Golf Glossary
Wolf (Game Format)
In short
Wolf is a points game in golf for three to five players, usually four. On every hole a different player is the wolf. After the tee shots the wolf picks a partner or plays alone against everyone else. Depending on the choice, different numbers of points are at stake. Whoever has the most points at the end wins.
What is wolf in golf?
Wolf is a game for groups that is mostly played among friends. It is not an official format from the rulebook but an agreement between the players. Everyone plays their own ball. On every hole the role of the wolf changes, and the wolf decides who to play with.
What is special about wolf is the choice. After each partner’s tee shot the wolf must decide whether to take that player as a partner or wait. If a partner is chosen, it is two against two. If the wolf passes on everyone, he or she plays alone against the other three. That is risky but earns more points.
So wolf combines team play and head-to-head. It calls for judgement and nerve as well as good golf. The wolf must read the strength of the others at the tee and weigh how good their own drive was. That is why the game is so entertaining and suits groups of very different ability.
Wolf rules: order and choosing a partner
On each hole the game runs in these steps.
- The group fixes the order before the first tee. On hole 1 player 1 is the wolf, on hole 2 player 2, and so on. After the last player the order starts again.
- The wolf usually tees off first. The others then tee off in the agreed order.
- After each partner’s tee shot the wolf decides immediately: take that player as a partner or wait for the next tee shot. The choice is final and cannot be taken back.
- If the wolf has seen all the others tee off and has not chosen anyone, he or she plays as the lone wolf against all three.
- Some groups allow the wolf to announce before his or her own tee shot that he or she will play alone. That earns many more points but is risky.
Once the wolf has chosen a partner, the other two players automatically form a team. Everyone then plays their own ball to the hole. For each side the better score counts, and the side with the better score wins the hole. A tie earns no points.
Wolf points: an example scoring system
The group decides how many points are awarded. One common example system looks like this:
- Wolf and partner win: each receives 2 points.
- Wolf and partner lose: the two opponents each receive 3 points, a bonus for beating the wolf.
- Lone wolf wins: he or she receives 4 points.
- Lone wolf loses: each of the three opponents receives 2 points.
- Tie: no points.
Scoring can be net or gross. For groups of mixed ability net scoring is usual so that everyone has a chance. Handicap strokes are given on the holes with the lowest stroke index.
Some groups score the lone wolf differently, for example triple win and triple loss. What matters is that all players know the values before the first tee. Write down the points after each hole so that nobody has to calculate at the end.
Practical example: three holes with four players
Anna, Ben, Clara and David play wolf. Anna is the wolf on hole 1.
Hole 1, par 4: Anna tees off first. Ben then drives into the rough. Anna waits. Clara hits the fairway and Anna picks her as a partner. Anna and Clara play against Ben and David. Scores: Anna 5, Clara 4, Ben 5, David 6. The best score of Anna and Clara is 4, the best of Ben and David is 5. Anna and Clara win and receive 2 points each.
Hole 2, par 3: Ben is the wolf. He tees off first, then the others, but none convinces him. Ben plays as the lone wolf. He scores 4 and the best of the others is also 4. A tie, no points.
Hole 3, par 5: Clara is the wolf. She tees off first and waits for all three other drives. Because none lies better than her own ball, she plays as the lone wolf against the other three. She scores 4, the others 5 or more. Clara wins 4 points as the lone wolf.
Standing after three holes: Clara 6 points, Anna 2, Ben and David 0.
Handicaps and variations in wolf
Wolf is usually played net so that weaker players can also score points. The World Handicap System gives no standard method for wolf. A common solution is that the player with the lowest handicap plays off zero and the others receive the difference on the holes with the lowest stroke index. Agree this beforehand.
There are many variations.
- Last holes: with four players, 16 holes make four full rotations. On holes 17 and 18 the wolf role is often taken by the player with the fewest points, which gives the trailing player a chance.
- Blind wolf: the wolf decides to play alone before his or her own tee shot and earns more points for it.
- Three or five players: the game also works with three or five players. With three, the wolf picks one of the two others.
- Weighted points: some groups double the points on the last holes so that the game stays open to the end.
Because wolf is not an official format, the result does not count for your personal handicap. The Rules of Golf for normal play apply as always.
Tactics and tips for your wolf round
In wolf, tactics matter as much as the golf.
- Choose the partner by the position of the tee shot, not by overall strength. A ball in the middle of the fairway is a better base than a long drive in the rough.
- Do not wait too long. The more tee shots you wait for, the fewer players are left to choose from. If you wait too long you end up playing alone.
- Use your role as wolf on holes that suit you. A short par 4 or a par 5 with a good position is a good chance for a lone wolf.
- Write down the points after every hole and remember who is the wolf on the next one.
- Keep up the pace. Because the wolf has to decide between tee shots, play can slow down.
Wolf suits groups of mixed ability and friends who enjoy playing together. It is also a good way to introduce beginners to scoring games, because one poor shot does not ruin the whole round.
Origin and how it differs from skins, Nassau and bingo bango bongo
Wolf belongs to a family of games that golfers play in private rounds.
- Skins: the player with the lowest score alone wins on each hole. There are no teams.
- Nassau: a match with three contests for the front nine, the back nine and the full round.
- Bingo bango bongo: three points per hole for different achievements, regardless of strokes.
- Four-ball better-ball: two fixed teams play each other. In wolf the teams change from hole to hole.
Wolf differs from all of them in that the teams are formed anew every time and the wolf gets to choose.
Who invented wolf is not documented. It is played in many countries among friends and is known under various names. The rules and point values differ from group to group, so discuss how you play before the first tee.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Wolf is easy to play on the 6-hole short course Red at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg in Moorfleet. You do not need the Platzreife, and a round typically takes under an hour. Up to four players are possible per booking, exactly the right group size for wolf. In winter, from January to March, the short course is converted into a 9-hole winter course and can be played daily from sunrise to sunset.
Frequently asked questions
What is wolf in golf?
Wolf is a points game for three to five players, usually four. On each hole a different player is the wolf, who picks a partner after the tee shots or plays as the lone wolf against everyone else. The number of points depends on the choice. It is an agreement among players and not an official format.
How does choosing a partner work in wolf?
The wolf usually tees off first. After each partner’s tee shot the wolf decides immediately whether to choose that player or wait. The choice is final. If the wolf chooses nobody, he or she plays as the lone wolf against all the others. When a partner is chosen the others automatically form a team.
How many points are there in wolf?
The group decides. A common system is 2 points each for a winning side that includes the wolf and 3 points for each opponent when the wolf and partner lose. A lone wolf who wins gets 4 points, and if he or she loses each opponent gets 2. A tie earns no points. Agree the values before the start.
How many players do you need for wolf?
Wolf is usually played with four players, because then it can be two against two and the wolf can choose one partner. It also works with three or five players. With four players each person is the wolf about four times over 18 holes, with the last holes often assigned by the standings.
As of: October 2026