How to play Wolf
Wolf is a points game for three or four golfers. Each hole, one golfer is the Wolf and either chooses a partner or goes alone. Every point one golfer wins comes out of someone else's column.
The rules
- Set a fixed rotation before the round. The golfer in slot 1 is the Wolf on hole 1, slot 2 on hole 2, and so on, then back to slot 1 through hole 18.
- Everyone plays their own ball. Tee order is up to the group: the Wolf can tee first or last.
- Each hole, the Wolf either chooses one other golfer as a partner or declares Lone Wolf. Many groups have the Wolf decide right after each drive.
- Best ball of each side decides the hole. If the sides tie, nobody scores.
- Points always add up to zero across the group. Most points after 18 wins.
Two holes, start to finish
Bob +1, Carol +1, Alice -1, Dave -1
Next hole, Alice is the Wolf and goes alone. She shoots 3; Bob 4, Carol 4, Dave 5. Her 3 beats their best 4: Alice +6, Bob -2, Carol -2, Dave -2.
On the board
Who it's for
Three or four golfers, with no teams. Partners change every hole, so it works when a group doesn't want to settle on teams. On a bigger trip, each playing group can run its own Wolf.
Variations ForeBoard supports
Turn these on when you set up the round. You also set the rotation there.
Birdies count double
If the winning side's best ball is a birdie or better, every point on the hole is doubled. A foursome Lone Wolf birdie is +12, with -4 from each opponent.
Eagles count triple
If the winning side's best ball is an eagle or better, every point on the hole is tripled. With both on, an eagle counts as triple. A foursome Lone Wolf eagle is +18, with -6 from each opponent.
Gross or net
In a net round, the best balls, birdies and eagles all use net scores.
The points
In a partner hole, each opponent is worth 1 point. A Lone Wolf plays for 2 points per opponent: +6 against three, +4 against two. In a threesome's partner hole, the lone opponent wins or loses 2, so the total stays at zero.
| Result | Four golfers | Three golfers |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf and partner win | +1 each, opponents -1 each | +1 each, opponent -2 |
| Wolf and partner lose | -1 each, opponents +1 each | -1 each, opponent +2 |
| Lone Wolf wins | Wolf +6, others -2 each | Wolf +4, others -2 each |
| Lone Wolf loses | Wolf -6, others +2 each | Wolf -4, others +2 each |
| Tied hole | No points | No points |
Questions golfers ask
Does the Wolf have to decide after each drive?
That's how most groups play it, but it's your call. ForeBoard records the Wolf's final decision for the hole, a partner or Lone Wolf.
Can five golfers play Wolf?
No. ForeBoard plays Wolf with three or four golfers. A bigger group can split into playing groups, each with its own Wolf.
What about Blind Wolf or carryovers?
Not supported in ForeBoard. Tied holes score nothing and nothing carries to the next hole.
Who is the Wolf on 17 and 18?
The rotation just keeps going. ForeBoard doesn't hand those holes to the golfer in last place.
Score it free on ForeBoard
Choose Wolf, share the link, and everyone sees the score as you play. No app, no account.
Start a round