Side game · 2–4 players
How to play Snake
Also called: the snake · three-putt snake
Nobody wants the snake. Three-putt and it is yours, until somebody else three-putts. Whoever holds it at 18 pays everyone.
The rules
- The first player to three-putt gets the snake.
- It passes to whoever three-putts next.
- Only one player ends up paying — whoever is holding it after the last hole.
- The holder pays one unit to every other player.
- Needs putts tracked, since the bet reads the putt count.
A worked example
Setup. $10 snake, four players.
- A three-putts hole 4 and takes the snake.
- C three-putts hole 11 and it passes to C.
- Nobody three-putts again.
Result. C holds it at 18 and pays $10 to each of the other three, −$30.
This is exactly how Bagpipe Golf settles it: hole by hole, zero-sum, no arguing at the 19th.
Variations and house rules
- Some groups escalate the snake — the value doubles each time it passes. Not in the app.
- Others count a four-putt as two passes. The app passes it once per three-putt-or-worse hole.
How it works in the app
- Turn on Track FIR/GIR/putts at round start, or there is no putt count to read.
- Add Snake at setup with a unit value.
- The live screen shows who currently holds it — which is most of the fun.
Snake FAQ
- What if nobody three-putts all round?
- Nobody pays. The snake has to be caught before it can be handed on.
- Why is the snake not moving?
- Putts are not being tracked. Start the round with stats on and the putt field appears on every hole.