Wolf

A game we play from time to time to mix it up from the typical games we play. Wolf can be a lot of fun, especially if you have a couple really confident golfers in your group. Wolf is typically played within a foursome. Before the first hole, the group decides their tee off order. We usually throw tees on the ground to determine our order of play. So the first player in the rotation tees off first on number one, followed by the second, third, and fourth golfer. This order is the same throughout the round, except you change who tees off first on the upcoming hole. So the second player in the rotation would tee off first on number two, followed by golfer three, four, and one.

The wolf is the golfer who is teeing off first on the hole. After the wolf's tee shot, he gets to watch every other players tee shot. If the wolf decides he likes another player's shot, he can declare that player as his partner. This has to be done immediately after the shot is made. If the wolf does not declare to take "player two" as his partner, he can pass and wait to see what "number 3" does. But, once he passes he can not go back. He, of course, can wait until the last player tees off and either declare him as his partner or announce that he is going alone!

If the wolf has a playing partner, then these two are playing against the other two golfers in the group. If the wolf has declared he is going alone, he must beat all three other players.

There are two ways to play from here. Some groups play a "combined total," where others play a "low ball" score. We play a "low ball" score where the lowest score from either of the two team members counts as your score. This, of course, would have to be lower than the opposing team's lowest ball score to win the hole.

If the wolf is going alone, he must have a lower ball score then all three opponents to win the hole.

There are different ways to score. We usually score using a point system, declaring the winner to whoever accumulates the most points at the end of the round. You could also just have a bet amount for each hole, and whoever wins the hole wins the bet. I think it's easier to use points, and it also lends itself to some desperation tactics towards the end of the round. Players with big deficits tend to go alone for the sake of catching up. This can create a lot of excitement.

Here is the point system we use:

Winning Team- 2 points per player
Wolf plays alone and wins- 4 points
Wolf plays alone and loses- All players other than wolf win 3 points
Ties- no points awarded

Because holes 17 and 18 are "extra holes" we usually let the player with the least amount of points become the wolf on these holes.

Variations

There is also a variation called "Lone Wolf" where the wolf can declare he is going alone before his tee shot. In this case, all point values are doubled! This can lead to a remarkable come-back, or an atomic meltdown!!

Have fun with this game. Wolf is not for the timid. It requires a little strategy and a lot of confidence.