Golf Games for
6 Players

Six players means two threesomes or 3v3 teams. Here are the formats that work — skins across all six, team skins, Sixes (round robin), and games built for larger groups.

The best golf games for 6 players are skins across all six, team skins (3v3), and running two threesomes with Nines or Wolf in each group. Six divides cleanly into two groups of three or two teams of three, which gives you real flexibility — you can either run one game across all six players or split into two parallel competitions with a cross-group side pot connecting them.

How to Split 6 Players

With six players, you are playing as two threesomes on the course (most courses will not send a sixsome out as one group). That physical split creates a natural question: do you run one game across all six, or two separate games in each threesome?

Both work. Here are the best approaches for each:

Skins Across All 6 Players

Skins across six players is the easiest and most exciting format for a big group. Every player's net score counts, and the lowest outright score on each hole wins the skin. Ties carry over as usual.

With six players, the dynamics shift in interesting ways. More players means more score diversity, so outright winners happen on roughly 50–60% of holes. But ties still produce regular carryovers, and when a carried skin gets won, one player collects from five opponents. A three-hole carryover at $3/skin means $45 to the winner on a single hole. Six-player skins creates the biggest individual-hole payouts of any group size.

The practical issue is that your two threesomes may be separated on the course. You will not see each other's shots. That is fine — just enter scores into bagboy as each group finishes each hole, and the app resolves skins in real time. Scoring does not need to be simultaneous.

Recommended stakes: $2–$5/skin. With six players paying out, keep per-skin stakes moderate. A $3/skin game settles $30–$70 total.

Team Skins (3v3)

Split the six players into two teams of three. On each hole, each team's best net score is their team score. The team with the lower best-ball score wins the skin. Ties carry over.

Team skins adds a layer that individual skins does not have: your teammates' scores give you cover. If you blow up on a hole, your partner's par might still win the skin. It encourages more aggressive play because the safety net exists.

The team dynamic also creates great moments when teammates in different threesomes are texting: "I just parred 7, what'd you guys get?" and the other group replies "bogey-bogey, we need you." The camaraderie of rooting for people you cannot even see is unique to big-group golf.

Recommended stakes: $3–$5/skin (team). Total action is moderate because there are only two possible outcomes per hole (Team A wins, Team B wins, or push).

Sixes (Rotating Round Robin)

This format works when all six players are in the same twosome-threesome pairing and can track scores together. Divide the round into three six-hole segments and rotate the two-player teams:

Each six-hole segment is a three-way team match: three pairs competing simultaneously. The pair with the lowest combined best-ball score wins the segment. With six players and three segments, every player partners with multiple people, making it the fairest team format for a larger group.

Note: this version of Sixes is more complex than the four-player version. Tracking three simultaneous team matches across rotating pairs is difficult on paper. bagboy handles the rotation and scoring automatically.

Two Threesomes Running Separate Games

The simplest approach: split into two threesomes and run independent games in each group. Each threesome plays Wolf (three-player version), Nines, or skins. The groups compete separately and settle independently.

To connect the two groups, add a cross-group skins game on top. Both threesomes enter scores into bagboy, and the app runs skins across all six while each group runs their own Wolf or Nines within their threesome. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds: tight intra-group competition plus a cross-group battle.

Team Nassau (3v3)

Two teams of three play a Nassau format, with each team's best-ball score counting on each hole. Front nine, back nine, overall, with presses. The team format keeps it simple — one match, three bets, clear teams.

The challenge is that teammates are in different threesomes and cannot see each other play. Presses happen based on the combined match-play status, which you track through the app. When a team goes 2 down, either team can press to start a new bet within the segment.

Recommended stakes: $5-5-5 per player contribution to the team pot ($15 per team per segment, $45 max per team before presses).

Stableford for 6

Stableford works at any size and is particularly good for six because it is entirely individual, encourages pickup (faster pace), and settles cleanly. Each player accumulates Stableford points, and settlement is based on point differentials between each pair of players.

With six players, there are fifteen unique pairings to settle. bagboy calculates all fifteen automatically and shows each player their net position in one screen.

Shotgun Starts and Scramble Events

Six players is the threshold where organized events start making sense. If you are running a group outing, consider a scramble format: two teams of three, each playing a scramble (everyone hits, pick the best ball, everyone plays from there, repeat). Scrambles keep all skill levels engaged and move fast.

For a shotgun start at a course event, your six can split into two threesomes assigned to different holes. Run skins across all six through the app regardless of starting hole — bagboy tracks by hole number, not by playing sequence.

Best Combos for 6 Players

How bagboy Handles 6-Player Rounds

bagboy supports six players natively. Add all six, set up your games (skins across all six, team games with assigned teams, or separate threesome games), and each player enters scores as they play. The app handles cross-group skins resolution, team scoring, and individual games simultaneously. At the end, one settlement screen shows every player exactly who they owe and who owes them.