What Is The Snake Game In Golf?

The snake golf game can help you make those clutch putts late in a round. Ok, it may be not so much ‘help’ as ‘incentivize‘.

The 'snake' punishes anyone who three-putts on a green. (Shots played with the putter from off the green do not count). It is the adage ‘drive for show, putt for dough’ taken literally.

No shots can be given - there are no gimmes when playing the snake game. For this reason it may be best not to play it when the course it as it busiest.

The idea is that the person who first three putts takes ownership of the snake.

When someone else three putts, they take the snake from this player, and so on. The person who leaves the final green with the snake in their possession pays a forfeit to the others.

In some versions of the snake a monetary value is decided beforehand for each three putt. This sum is then put into the pot every time someone three putts, and the one who has the snake at the end of the game has to pay the total in the pot, which is divided among the other players.

This sum can be the same per three-putt or it can be doubled, for the high rollers, with each three putt. So for example, each three putt could be worth $5, meaning that the person with the snake at the end of the round could fork out $50 if there were ten three-putts in the group.

In other versions, the one with the snake at the end simply buys the round of drinks or lunch for the group. 

You could also play the snake over a number of rounds, for example on a golf trip - albeit that could be very expensive for the loser!

It's a fair game, too, as even the best players could still three-putt the 18th green to pick up the snake. A higher handicapper could have the majority of the three-putts during the round, but as long as someone has one after them they're free.

It certainly adds something to your round of golf.

A positive of the snake game is that it can be played alongside the most popular golf formats like four balls, stableford and skins - someone just needs to record on the scorecard how many three-putts there have been and who is currently in possession of the snake.