Game Rules: Golf (Card Game)

Game Identity

• Name: Golf (Card Game)
• Player Count: 2–8 players. Standard: 3–5.
• Teams: No teams. All players compete individually.
• Theme: Low-score card game played over 9 or 18 rounds, mirroring the structure of golf.

Scoring Mechanics

• Scoring Variant: Evasion — lowest cumulative score wins.
• Target Score: 9 or 18 rounds (round-limited, not score-limited).
• Unit of Scoring: Card point values per round.
• Lower vs. Higher: Lower is better. Negative scores are possible and desirable.

Rules & Validation

Per-Round Logic

• Setup: Each player is dealt 6 cards arranged face-down in a 2×3 grid. Players flip 2 cards to start each round.
• Points per Round: Sum of card values in the player's 6-card layout at round end.
• Card Values:

  Card	Points
  King	0
  Ace	1
  2	−2
  3–10	Face value
  Jack	10
  Queen	10
  Joker	−5 (some variants)

• Matching Columns: A pair of matching cards in the same column cancels to 0 points each.
• Validation Rules:
  • Each player's round score is entered independently.
  • Negative totals are valid.

Special Actions / Bonuses

• Column Match: Two cards of the same rank in the same column = 0 points for both cards.
• Golf (all 6 matching): Some house rules award bonus points for a full matching hand, but this is non-standard.

Win Conditions

• Condition: After 9 (or 18) rounds, the player with the lowest cumulative score wins.
• Tie-Breaker: If players tie after all rounds, compare scores on the final round. If still tied, compare second-to-last round, and so on.

Set Up in Doodle Score

Golf (Card Game) has a dedicated scorecard in Doodle Score — everything is pre-configured including score tracking, validation, and special rules.

Download the app, tap New Scorecard, and choose Golf (Card Game).