Ben three-putts again | Ben |
| 18 | Everyone two-putts | Ben is stuck with it |
In a four-player game, Ben pays $5 to each of the other three players: $15 in all.
Variations
Growing snake
The snake gets more expensive every time it moves — for example, it starts at $1 and adds $1 for each three-putt. Late-round three-putts become very costly.
Front and back snakes
Play a separate snake on each nine, so a bad putting stretch early doesn’t decide the whole day.
What counts as a putt
Agree whether strokes from the fringe count. Most groups only count strokes taken with the ball on the green.
Snake FAQ
Who pays in the snake golf game?
The player holding the snake after the last hole pays the agreed stake to each of the other players.
Does a four-putt count in snake?
Yes. Any three-putt or worse passes the snake to that player.
What if nobody three-putts?
If nobody three-putts during the round, nobody takes the snake and nobody pays.
Do putts from the fringe count in snake?
Agree before the round. Most groups only count strokes taken with the ball on the putting green.
