Greenies
Closest to the pin. Cash in hand.
Par 3s only. Hit the green, mark your spot. Closest ball to the pin collects. Simple, clean, and no room to argue.
Greenies is the cleanest side bet in golf. On every par 3, the player who lands closest to the pin earns a greenie. That's it. No bidding, no rotation, no decisions — just one good iron shot per hole and a payout at the end.
It's perfect as a layer on top of Skins or Wolf — par-3 holes get extra meaning without changing how you play the rest of the course. The 19th tracks the per-hole winners and the optional twists (no-winner carryover, birdie double) and pays everyone out automatically.
How to play Greenies
- 1
Set the greenie value
Pick a dollar amount per greenie point. Optionally enable Carryover and Birdie Double.
- 2
Identify par-3 holes
On each par 3, the closest tee shot to the pin earns the greenie. If nobody finds the green, the hole is recorded as No Winner.
- 3
Record the winner
Host enters the winner (or No Winner) for each par 3. Optional birdie flag if Birdie Double is enabled.
- 4
Settle pairwise
At round end, earnings are calculated by pairwise comparison: (your greenies − opponent's greenies) × greenie amount.
Rules at a glance
Closest to the pin on a par 3 earns 1 greenie point.
Off-the-green tee shots are eligible only if no one is on the green; otherwise the hole is recorded as No Winner.
Carryover: consecutive No-Winner par-3s stack value, awarded in full to the next winner.
Games subscription required
Birdie Double: a greenie winner who also makes birdie earns 2 points (carryover added on top).
Games subscription required
Holes can be recorded in any order; host can undo the last three entries.
Configurable variations
Carryover
When enabled, par-3 holes with no greenie winner stack value: 1 carryover for each consecutive no-winner. The next winner collects 1 base + accumulated carryover. Resets after each greenie.
Birdie Double
When enabled, a winner who also makes birdie earns 2 base points instead of 1. Carryover is added on top — a birdie greenie with 2 in the carry pot is worth 4 points.
Frequently asked questions
- What counts as a greenie?
- A greenie is awarded to the player whose tee shot finishes closest to the pin on a par-3 hole, provided the ball is on the green. Some groups also allow off-the-green shots if no one finds the green.
- How is Greenies scored?
- 1 point per greenie won. Pairwise settlement: (your points − opponent's points) × greenie amount, summed across each opponent. Carryover and Birdie Double can change the per-greenie value but not the pairwise math.
- Does Greenies work alongside Skins or Wolf?
- Yes. With a Games-subscribed session you can run Greenies, Skins, and Wolf concurrently — the par-3 winner counts toward Greenies while the rest of your round counts toward Skins or Wolf.
Related games
Skins
Win the hole, win the pot.
Hole-by-hole golf side game where each outright win earns a skin.
Read the rulesWolf
Choose your partner. Or go alone.
Strategic golf side game with a rotating Wolf role and Lone Wolf high-stakes plays.
Read the rulesAnimals
Penalties that follow you home.
Six golf mishaps each tied to a payout — get stuck holding one at the end and you pay.
Read the rulesTrack Greenies automatically
Download The 19th and let the app handle the scoring, payouts, and settlement so your crew can focus on the round.
