POINTS · 3 PER HOLE

Bingo Bango Bongo

Three points on every hole: first ball on the green, closest once everyone is on, and first in the cup. Your total score never comes into it — which is why the shortest hitter in the group keeps winning.

2–4 players3 points / hole54 pointsNo handicaps needed

HOW IT WORKS

Fifty-four points that ignore your scorecard.

Every hole hands out exactly three points, one for each stage of the hole. Nobody is playing for a total — they are playing for whichever point is still available. The result is a game where a 20-handicap and a scratch player have a real fight, no strokes required.

  1. Agree what a point is worth

    A dollar a point is standard, and 54 points get handed out over 18 holes.

  2. Bingo — first on the green

    The first ball to come to rest on the putting surface takes it, no matter how many shots it took.

  3. Bango — closest once all are on

    When every ball is on the green, whoever is nearest the flag takes the point.

  4. Bongo — first in the hole

    First ball to disappear. Play in proper order and the furthest away gets the first crack.

  5. Play in strict order

    Furthest from the hole plays first, every time, all the way in. Break that and the game falls apart.

SCORING TABLE

One for the approach, one for the shot, one for the putt.

Three points per hole, 54 across a round, and they almost never all go to the same player. That’s the whole appeal.

BINGOFirst ball on the greenRewards the player who is away — not the one who hit it furthest1 pt
BANGOClosest to the pin, all onMeasured once the last ball reaches the putting surface1 pt
BONGOFirst ball in the holePlay in order and the longest putt gets the first look1 pt

WATCH IT PLAY OUT

Three points, three different players, one guy with nothing.

Hole 7, a 385-yard par 4, four players at $1 a point. Tom hit it 310 down the middle and walked off with zero.

  1. BINGODave40 yards short of everyone — played first, pitched on+1
  2. BANGOYou8-iron to six feet, closest once all four were on+1
  3. BONGOMikeDrained a 20-footer before anyone else had a look+1
  4. TOMNothingHit it 310 down the middle, played last all hole0
You5 bingo · 7 bango · 4 bongo+$10
Dave15 points+$6
Mike13 points−$2
Tom10 points−$14
NET · YOU COLLECT
54 points at $1
+$10

ORDER & VARIATIONS

The etiquette rule is the rule.

Furthest from the hole always plays first. Here it decides who gets a crack at the bingo and why the shortest hitter is dangerous.

  • Order of play

    Furthest from the hole plays first, tee to green. It is the rule the game depends on.

  • Ties and half points

    Split the point or carry it when two balls are genuinely even.

  • No handicaps required

    The game equalizes itself, though GoLo can still allocate strokes if your group wants them.

  • Run it under another game

    It stacks beneath skins or a stroke purse without changing the card.

PLAY SMART

The great equalizer, if you know where the points are.

Length is worth almost nothing. Being furthest out means playing first, and playing first is how you get the bingo.

  • Being short is an advantage

    You play first from 100 yards while everyone else waits — a free look at bingo.

  • Aim at the flag

    Bango only pays the closest ball. The fat side is good golf and bad Bingo Bango Bongo.

  • Stop conceding putts

    A given putt is a bongo handed away. Everything goes in the hole.

TALK THE TALK

The terms you'll hear on the tee.

Bingo
The point for the first ball on the green.
Bango
The point for closest to the pin once every ball is on.
Bongo
The point for the first ball holed.
Furthest first
Whoever is away plays next, no exceptions.
Sweep
Taking all three points on one hole.
Point value
What each point pays at settlement.

BINGO BANGO BONGO, ANSWERED

Before you tee it up.

No. The point order gives higher handicaps a genuine chance without allocated strokes.

Bingo goes to the first ball that eventually reaches the putting surface.

The ball that came to rest first takes bingo; if you cannot tell, split or carry the point.

It is the game. Playing out of turn can hand away bingo or bongo.

Three works well. Five gets slow because every point waits for all five balls.

STACK IT WITH

Crews that run Bingo Bango Bongo also play…

It does not care about your total score, so it stacks cleanly under anything that does.

Fifty-four points is a lot to remember.

Let GoLo keep the order, award every point, and settle the spread after 18.

In testing with real groups · Free while we’re in beta · iPhone & Android