SIDE BET · PAR 3s

Closest to Pin

One tee shot, one pot. Stick it tighter than everybody else on the par 3s and collect — as long as you can still make par from there.

Any group sizePar 3s onlyGreeniesPer-hole pot

HOW IT WORKS

The oldest side bet in golf, and the easiest to argue about.

Also known as a greenie. On every par 3, whoever hits their tee shot closest to the flag takes that hole’s pot. Two rules do all the work: the ball usually has to finish on the green, and most groups make you two-putt for par before the money is actually yours.

  1. Mark the holes and the pot

    Usually all four par 3s, at $5 a head. Some groups mark one signature hole.

  2. Tee shots only

    Only the ball you hit from the tee counts. Reload and you are out of the running.

  3. Closest to the flag wins

    Nearest ball takes the pot — on the green, in almost every house rule.

  4. Then make your par

    Three-putt and the pot goes to the next closest, or carries.

  5. GoLo holds the pot

    Log the distance, apply the par rule, and carry anything nobody claimed.

SETTLE THESE FIRST

Four questions, asked on the first tee — not the fourth green.

Every argument about a greenie traces back to one of these going unasked. Here’s what most groups land on.

Does it have to be on the green?Fringe at three feet against surface at twentyON THE GREEN
Do you have to make par?Whether closest still collects after a three-puttPAR TO COLLECT
How do you measure it?Eyeball, pace it, or use a rangefinderLOG IT IN THE APP
Nobody claimed it — now what?The pot dies or rides to the next par 3CARRY IT

WATCH IT PLAY OUT

Four par 3s, $5 a greenie, one three-putt that handed over a $30 hole.

Four players, greenies on every par 3, par-to-collect turned on. On the seventh Tom was inside everybody — and walked off with nothing.

  1. H3168 YDSYou — 11 ft 4 inOnly ball on the green, two-putt par+$15
  2. H7205 YDSNobodyTom was inside everyone, then three-puttedcarry
  3. H12142 YDSYou — 3 ft 2 inTap-in birdie, and hole 7’s pot came with it+$30
  4. H16190 YDSMike — 6 ft 8 inBeat you by four feet and made the putt−$5
You3 greenies+$40
Mike1 greenie$0
Tomclosest once, no par−$20
Davenever on in one−$20
NET · YOU COLLECT
Four par-3 pots, netted
+$40

GREENIES & VARIATIONS

You don't have to stop at the par 3s.

A greenie is the classic, but the same bet works anywhere there is a green and an argument about who is closest.

  • Greenies on every par 3

    Four separate pots over 18 holes, one on each par 3.

  • Closest in two

    Run it on a par 5 and measure after everyone’s second shot.

  • Approach on a marked par 4

    Settle on approach shots instead of tee shots.

  • One pot for the round

    Everybody antes once and the tightest single shot takes the lot.

PLAY SMART

The greenie isn't yours until the putt drops.

Par-to-collect separates this from a target contest. Four feet means nothing if you three-putt.

  • Play to the middle when the pin is tucked

    Thirty feet on the green beats hole-high in the sand every time.

  • Club up into the wind

    Short is where trouble lives on par 3s. Coming up light means no greenie and probably no par.

  • Treat the par putt like the bet

    Under par-to-collect, the four-footer is the money shot.

TALK THE TALK

The terms you'll hear on the tee.

Greenie
Closest to the pin on a par 3, on in one, par or better to collect.
On in one
Your tee shot finished on the putting surface.
Par to collect
Closest gets nothing unless they finish in par or better.
Carry
An unclaimed pot rolling to the next par 3.
Greenie stick
The pencil-and-peg marker used to log the current best distance.
Inside the leather
Old shorthand for a distance close enough to call even.

CLOSEST TO PIN, ANSWERED

Before you tee it up.

In most groups, yes. Set it either way, but decide before the first par 3.

It is the standard validation rule and makes the whole hole count.

Eyeball obvious gaps, pace close ones, or use a rangefinder. Log it when you reach the green.

Split the pot or carry it to the next par 3.

Yes. Closest in two and marked approaches use the same rules.

Yes. Everyone antes once and the tightest tee shot across all par 3s wins.

STACK IT WITH

Nobody plays this one on its own.

Greenies are a garnish. Put a real game underneath them and let GoLo settle the whole plate.

Retire the pencil on the greenie stick.

Mark the par 3s, log the distance, and let GoLo enforce par-to-collect.

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