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If you’re looking for a fun way to shake up a round out on the course with friends, try out Wolf. This classic game is a great way to add an element of competition and camaraderie when you’re on the golf course.
Wolf is a game that can be played with four people in a group, but it can also be adapted for more or fewer players. Read on to learn how to play Wolf.
What Is Wolf?
The game of Wolf revolves around one player on each hole becoming a “wolf” who gets to choose whether to play the hole in a “pack” (with another player) or as a “lone wolf” (by themselves). The decision whether to travel in a pack or a lone wolf will determine point payouts at the end of each hole.
Wolf blends skill, strategy and camaraderie into a fun game that can be enjoyed by all skill levels.
How to Play Wolf
If you’ve never played Wolf before, that’s alright – it just takes a few steps to get your first round of Wolf up and running. Here’s how to play Wolf in golf:
1. Decide Point Totals and Payouts
Before you begin, you’ll want to assign point totals to whoever wins the hole. In classic games of Wolf, points are usually delegated like this:
- The lone wolf wins the hole: 4 points to the wolf
- The pack wins the hole: 2 points for the wolf and their partner
- Other players beat the pack: 3 points for other players not on the team with the wolf
- Other players score lower than lone wolf: 1 point for non-wolf players
- All players (or teams) tie: Zero points awarded
Now, along with these point totals, you can also determine payouts at this stage if you’ll be playing for money, drinks, dinners, etc. You can either assign the points monetary values, such as $1 a point, or you can award a cash prize to the winner at the end with the most points.
However you decide to do it, it’s a good idea to get those nuances figured out before the round begins so you don’t have to spend time on the course figuring it out.
2. Determine First Wolf
Once you’ve got point totals and any betting figured out, it’s time to decide who’s is going to be the first wolf. This can be done through drawing straws, coin flips or whichever way you see fit. The first wolf will be the wolf on the first hole, after that you will alternate to each person throughout the round, keeping the same order the whole way.
3. Have the Wolf Make Their Decision
Here’s where you’ll start to see some variations in the game of Wolf — some people will play by different rules. In most cases of Wolf, however, it’s played like this:
The Wolf will always tee off last. This gives them the option to watch each player tee off and make the decision whether they want to play with a certain player and travel “in a pack” for the hole, or if they want to go it alone — “lone wolf.” The catch is that the Wolf will have to make the decision to play with someone else before the next person’s tee shot.
So, if player 1 tees off and has a great drive, the wolf has to vocalize they’ll be playing with that player for the hole before player 2 tees off. And so on.
The wolf’s decision is huge because it allows for so much strategy on the tee box. On the one hand, going lone wolf means you have to beat the other players in the group, which could be a tall task. But if you win, you get a big payout. Likewise, playing with a teammate might not give you the same payout but could be the conservative and more rewarding choice.
4. Play Out the Rest of the Hole and Award Points
Once the wolf makes their decision and tees off, the game is on. In classic Wolf, nothing can change over the course of the hole — if the wolf chooses to go alone, it must stay that way for the rest of the hole. Likewise, teams must stay intact until the hole is finished.
Once everyone has holed out, teams or players will be awarded points based on the lowest scores. Since keeping track of scores throughout the entire round can be challenging, we recommend writing it down on a scorecard or even using a golf app to keep things organized.
Many of us have been in a situation at the end of 18, red-faced and bellowing at one another on who got what on the third hole. Golf apps and diligent scorekeeping can alleviate those issues.
5. Repeat for the Rest of the Round
Repeat these rules for the course of the round, with wolves alternating players on each hole. In a common four-person grouping, you’ll get through four full rotations before reaching holes 17 and 18. For these holes, your group can decide who gets to be the wolf. You might want to give to the player with the fewest points as a sign of sportsmanship or do it a different way. It’s up to you.
Common Terms in Wolf
When you play Wolf, you’re going to want to get familiar with some terminology that you can throw around on the course. Here are some sayings you might want to keep in your back pocket:
“The Hunt”
You might hear this on the tee box from the wolf himself — it refers to playing on the hole to beat the other team and get the lowest score. If the wolf chooses to go by themselves, then the rest of the players may be “hunting” the lone wolf, working their way through the hole to try to beat them and earn the points. Essentially, it’s just a fun term to use that plays into the name of the game.
“Lone Wolf”
When the wolf chooses to play the hole by themselves, this is referred to as going “lone wolf.” This conjures up the image of the solo wolf trekking by themselves in the snow, much like the golfer will on the course, talking the hole on their own while the rest of the group battles them for the lowest score. There’s a lot of honor that comes with choosing to go lone wolf, but a lot of risk too.
“Travel as a Pack”
As you can probably guess, when you decide to “travel in a pack,” you’ll be teaming up with another player to try to win the hole. Instead of going on your own, you’ll hunting together.
Variations of Wolf
We’ve outlined the classic way to play Wolf in this article — however, you can change it up however you want to make it more fun or competitive for your group. Here are a couple of popular variations of classic Wolf:
“Blind” Wolf
This is a variation in which the Wolf can choose to go “blind” on a given hole, meaning they’ll choose to go lone wolf before anyone has even teed off. Often, if someone decides to go blind, the payoff for winning that hole will be higher since the risk is also increased.
Three-Man Wolf
You can play wolf with many different numbers. Three-man Wolf is a common variation that simply allows a three-person group to play the game. The only difference here is that you’ll get through the rotations quicker.
How to Win Wolf
If you find yourself out on the course about to embark in a heated game of Wolf, be sure to brush up on the knowledge of the game and keep a few of these key strategies in mind:
Play Smart
Wolf is a game that can entice the anxious gambler. If you know that you’re one to want to take all the risk, try to be patient throughout the round. If you decide to go lone wolf, the upside will be high, but you’ll also be risking giving points to all the other players. Make sure to stay calm, observe the situation and make decisions with a clear head.
Be Confident
Though you should keep an air of caution during Wolf, you should also be aware that it is a game that is always going to involve risk, so you should throw your chips in when you have a good shot of raking in the pot. If you’re feeling good on a hole, trust your confidence and make decisions boldly.
Keep an Eye on Other Players
Like a poker game, it’s important to keep your eyes on the other players during the round. How is their confidence? Are they playing aggressively or more conservatively? This will help you craft your own decisions on each tee box and adjust your strategy throughout the round.
Why Should You Play Wolf?
Wolf Is Fun and Exciting
Wolf takes your regular golf game to an exciting new level by introducing betting into the mix. This makes your time on the course far more thrilling as each hole becomes an opportunity to win big for those who can outsmart their opponents. Of course, Wolf also requires you to make smart decisions about when to bet and when to pass, making it a great way to practice making strategic decisions during a friendly competition.
Wolf Teaches You How To Play With Pressure
Golf is all about making tough shots under pressure, and Wolf is no different. If you’re playing with friends, then it’s likely that they are going to be placing bets every round; this means that there will always be some pressure associated with every shot you take. As such, learning how to perform under pressure while playing Wolf can help you develop better habits on the green when it comes time for tournament play or even just casual rounds with your friends.
Wolf Promotes Friendly Competition
Playing any game can be more fun with friends, and Wolf is no exception! It’s perfect for groups of four or fewer players as everyone will have an equal chance at winning throughout the round. This creates an atmosphere of friendly competition without any one person taking away from another’s experience – something that can’t always be said for traditional tournaments or scrambles.
Wolf: The Bottom Line
The next time you find yourself in a game of Wolf, be sure to check out this guide to help you craft your strategy and learn more about the game. For more information on golf betting games, check out our top 20 list.