Claudia Laurent
Golf writer, Golf Handicapp · 29 July 2026
The short answer
A small side bet makes a Tuesday fourball feel like the Ryder Cup. Skins, Match Play, Stableford, Texas Scramble and Foursomes are five games that never get old, and Golf Handicapp scores every one of them for you.
Nothing sharpens the mind like a fiver on the line. The best golf side games are simple to explain, work with mixed handicaps, and keep everyone in it to the last putt. Here are five worth a few quid on your next round.
Five games, and how they play
Pick one and agree the stake on the first tee. Apply handicaps so everyone has a chance, and let the app keep score so nobody has to do maths at the turn.
| Game | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Skins | Each hole is a prize. Win it outright to win the pot; ties carry over. |
| Match Play | Hole by hole, most holes won wins the match. |
| Stableford | Points per hole, and a blow-up hole just scores zero. |
| Texas Scramble | A team game, everyone drives and you all play the best ball. |
| Foursomes | One ball per pair, alternating shots the whole way round. |
Why a side game makes a better round
A bet gives every hole a point, even when your card has long since blown up. It keeps a fourball together, rewards the odd brilliant hole, and turns an ordinary round into a story worth retelling in the bar. Just agree the stakes and the format before you tee off, so there is no argument on the 18th.
Score every game live
Golf Handicapp keeps score for Skins, Match Play, Stableford and the team formats as you play. 30-day free trial, no card needed.
Set it up in the app
Start a game, choose the format, add your fourball and the app tracks it hole by hole with the right handicap allowance applied. If you fancy the team stuff, we explained foursomes, greensomes and scrambles in more detail.
Common questions
What is the best golf game for a fourball with mixed handicaps?+
Stableford or a betterball match works well because handicap allowances even things out, so a high handicapper can still win their share of holes. Skins is great fun too, especially with shots applied, since one good hole can win the pot outright.
How does a skins game work?+
Each hole is worth a set stake, or skin. Win the hole outright and you win the skin. Tie it and the skin carries over to the next hole, so the pot builds. With handicaps applied, a net birdie on a stroke hole can scoop several carried-over skins at once.
Can the app keep score for these games?+
Yes. Golf Handicapp scores Skins, Match Play, Stableford and the team formats live as you play, applying the correct handicap allowance for each, so you always know who owes who at the turn.
Keep reading
About the author
Claudia Laurent · Golf writer, Golf Handicapp
Claudia writes about the World Handicap System, golf scoring and getting more from every round for Golf Handicapp. She is a mid-handicap golfer who logs every card, the good ones and the ones she would rather forget.
Last updated 29 July 2026.