Golf Games Explained is exactly what it sounds like. You want to mix it up and try something new for once? Well, someone has to do the thankless work of playing different golf formats and telling you if it's worth it. You can thank me later.
Recently, we explained to you the Stableford format, an under-utilized game among recreational golfers that prioritizes collecting the most points as opposed to shooting the lowest score. For a group of equally-talented players playing Stableford straight up, it's an easy point system to keep track of. Once handicaps get involved, though, it becomes slightly more complex.
Enter "Chicago," a game that puts a twist on the Stableford format and is designed for players of all handicaps and skill levels.
Here's how to play.
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Number of players required: As many as you'd like.
Best for: Groups with varying levels of golfers. Good scorekeepers. Players who can avoid double bogey. Players who like to pick up once they reach double bogey. People who like to go it alone.
How to play: The first thing to know about Chicago is that every player in the group, whether it's a foursome or four foursomes on a golf trip, is given a "quota" based off their handicap and the course handicap. The course handicap in the game of Chicago is 39.
In Chicago, as a 1 handicap, your "quota" would be 38 points. Or, you could simply say that you are starting the game at "-38." As a 10 handicap, your quota would be 29 points, or you start at -29. As a 15 handicap, it would be 24 points, or you start at -24. Golfers who have handicaps of 36 or higher have a quota of 3 points or they start at -3.
Once the game starts, your goal is to begin working toward your quota via a point system. Or working away from it if you are going by the minus-style from the start. The point system, much like Stableford's, is as follows:
- Eagle: 8 points
- Birdie: 4 points
- Par: 2 points
- Bogey: 1 point
So, let's say a 1 handicap (38-point quota) and a 10 handicap (29-point quota) played against each other in Chicago. The 1 handicap makes 13 pars (26 points), one birdie (4 points), three bogeys (3 points) and one double bogey (0 points) for a total of 33 points. That player's final score would be -5. The 10 handicap makes seven pars (14 points), two birdies (8 points), seven bogeys (7 points) and two double-bogeys (0 points) for a total of 29 points. That player's final score would be 0, which would beat the 1 handicap's score of -5. The goal, obviously, is to not only try to meet your quota but to exceed it. The highest score, or the best differential from your point total to your quota, is the winner.
In a normal game of Chicago, the competitors can simply all put in a set amount into the "pot" at the beginning and the winner would take it all at the end. For larger groups, you can also pay out second and third places, too.
Variations: There are a number of variations you could come up with yourself based on the vibes of the group, but the most common one here would be that you could set a dollar amount on each point you win by. So in the scenario laid out above, if each point was worth $10, the 10 handicap who won by five shots would receive $50 from the 1 handicap.
If you have any golf games or variations of golf games we haven't covered and you'd like to explain, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X @Cpowers14.
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