Side game · 2–4 players
How to play Lost Balls
Also called: lost ball bet · ball bet
Every ball you lose costs you, and the players who kept theirs in play split the proceeds. Zero-sum every hole.
The rules
- Each ball lost on a hole costs its owner one unit.
- The pot for that hole is split among the ball-savers — the players who lost none.
- If everyone loses at least one, the rebate is weighted so whoever lost the fewest still comes out ahead.
- Zero-sum per hole, so it layers safely on any other game.
- The count also feeds your career stats whether or not this side game is on.
A worked example
Setup. $2 a unit, three players.
- On hole 7 A loses two balls; B and C lose none.
Result. The pot is $4. A pays $4 and B and C take $2 each. The hole balances to zero.
This is exactly how Bagpipe Golf settles it: hole by hole, zero-sum, no arguing at the 19th.
Variations and house rules
- Some groups charge double for a ball lost off the tee. The app charges one unit per ball wherever it went.
- Others play a provisional as not lost. Count it however your group plays — the app scores the number you enter.
How it works in the app
- Turn on Track FIR/GIR/putts at round start and a lost-balls field appears on every hole.
- Add Lost Balls at setup with a unit value if you want money on it.
- The count rolls into your career stats as lost balls per round either way — the side game is optional, the stat is not.
Lost Balls FAQ
- Do I need the side game on for the stat?
- No. Lost balls per round shows on your career stats from the per-hole field alone. The side game only adds money to it.
- What if everyone loses a ball on the same hole?
- The rebate is weighted, so whoever lost the fewest is still ahead of whoever lost the most. Nobody escapes, but the worst offender pays.