Pub golf rules and scorecard
Pub golf is a bar crawl played like golf: every pub is a hole, every hole has a drink and a par, and par is the number of sips it should take to finish that drink. Count your sips, write them on the scorecard, and after 9 holes the lowest score wins.
The scorecard is loading. If it doesn't appear, check that JavaScript is switched on.
Scores are saved in this browser only, so you can close the page between pubs and pick up where you left off. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Type your group's names into the scorecard on this page and fill it in on your phone as you go. It adds up the totals and shows who is leading. Or print blank cards before you leave.
- Players
- 2 to 12
- Holes
- 9 (or 18)
- Time
- 3 to 5 hours
- You need
- A scorecard
How to play pub golf
The idea is simple. Instead of golf holes, you play a route of pubs or bars. At each one the group orders that hole's drink, and everyone counts how many sips it takes them to finish it. Your sips are your strokes. Par tells you what a good score looks like, so a pint of lager at par 3 means three sips is exactly on target.
- Pick the courseChoose 9 bars within walking distance. Five minutes between stops is ideal. Put them in order and give each one a drink and a par.
- Make the scorecardAdd everyone's names to the scorecard above, or print one card per person. One person can be the official scorekeeper.
- Play each holeOrder the drink, start together and count your sips out loud. Write the number down before you move on.
- Add penaltiesBreak a rule and you get extra strokes on that hole. The scorecard adds them up for you.
- Crown the winnerAfter the last hole the lowest total wins. Under par is shown with a minus, over par with a plus.
A scorecard you can see
Snap every hole
Point the camera at the hole's drink and Dronk cuts the glass out like a sticker and prints it as a polaroid with the time. Nine holes, nine polaroids, and they all land on the map, so the round tells its own story the next day. Water and soft drinks look just as good.
A classic 9 hole course
This is the course the scorecard starts with. It mixes long holes and short holes like a real round, and it has two soft holes built in so the group keeps a steady pace. Change any drink or par to suit your group and your bars.
| Hole | Drink | Par | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lager | 3 | An easy start while everyone finds their rhythm |
| 2 | Cider | 3 | Same par, different taste |
| 3 | Soft drink | 2 | A short hole that keeps the pace sensible |
| 4 | Stout | 4 | The long hole, thick drinks need more sips |
| 5 | Shot | 1 | The hole in one, or a soft shot if you prefer |
| 6 | Water | 2 | The water hazard, it still counts |
| 7 | Wine | 3 | A glass, not a bottle |
| 8 | Spirit and mixer | 2 | A short, fizzy hole |
| 9 | Your choice | 3 | The final hole: everyone picks their own drink |
Making an 18 hole course
Eighteen holes is a long night. Most groups play 9 bars and go round the course twice in reverse order, or play 9 holes with two drinks per bar. Either way, keep the soft and water holes in.
Pub golf rules and penalties
Classic pub golf punishes rule breakers with an extra drink. We prefer extra strokes: they hurt your score, not your night, and they keep the game fair for people on soft drinks. Agree on the list before the first hole.
| Rule broken | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Spilling your drink | +2 strokes |
| Going to the toilet before the hole is finished | +2 strokes |
| Using your phone during a hole | +1 stroke |
| Saying the word golf | +1 stroke |
| Forgetting to count your sips out loud | +1 stroke |
| Arriving at the next bar last | +1 stroke |
| Wearing your shirt untucked | +1 stroke |
Bonus rules that make it more fun
- Mulligan: everyone gets one free do-over for the whole night.
- Caddie: each player picks a caddie who holds their drink between sips. The caddie can't help.
- Birdie bonus: finish a hole two under par and you pick the next bar's music or make a rule.
- Hazard bar: one bar on the route has a twist, like using your other hand or speaking in an accent.
Pub golf challenges
Challenges give the walk between holes something to talk about. Pick one per hole, or let the person in last place choose.
At the bar
12- Order the drink in a golf commentator voice
- Get the bartender to say your team name
- Toast with someone from another group
- Play the hole with your weaker hand
- Tell the group a fact about the bar you're in
- Order using only hand signals
- Learn the bartender's name and use it twice
- Find something in the bar that starts with the letter G
- Take a group photo where nobody is looking at the camera
- Compliment three strangers' outfits
- Do your best golf swing before the first sip
- Swap drinks hand with the person on your left for the hole
Between holes
8- Walk to the next bar in single file like caddies
- Find a stranger who has played real golf
- Pose for a photo with a street sign
- Get a high five from someone who isn't in the group
- Everyone shares their worst golf joke
- Last person to the next bar orders for the group
- Guess the time without checking. Closest picks the next challenge
- Agree on a team name before you reach the door
Lost someone between hole 4 and 5?
Dronk has a map for nights like this. Snap your glass and you show up on the map for the friends you pick, so the group can see who is where and send a quick come over. Only while you're out, and incognito is one tap away.
Get Dronk free on iPhone
What to wear to pub golf
Dressing up is half the fun, and it helps the bar staff spot your group. Think classic golf course, turned up a notch.
- Polo shirts tucked into chinos or a pleated skirt
- Argyle knee socks or a loud sweater vest
- Flat caps, visors and sweatbands
- A single golf glove, worn all night
- Matching team colours, so the scorecard has team names
- Comfortable shoes: nine bars is a lot of walking
Planning the route
The best courses are tight. Pick an area with lots of bars close together, check opening times and avoid places with a long queue at the door. Tell the first bar you're coming if you're a big group.
- Start in the late afternoon or early evening so you finish before the bars get packed.
- Eat before hole 1, and plan a food stop around hole 5.
- Agree on a budget per hole so nobody feels pushed into expensive rounds.
- Water between holes is not cheating. It is what keeps people playing until hole 9.
Planning a longer night with more than golf? Our bar crawl guide has route tips, themes and what to do when the group splits up.
Questions people ask
How do you play pub golf?
Each pub is a hole with a drink and a par. Everyone counts the sips it takes to finish their drink, writes them on the scorecard, and the lowest total after 9 holes wins.
What's the difference between a pub crawl and pub golf?
A pub crawl is just visiting several bars in one night. Pub golf adds rules and scoring on top: every bar is a hole, every drink has a par, and somebody wins.
What are the penalties in pub golf?
Usually spilling, going to the toilet before finishing a hole, or breaking a house rule. We recommend extra strokes instead of extra drinks: +2 for the big ones, +1 for small ones.
What drinks are used in pub golf?
Anything goes. A classic course mixes lager, cider, stout, a shot, wine and a spirit with mixer, plus a soft drink and a water hole. Everyone can swap any hole for a soft drink with the same par.
How long does pub golf take?
Plan for 3 to 5 hours for 9 holes, depending on how far apart the bars are and how busy they get.
Do you dress up for pub golf?
Most groups do. Polo shirts, caps, argyle socks and matching team colours are the classics, and it makes the group easy to find in a busy bar.
Is there a pub golf app?
This page works as one: the scorecard keeps the scores on your phone. To find each other between bars, Dronk shows your friends on a map while you're out, and it has 16 party games for the bar.
Keep the night going
Updated