11 Golf Tournament Games to Play at the Holes

Planning a golf tournament? Adding a few fun games at the holes is an easy way to keep players engaged throughout the round.

These golf tournament games can add a little friendly competition, give players something extra to look forward to, and create plenty of memorable moments along the way.

And they don’t have to be complicated.

From classic challenges like Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive to creative games that bring a little extra fun to the course, there are plenty of ways to make individual holes part of the entertainment.

In this post, we’re sharing 11 golf tournament games to play at the holes.

Most are easy to set up and can be adapted for charity tournaments, corporate golf days, club events, fundraisers, or a casual golf outing.

So grab your scorecards and let’s make those holes a little more interesting!

What’s Inside

In this post, you’ll find:

11 fun golf tournament games to play at individual holes
Easy ideas for charity golf tournaments, corporate events and golf outings
Simple setup tips and what you’ll need for each game
Prize and competition ideas to make the games even more fun
Ideas that can add extra interaction without slowing down play

📌 Save this post for later! It’s a handy list to come back to when you’re planning your next golf tournament or outing.

1. Closest to the Pin

A classic for a reason! Closest to the Pin is one of the easiest golf tournament games to set up, and almost everyone knows how it works.

Choose a par 3 and place a marker or sign near the green. Players try to hit their tee shot as close to the pin as possible.

The player whose ball finishes closest to the hole wins the prize.

What you need:

A designated par 3
Closest-to-the-pin sign or marker
Measuring tape
A small prize

Make it more fun: Add a little twist by offering a separate prize for the closest shot by a woman, senior player, or junior golfer. This can give more players a chance to win and keeps the competition interesting.

2. Longest Drive

Longest Drive is another tournament favorite. It adds a little extra competition to a hole and gives players a chance to really let one fly!

Choose a suitable par 4 or par 5 with plenty of fairway space. Mark the designated hole with a Longest Drive sign and have players compete to hit the longest drive that stays in the fairway.

The player with the longest qualifying drive wins.

What you need:

A suitable par 4 or par 5
Longest Drive sign or marker
Measuring tape
A small prize

Make it more fun: Instead of having just one winner, consider adding separate categories such as Longest Drive – Women and Longest Drive – Men. You could also create a fun Straightest Drive challenge on another hole for players who prefer accuracy over distance.

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3. Beat the Pro

Give players the chance to take on a local golf pro without actually playing against them!

Choose a par 3 and have the pro hit a tee shot before the tournament starts. Mark where their ball landed. During the tournament, players try to hit their shots closer to the pin than the pro did.

Anyone who beats the pro wins a prize or gets entered into a prize drawing.

What you need:

A designated par 3
A local pro or skilled golfer
A marker showing the pro’s shot
Signage explaining the challenge
A prize or prize-draw entry

Make it more fun: Turn it into a fundraising opportunity. Charge a small fee for players who want to take on the pro, with the proceeds going toward your charity or fundraising goal.

4. Straightest Drive

Not everyone wants to compete for the longest drive! Straightest Drive rewards accuracy instead.

Choose a suitable par 4 or par 5 and mark a straight line down the middle of the fairway. Players try to get their tee shot as close to that line as possible.

The player whose ball finishes closest to the line wins.

What you need:

A suitable par 4 or par 5
A Straightest Drive sign
A centerline marker or clearly marked target line
A measuring tape
A prize

Make it more fun: Make the challenge a little harder by using a narrower target zone. You could also offer separate prizes for women and men, or simply have one overall winner.

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5. Hit the Green Challenge

Turn a par 3 into a simple hit-the-green challenge. Players earn a point, prize entry, or bragging rights by landing their tee shot on the putting surface.

Choose a par 3 and set up a sign explaining the challenge. Every player who hits the green qualifies for the prize or earns an entry into a drawing.

What you need:

A designated par 3
A Hit the Green sign
A prize or prize-draw entry
Optional score sheet or tracking method

Make it more fun: Make the challenge part of your fundraising. Players can pay a small amount to enter, with everyone who hits the green going into a prize draw. You could even offer a larger prize if someone hits the green and finishes closest to the pin.

6. One-Club Challenge

What happens when golfers have to leave their usual club selection behind?

Choose a par 3 or another suitable hole and challenge players to play their tee shot using one specific club. For example, everyone might use a 7-iron, 5-wood, or even a hybrid.

The goal is simple: get your ball as close to the pin as possible using that club.

What you need:

A suitable hole
A sign explaining which club to use
A prize for the winning shot
Optional measuring tape

Make it more fun: Choose a club that makes the hole a little more challenging than usual. You could also let players vote on which club should be used before the round begins. Just make sure the challenge is appropriate for the hole and comfortable for all skill levels.

Fun prize idea: Give the winner a “One-Club Wonder” trophy or mini award — something inexpensive and a little silly that they can proudly take home. You could even add a small gift card or golf-themed treat to make the prize extra special.

7. Mystery Hole

Add a little surprise to the round with a Mystery Hole.

Choose one hole and keep the challenge a secret until players reach the tee. Place a covered sign or envelope at the hole with the instructions inside. The challenge could be anything from playing the hole with a particular club to completing a fun putting challenge.

The player or team that completes the challenge according to the rules wins the prize.

What you need:

A designated hole
A sign, envelope, or card with the challenge
Any supplies needed for the chosen challenge
A prize

Mystery Hole Challenge Ideas

Not sure what to put inside the envelope? Try one of these:

One-Club Challenge: Play the hole using only one designated club.
Opposite-Hand Challenge: Take one shot using your non-dominant hand.
Lucky Ball: One player in each group uses a marked “lucky ball” for the hole. The team gets a bonus point if they finish with the best score.
Team Mulligan: Give each team one mulligan they can use on the hole.
Secret Score: The team with the lowest score on the hole wins a bonus prize.
Closest to the Pin: Add a closest-to-the-pin challenge to the hole.
Putts for Points: Award bonus points based on how many putts the team takes.

Make it more fun: Keep the challenge hidden until players arrive at the hole. You could also have a different mystery challenge for each group, creating a little surprise as they make their way around the course.

Fun prize idea: Give the winner a Mystery Prize. Wrap it up so nobody knows what it is until the winner opens it!

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8. The Pot of Gold Challenge

Add a little luck to your tournament with a Pot of Gold Challenge.

Choose a par 3 and place a small target or marker on the green. Players pay a small optional entry fee to take their shot at winning the pot.

The goal is to get your ball as close to the target as possible. At the end of the tournament, the player closest to the target wins the pot or a predetermined prize.

What you need:

A suitable hole
A target or marker on the green
Entry tickets or a way to track participants
A prize or cash pot
A sign explaining the challenge

Make it more fun: Make the target slightly harder than a standard Closest to the Pin challenge. You could also offer a 50/50 option, with half of the entry money going to the winner and half going toward your charity or fundraising goal.

Fun prize idea: Instead of cash, offer a golf shop gift card, dinner voucher, or a basket of golf goodies. It gives the winner something memorable while keeping the fundraising element front and center.

9. Golf Trivia at the Hole

Give players a quick brain teaser to go along with their golf challenge.

Place a golf trivia question at a designated hole. Teams can discuss their answer while they wait to play or after completing the hole.

Keep the questions short and fun. You could ask about golf history, famous courses, rules, records, or even some lighthearted golf facts.

How to win: Each team writes down its answer. Award one point for every correct answer. At the end of the round, the team with the most correct answers wins.

What you need:

Trivia questions
Printed question cards or signage
Answer sheets
Pens or pencils
A small prize

Make it more fun: Mix easier questions with a few that really make players think. You could also add a tie-breaker question for teams that finish with the same score.

Fun prize idea: Give the winning team a “Golf Genius” certificate or a small golf-themed prize they can share.

⛳ Want to add trivia to your tournament?

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10. Team Target Challenge

Turn one hole into a team challenge where every player gets a chance to contribute.

Choose a par 3 and set up a target area on or around the green. Each player takes their normal tee shot, with the team trying to get as many balls as possible into the target zone.

How to win: Award one point for every ball that lands inside the target area. The team with the most points wins. If there is a tie, use the ball closest to the pin as the tiebreaker.

What you need:

A suitable par 3
A clearly marked target area
A sign explaining the challenge
A score sheet or tally system
A prize

Make it more fun: Give the target different scoring zones. For example, a ball inside the main target could be worth 1 point, while a ball closest to the pin could earn 3 bonus points.

Fun prize idea: Give the winning team a shared prize, such as a round of drinks after golf, a restaurant gift card, or a box of golf-themed treats. It keeps the focus on teamwork rather than individual performance.

11. Charity Challenge Hole

Turn one hole into an opportunity to have fun and raise a little extra money for your cause.

Choose a hole and create a simple challenge for players to complete. It could be a target challenge, a putting challenge, or even a fun “beat the odds” game.

Players make a small optional donation to take part. Keep the challenge simple so it doesn’t slow down play.

How to win: Decide on the winning criteria before the tournament. For example, the player who gets closest to the target, scores the most points, or completes the challenge successfully wins the prize.

What you need:

A designated hole
A simple challenge
Signage explaining the rules and donation amount
A way to collect donations
A prize

Make it more fun: Give players a few different ways to win. For example, award a prize for the best shot and enter everyone who participates into a separate prize drawing. This gives more players a chance to walk away with something.

Fun prize idea: Create a “Charity Challenge Champion” award or give the winner a golf-themed gift basket. The real win, of course, is the extra money raised for your cause.

⛳ Planning prizes for your tournament?

Keep all your prize ideas, award categories, donations and winner details organized in one place with a Golf Tournament Prize & Awards Planner.

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Tips for Setting Up Golf Games at the Holes

A few simple games can add a lot of fun to a golf tournament. But good setup matters. You want the challenges to be easy to understand and, most importantly, not slow down play.

Here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly:

Keep the Rules Simple

Players should be able to understand each challenge in a few seconds. Use clear signs and keep the instructions short.

Choose the Right Holes

Match the game to the hole. A Closest to the Pin challenge is perfect for a par 3, while a Longest Drive challenge needs a suitable fairway with plenty of room.

Have Everything Ready

Prepare your signs, score sheets, measuring tapes, prizes and other supplies before tournament day. Put everything together by hole so volunteers can set up quickly.

Don’t Overdo It

You don’t need a game at every hole. A handful of well-planned challenges can be more enjoyable than filling the course with activities.

Make Prizes Fun

The prize doesn’t have to be expensive. Golf balls, gift cards, golf accessories, treats or funny trophies can all make great prizes.

Think About Pace of Play

Avoid challenges that require complicated scoring or long explanations. Players should be able to take part and keep moving.

Let Players Know Before They Start

If you’re using several games, mention them during registration or the pre-round briefing. Players will be more likely to participate if they know what’s coming.

A little planning goes a long way. The goal is to add fun, friendly competition and memorable moments without making the round feel complicated.

⛳ Make tournament-day scoring easier:

Keep player scores, game results and tournament details organized with an editable golf tournament scorecard.

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How to Choose the Right Games for Your Tournament

You don’t need to use all 11 games. In fact, choosing a few that fit your event is usually the better approach.

Think about your type of tournament, your players and what you want the games to achieve.

For a charity golf tournament:
Try Beat the Pro, Pot of Gold or the Charity Challenge Hole. These can add a fundraising element as well as some friendly competition.

For a corporate golf day:
Team Target Challenge, Mystery Hole and Golf Trivia are great choices. They encourage players to interact and have fun with their group.

For a ladies’ golf event:
Go for a mix of skill and fun with Closest to the Pin, One-Club Challenge and Golf Trivia.

For a casual golf outing:
Keep things light with Mystery Hole, One-Club Challenge or the Team Target Challenge.

For a fundraiser:
Look for games where players can make a small optional donation to participate, such as the Pot of Gold Challenge or Charity Challenge Hole.

And remember, you don’t need a game at every hole. Three to five well-chosen challenges can be plenty to add some extra excitement without slowing down the round.

How to Keep the Games Moving

The last thing you want is for a fun tournament game to create a traffic jam on the course!

A few simple rules can help:

Keep instructions short. Put the rules on a clear sign at the tee so players don’t need to wait for a volunteer to explain them.
Avoid extra shots. Whenever possible, make the challenge part of the player’s normal shot rather than requiring additional attempts.
Have supplies ready. Place signs, score sheets, pencils and other materials where players can easily find them.
Use quick scoring. Simple points, closest-to-the-pin measurements or a quick answer sheet are easier than complicated scoring systems.
Don’t make every hole a challenge. Space your games out so players have plenty of regular holes between activities.
Have volunteers at busy holes. If a game involves collecting money, measuring shots or recording scores, a volunteer can keep things moving.
Give players a time-saving option. For games that involve a donation or extra challenge, let players skip it without holding up their group.

The goal is to add fun and friendly competition without adding unnecessary waiting time. A well-planned game should feel like part of the round, not another task players have to complete.

⛳ Planning the rest of your tournament?

Our Golf Tournament Planning Checklist helps you keep track of all those important details, from registration and prizes to event-day tasks.