How to Play
Dots
The complete guide to dots (trash, junk, garbage) — every point category, scoring, settlement, and variations.
What Is Dots?
Dots — also called trash, junk, or garbage, depending on where you play — is a collection of bonus-point side bets that run alongside your main game. Instead of competing on the overall score, dots reward (or penalize) specific achievements on individual shots and holes: closest to the pin on a par 3, getting up and down from a bunker, making a putt longer than 20 feet.
Dots do not replace your main game (skins, Nassau, Wolf). They layer on top of it. Think of them as a side-side bet — a running tally of bonuses and penalties that settles separately from whatever main competition you are playing.
The beauty of dots is that they reward things your main game might not. A sandy (up-and-down from a bunker for par) might not win you the skin or help your Nassau, but it earns you a dot. A barkie (hitting a tree and still making par) does not show up in match play scoring, but your group knows about it, and now there is money on it.
Dots add texture to a round. They give every player more things to compete for, create running jokes within the group ("Marcus has six poleys today"), and generate their own settlement at the bar afterward.
Dot Point Categories
Different groups play different combinations of dots. Here are the most common categories. Before the round, agree on which ones you are playing and how much each is worth.
| Dot | What Earns It | Typical Value |
|---|---|---|
| Greenie | Closest to the pin on a par 3, but you must be on the green. If no one hits the green, no greenie is awarded. The player must also make par or better to "hold" the greenie — if they three-putt, the greenie is voided (some groups skip this rule). | $1-2 |
| Sandy | Getting up and down from a greenside bunker. You must be in a greenside sand bunker, get out in one shot, and one-putt for par or better. | $1-2 |
| Poley (One-Putt) | One-putting any green. Some groups count all one-putts; others only count one-putts from outside a set distance (like 10 feet). | $0.50-1 |
| Birdie | Making birdie on any hole. Can also be played as a standalone side bet outside the dots system. | $1-2 |
| Eagle | Making eagle. Usually pays double or triple the birdie dot value. | $5-10 |
| Barkie | Hitting a tree (or anything made of wood — cart path signs, stakes) during the hole and still making par or better. Honor system on whether you actually hit the tree. | $1-2 |
| Ferret | Chipping in from off the green. The ball must be off the putting surface and go directly into the hole. | $2-3 |
| Hoganie | Getting up and down from off the green when you are not in a bunker (chip and one-putt). Basically a sandy but from the fringe, rough, or fairway. | $1 |
| Arnie | Making par without hitting the fairway on a par 4 or par 5. Named after Arnold Palmer, who did this constantly. | $1 |
| Snakie | Three-putting any green. This is a negative dot — the player who three-putts pays the group. Some groups call this a "frog." | -$1-2 |
| Double Sandy | Getting up and down from a fairway bunker. Harder than a greenside sandy because the shot is longer. | $2-3 |
| Goldie | Hitting the green in regulation (GIR). Some groups award this for every GIR; others only count it on particularly difficult holes. | $0.50-1 |
Start simple. If your group has never played dots, start with just three categories: greenies, sandies, and birdies. Add more as you get comfortable. Too many dot categories at once creates confusion and slows down the round.
How Scoring Works
Dots are tracked as simple tallies throughout the round. Every time a player earns a dot, it goes on their tally. Every time a player gets a negative dot (like a three-putt snakie), it goes against them.
Unlike skins or match play, dots are not head-to-head. They are earned independently. A greenie on hole 4 earns you a dot regardless of what anyone else does on that hole (unless another player is closer to the pin on a par 3, in which case they get the greenie instead).
Some dots are competitive (only one player wins the greenie per hole). Others are individual (any player who makes birdie gets a birdie dot, even if multiple players birdie the same hole).
Running Tally Example
Four players, mid-round:
| Player | Greenies | Sandies | Birdies | Snakies | Net Dots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | +2 |
| Ben | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +3 |
| Chris | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -1 |
| Dana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
How Settlement Works
At the end of the round, each player's net dot count is calculated. Settlement can work two ways:
Option 1: Each Dot Pays the Field
For each positive dot, every other player pays you the dot value. For each negative dot, you pay every other player. A greenie worth $1 in a four-player group earns you $3 (one dollar from each of the other three players).
Option 2: Net Dots at the End
Total each player's positive dots, subtract their negative dots. The player with the most net dots wins, and the payout is based on the differential between players. This is simpler but creates less in-round drama.
Most groups play Option 1, where each dot pays individually. It creates more action and makes each dot feel meaningful in the moment.
Variations
Opposite Dots (Reverse Trash)
In addition to positive dots, you include negative dots for bad outcomes: snakie for three-putting, water ball for hitting it in the water, O.B. for going out of bounds. This adds a penalty element that punishes bad play in addition to rewarding good play.
Progressive Dots
The dot value increases as the round goes on. Dots on holes 1-6 are worth $0.50, holes 7-12 are worth $1, and holes 13-18 are worth $2. This makes the closing stretch more valuable.
Team Dots
In a team format, each team shares a dot tally. If your partner gets a greenie, your team gets the dot. This ties the dots system into your team game.
Custom Dots
The best part about dots is that your group can invent their own categories. Some creative ones from real groups:
- Mulligan dot: Player who takes a breakfast ball on the first tee pays everyone a dot.
- Cart path Louie: Hitting the cart path and getting a favorable bounce — earns a dot if you make par.
- Water rescue: Hitting it in the water but still making bogey or better. Heroic.
- Flag stick: Hitting the flag stick with any shot. Lucky bounce dot.
How bagboy Runs Dots
Tracking dots on a scorecard is messy. By the twelfth hole, nobody remembers whether Chris got a sandy on 8 or 9, and the tally marks on the back of the card are illegible.
In bagboy, dots are tracked as side bets that run alongside your main game:
- Birdies and eagles are detected automatically from the scorecard — no manual entry needed.
- Greenies, sandies, and other manual dots can be tagged on each hole as they happen. Tap the dot category after the hole is scored.
- Running totals update after every hole, so everyone can see who is leading in dots at any point in the round.
- Settlement is calculated separately from your main game. When the round is final, the dots payout is shown alongside your skins, Nassau, or whatever else you are playing.
Dots + anything. Dots are the perfect add-on to any other game. Running a Wolf game? Layer dots on top for bonus side action. Playing Nassau? Dots give you something to compete for on holes where the Nassau bet is already decided. They stack cleanly because they settle separately.
Dots FAQ
How many dot categories should we play?
Three to five is the sweet spot. Greenies, sandies, birdies, and snakies cover the most common situations. Adding too many categories slows down play because people are constantly checking whether something qualifies.
Do dots settle separately from the main game?
Yes. Dots are their own side bet with their own tally. Your dots payout is independent of your skins, Nassau, or Wolf results. You can lose the main game and still come out ahead on dots.
What if two people tie for a greenie?
If two players are equally close to the pin on a par 3, no greenie is awarded. Some groups carry the greenie to the next par 3 (like a carryover in skins). Others split the dot. Agree on the rule before you play.
Are snakies mandatory?
No. Some groups play only positive dots (rewards for good play, no penalties). Others include snakies because the threat of paying for a three-putt adds another layer of pressure. Your call.
Can I play dots without any other game?
Technically yes, but dots work best as an add-on. On their own, the payouts are usually small and the game lacks the structural drama of a skins or Nassau competition. They are designed to complement a main game, not replace one.