🃏 Digital Cards Against Golf
A different twist every hole. This mode assigns one unique rule to each hole (no repeats within the round), keeping things fresh without adding faff. At each tee you’ll see up to four hole cards (one per player) and pick any one to use—go with the quickest option for pace, or just choose your favourite.
⏱️ Pace comes first. If you’re holding the course up, please let faster groups through. You can also tap Need a Quick Hole to skip the card for this hole and play it normally. Fun is good—slow play isn’t.
How It Works
- Reveal options: At each tee, you’ll see the group’s hole cards (up to four, one per player) and can choose any one for this hole. Single-use cards display on each device, and each player may select one at any point; once used, it’s consumed and won’t repeat this round.
- Pick any one: Choose the card that fits today’s pace (fast to play), or just the group’s favourite. Many groups default to the player with the honour—your call.
- No repeats: Once a rule is used, it won’t appear again this round.
- Lightweight: Most rules add flavour without extra shots or faff. If a rule doesn’t suit the situation, use Need a Quick Hole.
- Scoring: Your normal scoring mode still applies (Stableford, Medal, or Match Play). The card may apply bonuses/penalties where stated.
- Expanding deck: We’ll keep adding cards, so it’s a fresh experience each time you play.
Choosing Whose Card to Use
You’ll see up to four options each tee (one per player). Pick any one—you’re in charge. If you like a default, try one of these and decide as a group:
- Honour decides: use the card belonging to the player with the honour.
- Rotate clockwise: Hole 1 Player A, Hole 2 Player B, and so on.
- Reward the hero: lowest nett score on the previous hole picks.
- Fast pick: if there’s a wait behind, choose the quickest-to-run card shown.
- House rules: if nothing grabs you, tap Need a Quick Hole and play it straight.
Table Etiquette & Pace
Be decisive on the tee, keep ready-golf moving, and default to common sense. If a card risks delay (e.g., searching for props, crowding a tee), wave the group behind through or hit Need a Quick Hole and crack on.
Quick Start (2 steps)
- On Round Type, pick 🃏 Digital Cards Against Golf.
- At each tee, choose hole card, pick one of the four options, play it, record scores, and the app auto-advances.
- Use one of the two random single use cards at any stage of the hole.
Helpful Buttons
- Reveal Rule: Shows today’s up-to-four unique card options for this hole.
- Swap Card: (once per 9) If a chosen rule is unsuitable (safety or hold-ups).
- Need a Quick Hole: Skips the card and plays the hole normally.
Fairness & Safety
- Safety first: Any card that could create a risky shot is automatically ignored—play normal golf.
- Local rules win: Course/local rules always override a card.
- Group consensus: If there’s doubt, choose the option that keeps pace and feels fair.
Example Cards You Might See
Here’s a taste. The live deck is longer and growing:
Example Cards You Might See
Here’s a taste. The live deck is longer and growing:
- 🎯 Long iron/hybrid only off the tee (no driver/3w).
- 🧵 Fairway or Fine: tee shot must finish on short grass or add +1.
- 🧊 No chips inside 20y — putter/bump-and-run only.
- 🌀 Must die the ball in: first putt finishing past the hole = +1 putt.
- 🔕 Silent hole — speaking before you hole out = +1.
- 🥇 Birdie bounty: make birdie, take −1 extra (net).
- 🏖️ Bunker tax: enter any bunker = +1; sand save = −1 (net to zero if both).
See the current starter deck (full list)
These are seeded and shuffled so each hole gets a unique rule with no repeats this round:
- 🎯 All tee shots must be with a long iron or hybrid (no driver/3w).
- 🧭 Pick a ‘no-go’ side off the tee; miss there = +1 penalty.
- 🧵 Fairway or Fine: tee shot must finish on short grass or add +1.
- 🔁 Everyone plays from the shortest tee for this hole.
- 🪃 No lay-ups allowed on par 5s — you must advance past 200y marker.
- 🧊 No chips allowed inside 20y — putter or bump-and-run only.
- 🎳 Bump-and-run only inside 50y.
- 🫣 Blind approach: pick a target line before looking up.
- 🔝 Over the top: approaches must finish past pin height or add +1.
- 🎯 First putt must be outside the hole (no straight rammers).
- 🌀 Must die the ball in — any first putt that finishes past the hole = +1 putt.
- ✅ Gimmie anywhere on the green (first contact).
- 🔕 Silent hole — speaking before you hole out = +1 (gestures allowed).
- 🤝 Team best-ball: record the group’s best NETT score for this hole.
- 🔄 Snake: worst score chooses the next hole’s rule (ties roll-off).
- 🎟️ One free mulligan on this hole (any shot) — must be declared before replay.
- 🥇 Birdie bounty: anyone who makes birdie gets −1 extra (net).
- 🧨 Blow-up guard: max score on this hole is triple par.
- 🪙 Up-or-down: choose ‘attack’ (−1 if GIR, +1 if miss) or ‘safe’ (0/0).
- 🪵 Avoid trees: if your ball touches any tree = +1.
- 🪵 Tee it low: everyone tees off with the ball below half a tee.
- 🪖 Safety first: no practice swings on the tee.
- 🪫 No driver/3w allowed this hole.
- 7️⃣ Seven-iron start: tee off with a 7-iron only.
- 🎯 Call your shape: declare draw or fade; wrong shape = +1.
- 🧭 Aim left/right: pick a side of fairway; miss that side = +1.
- 🏹 Target zone: ball must finish past the 150y marker or +1 (par 4/5).
- 🔁 Reverse order: shortest hitter on the card tees first.
- 🚫 OB tax: any shot OB this hole = +2 but a par saves 1 stroke (−1).
- 🧱 No flop shots: max 56° loft allowed.
- ⬇️ Keep it down: approach must be below head height.
- 🧮 Must go for GIR: you must attempt the green in regulation (no lay-ups).
- 📐 Fat-side only: aim to the widest side of the green; miss opposite = +1.
- 🧲 Inside 100y: you must advance the ball onto the green or add +1.
- 🧊 No rough saves: if you play from heavy rough and miss green, +1.
- 🧵 Same ball challenge: play the same ball from tee to hole; change = +1.
- 🏴 Flag in or out (call it as a group) — switching mid-hole = +1.
- 🧭 Putt inside the mark: first putt must not pass the hole on the high side.
- 🚫 No plumb-bobbing: if you do, +1.
- ⏱️ 30-second putts: take longer on any putt = +1 total (honesty rule).
- 🪄 Lag bonus: any first putt finishing inside a putter length = −1 (once per group).
- 🏃 Ready golf: first ready plays; blatant delay = +1.
- 🤐 Quiet tee: no talking from last player to address until ball lands; breach = +1.
- 🎲 Blind club pick: one partner picks your next club (no drivers on green).
- 📵 No rangefinders this hole.
- 🎭 Opposite day: play your next shot with opposite stance (left/right) if off fairway.
- 🪙 Double or Nothing: declare before tee — par or better = −1, bogey or worse = +1.
- 🎯 Fairway + GIR combo: hit both on the same hole = −1 bonus.
- 🥷 Scramble save: if anyone makes par from a bunker, all take −1.
- 🏖️ Bunker tax: enter any bunker = +1; sand save = −1 (net to zero if both).
- 🌪️ Blow-up shield: max 2 over par on this hole.
- 🌲 Tree touch = +1 (any strike).
- 💦 Water touch = +1 (any splash/penalty).
- 🪵 Cart path bounce = free drop but +1 unless you still make par.
- 🧯 Firefighter: if anyone finds a hazard and still makes nett par, all others +1.
- 🫧 Water wary: if you find water, you owe a forfeit (or +1).
- 🍻 Beer-hand Only: carry a drink in your non-dominant hand until you hole out; switch or set it down = +1.
- 🤬 Swear Jar: first audible swear this hole = +1 (anyone can call it).
- 🗣️ Trash-talk ON: if you stay silent during someone else’s pre-shot routine, you take +1 (keep it friendly).
- 📵 Phone Ban: touch your phone before holing out = +1.
- 🎧 Walk-up Song: someone must play one before the first tee shot; no song = +1 to the group.
- 🥤 Carry-and-Swing: putt one-handed while holding a drink — 2-putt or better = −1; 3-putt = +1.
- 🧻 Drop-and-Sip: one preferred-lie drop anywhere this hole, but you owe a sip (skip it and take +1).
- 🎲 Truth or Bogey: after the hole, answer a truth picked by the group or add +1.
- 🫢 No Whining: any complaint about lie/bounce = +1.
- 🧢 Backwards Cap: wear it backwards until you hole out; forget = +1.
- 🍺 Social Putt: miss your FIRST putt long and you owe a sip; make it and take −1.
- 👑 Birdie Bounty+: make birdie and pick someone to take a sip (or take an extra −1 if sober).
- 💬 Danger Words: pick one banned word for the hole (e.g., “chunk”, “hook”); say it = +1.
- 🪙 Press Allowed: anyone may press THIS hole before the first putt; result counts double (±2).
- 🎯 CTP Wager: call a 100–150y CTP; winner −1, last place +1.
- 🍻 Fairway or Forfeit: miss the fairway and choose a sip OR +1.
- 🤝 Skins This Hole: low NETT takes −1 from each opponent (they each take +1).
- 🎭 Mimic Routine: copy the previous player’s pre-shot routine; skip = +1.
- 🚕 Tree Taxi: ball in the trees? Move it out to the first cut with a free drop. Keep it under branches for style points.
- 💣 Shank Amnesty: your next shank doesn’t count. Replay that shot (must loudly yell “FORE RIGHT!”).
- 🎟️ Top Ticket: top your tee shot under 40y? Re-tee once, no penalty. Camera phones mandatory.
- 🧱 Chunk Insurance: if your divot travels farther than your ball, replay the shot from the same spot — no penalty.
- 🧭 Fairway-Adjacent: drive ends on the wrong fairway? Counts as a fairway hit for this hole. We won’t tell.
- 🏖️ Sand Ladder: need 2+ to escape a bunker? Pick it up and place on the fringe. No penalty. Rake the scene of the crime.
- 🚪 Door-Frame Gimme: anything inside a shoe-and-a-half is GOOD. Claim it with confidence.
- 🥾 Toe-Poke Escape: one gentle foot tap to bump your ball out of shrubbery/hedge. Not on green or in bunkers.
- 🔍 Lost-ish Ball: “I saw it bounce!” Drop where it probably is in the rough. No penalty. Honour system + heckles.
- 🚫 OB Pardon (Lite): first OB ball this hole is treated as a lateral drop with just +1 (not reload).
- 🥤 Aiming Fluid: take a sip; ignore your next outrageous slice/hook. Drop in the fairway corridor, no penalty.
- 🗼 Tee Tower: you may tee the ball up anywhere except the green once this hole. (Yes, even in the rough.)
- 3️⃣ Three-Putt Cap: max three putts this hole. If you’d need a 4th, write “3” and move along.
- 😵💫 Lip-Out Pardon: one savage 360° lip-out this hole can be counted as holed.
- 📣 Mandatory Roast: that player must hit the next shot with everyone watching & “commentating.” If they make clean contact, they get −1.
- 📏 Rangefinder IRL: unsure of yardage? Pick any nice number within ±15y and believe in it. No one may argue.
- 🌶️ Chili-Dip Rollback: if you advance a chip < 10y, replace it and replay. No penalty (but yes, laughter).
- 🛹 Putter From Anywhere: once this hole, you may putt from absolutely anywhere. If you make par, take an extra −1.
- 🪃 Snap-Hook Amnesty: one free reload for a violent snap-hook off the tee. Second ball is in play.
- 📣 Crowd Cheer: everyone must cheer and clap during your next swing. If GIR, take −1.
Customising Your Deck (Coming soon)
- Categories: Toggle groups like Tee, Approach, Putting, Behaviour, Risk/Reward.
- Difficulty: Pick Mild / Standard / Spicy.
- Team twists: Enable team-best-ball or scramble-bonus cards.
These options let captains control the vibe while keeping the “one card per hole, no repeats” promise.
Implementation Notes (for the curious)
Under the hood we use a seeded shuffle so the deck is unique per round but consistent across devices:
- Create a seed from
course + tee + roundCode + date. - Shuffle the deck with a deterministic PRNG.
- Map
holeNumber → deck[holeIndex]; store to localStorage to survive refresh. - Mark used cards so they won’t repeat this round; “Swap Card” pulls the next unused.
Buttons: Reveal Rule (shows up to four options), Swap Card (once per 9), Need a Quick Hole (skip).
FAQ
Who chooses the card? You do. Pick any of the four shown, or use a simple default like “honour decides” or rotating players each hole.
What if a card doesn’t fit the hole? Use Swap Card (safety/pace reasons) or Need a Quick Hole.
Does it change Stableford/Medal/Match? No—the mode layers flavour on top of your selected scoring.
Will cards repeat later? Not within the same round. The deck expands over time, so future rounds feel fresh.