If you’re struggling with your putter, this game can be venomous.
While there is no doubt that games like Wolf, Vegas and Skins get the competitive juices flowing, for the hardest of hardcore gamblers (sickos?), sometimes it feels like there’s just not enough action. This is especially true if one player or team is dominating. Having nothing left to play for with a lot of holes to go can be boring.
That’s when you need a good side bet, and since you do, might we suggest Snake? It can be fun and exciting – or very cruel if you’re the one stuck with the serpent at the end of the round. We’ll explain:
Number of players required:Four is ideal.
Best for: Great lag putters. Groups who like to hole out every putt. Golfers who love the cliche “drive for show, putt for dough”. Players who love side action. Anyone who likes to quietly watchother golfers squirm.
How to play: Snake is simple. The goal is to not three-putt, or more importantly, not be the last player to three-putt in the round.
Start by deciding on a monetary amount that goes into the pot for each three-putt. Then, when someone in the group does, he or she holds the Snake until someone else in the group fails to get down in two or fewer strokes on the putting green. Then it’s passed on. The Snake gets longer and longer until culminating with the last person to three-putt. That’s who owns it, and he or she is then stuck paying the others whatever was in the pot.
You know that three-footer you normally scoop up? You have to putt that one out, mate. Hit two balls out-of-bounds and want to say, “I’ll just take an 8?” No, sir, you’re re-teeing. Again.
One thing to note is that just like in professional golf, strokes from the fringe or anywhere else off the putting surface do not count as official putts. That means you should be thrilled if you just miss a green. Now you can chip or lag your next shot to set up an easy tap-in or two-putt.
Fast forward to the few remaining holes, and you’ll start to see real strategy come into play with golfers who don’t own the Snake. It’s not unusual to see players purposely missing greens to avoid having a lengthy first putt. Keep in mind, however, that your group should play the final few holes in the correct order (furthest from the cup goes first) to avoid arguments about who three-putted last.
Variations: Progressive Snake has the pot doubling for each three-putt. You can also reward good putting. Perhaps one-putting from outside a certain distance can revert the Snake to its previous owner. No matter how you play it, this game will keep you focused.
