TallynightHow to keep score in mini golf
In mini golf you count every stroke it takes to get your ball in the hole, and write it down after each hole. Most courses have 18 holes and a limit of 6 strokes a hole. Add up at the end, and the lowest total wins.
- Players
- 1 or more, often up to 6 in a group
- Who wins
- Lowest total
- Holes
- Usually 18, sometimes 9
- Limit
- 6 strokes a hole on most courses
What to write for each hole
Count every time you hit the ball, then write the number once it's in the hole.
| On the hole | Write |
|---|---|
| In with the first stroke: a hole in one | 1 |
| In with the third stroke | 3 |
| Ball off the course | 1 extra stroke |
| Still not in after 6 strokes | 6, or 7 on some courses |
Par is the number of strokes a hole should take, usually 2 or 3, and many scorecards print it beside each hole. It doesn't change the score: the lowest total wins either way.
The stroke limit
Most courses stop you at 6 strokes a hole, so the groups behind aren't kept waiting. On many, if your ball isn't in after the sixth, you pick it up and write 6.
In minigolf competitions, and on many courses in Europe, you write 7 instead: the six strokes plus a penalty for not finishing. The rules are usually printed on the scorecard.
Penalty strokes
If your ball leaves the course, over the edge or into water, add 1 penalty stroke and play on from where it went off, or from where you last hit it, as the course says.
A ball resting against a wall or an obstacle can usually be moved a short way out, with no penalty.
Ties
Level after the last hole? Common ways to settle it:
- Play off: play one more hole, often the last one again, until someone takes fewer strokes
- Holes in one: whoever had more wins
- Share it: a tie is a tie, and you both win
Pick one before you start, so nobody argues on the 18th green.
A scoring example
The first nine holes of a round for Ana, Ben and Cleo, with the course's par beside each hole.
| Hole | Par | Ana | Ben | Cleo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Front nine | 24 | 25 | 29 | 27 |
Ben's 6 on hole 4 is the limit: his ball still wasn't in after six strokes, so he picked it up. Cleo's 5 on hole 7 is 4 strokes and 1 penalty, for a ball that jumped the wall. Ana and Ben each had a hole in one.
After nine holes, Ana leads with 25, one over par, two ahead of Cleo. Nine holes to go.
Your mini golf scorecard, on your iPhone
Mini golf isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, with the lowest score winning. Each hole is a round: type everyone's strokes on one keypad, and after the 18th, tap End game.
Add it to your favourites and it's ready for the next course. Tallynight does the adding, so nobody needs the tiny pencil.
- Everyone's strokes for the hole on one keypad
- Running totals, with the lowest in front
- Tap any hole to fix a miscount
- A winner card with a podium for the family chat
A Mini golf score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Mini golf score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you keep score in mini golf?
Count every stroke it takes to get your ball in the hole, and write it down after each hole. After the last hole, add up everyone's strokes. The lowest total wins.
What is the maximum number of strokes in mini golf?
Usually 6 a hole. If you're not in after six, pick up the ball and write 6. Some courses, and minigolf competitions, have you write 7.
What is par in mini golf?
The number of strokes a hole should take, usually 2 or 3. Many scorecards print it, but it doesn't change who wins: the lowest total still does.
What happens if your ball goes out of bounds in mini golf?
Add 1 penalty stroke and play on from where it went off, or from where you last hit it, as the course rules say.
How many holes are in mini golf?
Most courses have 18. Some smaller ones have 9.
Who wins in mini golf if there's a tie?
Play one more hole until someone takes fewer strokes, or give it to whoever had more holes in one. Agree which before you start.
Is there an app for a mini golf scorecard?
Yes. Tallynight keeps everyone's strokes hole by hole on your iPhone, adds them up and shows who's winning. It's free, with no ads.