Golf Glossary
Bingo Bango Bongo
In short
Bingo Bango Bongo is a points game in golf for two to four players. Each hole has three points: Bingo for the first ball on the green, Bango for the ball closest to the flag once all balls are on the green, and Bongo for the first ball holed. The player with the most points at the end wins.
What is Bingo Bango Bongo?
Bingo Bango Bongo is a relaxed format that many golfers play in friendly rounds. The total number of strokes does not matter. Instead there are three points to win on every hole, each for a specific moment: who reaches the green first, who is closest to the flag and who holes out first.
The appeal is that less experienced players often win points too. A beginner who takes a while to play the hole can still win the Bango point if their ball ends up closest to the flag. A strong player with a long drive has no guaranteed advantage.
Bingo Bango Bongo is not an official competition format in the Rules of Golf. It is usually played as a side game within a group, sometimes alongside a normal round. Where the playful name comes from is not clearly documented, but it makes it easy to hear that there are three points at stake.
Bingo Bango Bongo rules: the three points
Exactly three points are awarded on each hole.
- Bingo: one point for the player whose ball is first on the green.
- Bango: one point for the player whose ball is closest to the flag once all balls are on the green.
- Bongo: one point for the player who holes out first.
One player can win all three points on a hole, or none at all despite having the best score on it. Over 9 holes 27 points are available in total, over 18 holes 54.
The number of strokes does not affect the points. Many groups still record it to see how the normal round would have gone. For the game itself, a simple tally per player on the scorecard is enough. Whoever has the most points at the end wins. In a tie the players share the win or play a deciding hole.
Why order of play matters
To keep Bingo Bango Bongo fair, one rule is especially important: the player whose ball is furthest from the hole always plays first. This order is also set out in the Rules of Golf. In normal rounds it is often relaxed, for example with ready golf, but here you should stick to it strictly.
The reason is simple. The player who is furthest away and plays first has the chance to reach the green first and win the Bingo point. On the green the player furthest away also putts first, which gives everyone a chance of the Bongo point, even when starting with the longest putt.
The Bango point is only decided once all balls are on the green, so do not measure too early. A player who plays from a bunker or the fringe to even closer can still take the Bango point.
Worked example: a par 4 with four players
Nina, Leo, Eva and Tim play Bingo Bango Bongo on a 310-metre par 4.
- After the tee shots Eva is furthest back. She plays first and finds the green. Bingo point to Eva.
- The others then play their second shots. Leo and Nina find the green, with Leo five metres from the flag. Tim’s ball finishes on the fringe, and with his third shot he chips to a metre from the flag.
- Now all balls are on the green and Tim’s is closest. Bango point to Tim.
- Eva is furthest away and putts first, leaving it short. Leo then holes from five metres. Bongo point to Leo.
On this hole Eva, Tim and Leo each score a point and Nina gets none. Interestingly, Eva wins the Bingo point even though her drive was the shortest. Leo holes out in 3 for a birdie and earns exactly one point, the same as Tim for his good chip.
House rules and variations
Because Bingo Bango Bongo is not an official format, many groups agree their own extra rules. Settle them before the round.
- Holing out from off the green: a player who holes directly from the fairway or fringe often receives all three points, as the ball was first to the target, is closest to the flag and first in the hole.
- Par 3s: several balls are often on the green straight after the tee shots. The Bingo point then goes to whoever teed off first and hit the green.
- Double points: some groups count the last few holes double to keep things exciting to the end.
- Levelling the field: there is no official handicap system. Some groups let higher handicappers play some holes from a forward tee.
Bingo Bango Bongo also works well on a golf simulator, where the software measures distances to the flag automatically, so nobody has to pace them out.
Tips: how to win more points
Bingo Bango Bongo rewards different strengths from normal stroke play.
- Accuracy before length: a ball on the green is worth more than a long drive. Play your approach safely to the middle of the green.
- Practise your short game: many Bango points are decided by a good chip or pitch. Chip close and you often win the most important point.
- Take first putts seriously: if you putt first and hole it, you secure the Bongo point before the others even get a go.
- Stay calm after bad holes: every hole starts from scratch, and a poor one costs you three points at most.
- Keep an eye on pace: sticking strictly to the order takes a little time. Walk briskly to your ball and prepare your shot while others play.
The game suits mixed groups in which beginners and experienced golfers play together.
Compared with skins, Nassau and nearest the pin
Bingo Bango Bongo belongs to a family of games golfers like to play in friendly rounds. The differences:
- Skins: on each hole the player with the lowest score wins a skin. If there is a tie, the skin carries over to the next hole.
- Nassau: a match in three parts, with separate results for the front nine, the back nine and the whole round.
- Wolf: a rotating player chooses a partner after the tee shots or plays alone against the others.
- Nearest the pin: a side prize at competitions for the tee shot closest to the flag on a chosen par 3.
Bingo Bango Bongo differs from all of these by awarding three separate points per hole. Every player has several chances on every hole, and the stroke count takes a back seat.
Try it at Golf Lounge
At Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg in Moorfleet you can also play Bingo Bango Bongo indoors. Besides classic rounds, the TrackMan simulators offer competition and skill formats, including Bingo-Bango-Bongo and closest to the pin. You hit real balls into the screen and the software maps the ball flight onto famous courses such as Pebble Beach or St Andrews. Up to four people can play per booking, all year round and whatever the weather, for one to four hours.
Frequently asked questions
How does Bingo Bango Bongo work in golf?
There are three points on each hole. Bingo goes to the first ball on the green, Bango to the ball closest to the flag once all balls are on the green, and Bongo to the first player to hole out. The stroke count does not matter. Whoever has the most points after all holes wins.
Who plays first in Bingo Bango Bongo?
Always the player whose ball is furthest from the hole, both on the fairway and on the green. This order matters, because it gives everyone the same chance of the Bingo and Bongo points. On the tee, the player with the best score on the previous hole usually goes first.
How many players do you need for Bingo Bango Bongo?
The game works with two, three or four players. It is most exciting with three or four, because the points are shared out more. With two players one person is more likely to win all three points on a hole. Groups larger than four are unusual on the course, as most clubs allow no more than four players per group.
Is Bingo Bango Bongo an official competition format?
No. The Rules of Golf do not describe Bingo Bango Bongo as a format, and a round played this way does not count for handicap. It is a fun game for friendly rounds, and players agree the points and any house rules beforehand. Many golf apps and simulators offer it as a separate mode.
As of: October 2026