ON THE PRACTICE GREEN
If you think about it, most of your strokes in a round of golf come from on the putting greens. On a normal eighteen-hole course, you’ll have four par 3’s and only 14 holes (or less) to use a driver. When preparing to play golf, most golfers will bypass a practice green and opt for the driving range. Most high-handicappers will empty an entire bucket of balls dedicated to those fourteen or less strokes used with the driver. Most golfers, regardless of handicap, will use about 40% of their strokes on the greens. It is for that reason that we decided to feature “Side Games” that are played on the practice greens with the intent that maybe more golfers will practice putting.

CLOSEST TO THE PIN
The simplest game is exactly what the name says. This game is best played between two players. Choose a hole to aim for and try to get it closest to the pin. If your ball goes into the hole and your playing partners ball does not. You get two points; closest to the pin gets one point. Must two-putt to get points. Use the honors system of who goes first and mark your ball if requested by your playing partner. Choose a targeted score depending on how much time you have before your tee time. Or, grab a bunch of dollar bills and play for a dollar each hole.

HAZARD
Very similar to closest to the pin but players are required to go around a “Hazard Cup.” Fewest strokes to the hole wins. If you go into the hazard cup you are penalized a stroke. This is a fun game to play with 2 or more players. Make sure the practice green doesn’t have a lot of players on it when playing this game. This game can disrupt the concentration of other golfers on the practice green. Once again, pick a number as a goal depending on how much time you have to kill.

9-HOLE SKINS
Agree on a targeted hole to start the game. Whoever gets it into the hole in the fewest strokes wins the hole. Winner chooses next hole. Add some interest by putting from the fringe or up against the first cut. Choose the amount each “skin” is worth before you begin.

SEVEN UP
This game can be played with two or more players. The goal is to be the first player to get seven points. Agree on the first hole and use the honors system after the first hole. The players gain points as follows.

1. Sinking a putt when no one else in the group does: Two Points
2. Closest to the hole when no one else one putts: One Point
3. Anyone who three-putts: Minus Three Points
4. Ties: (Tie one – tie all) except for three putts. Those players subtract no matter what the other players score.

Usually when you see six or eight guys on a practice green getting rowdy this is the game they are probably playing. If there is a tie, play until there is one winner. To add some more excitement, allow stymies. Wager any amount agreed upon.

For information on how you or your group can have your own official USGA Certified Handicap, Call Keystone’s Premier Golf Association at

1-800-762-3677 or visit them at www.kpga.com