Bingo Bango Bongo: Three Points a Hole, and Why Handicaps Barely Matter

Quick answer: Every hole is worth three points. One for bingo — first ball on the green. One for bango — closest to the pin once every ball is on. One for bongo — first ball in the hole. Most points after 18 wins.

How it works

Bingo goes to the first player to get their ball onto the putting surface.
Bango goes to whoever is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green.
Bongo goes to the first player to hole out.
All three are available on every hole, so 54 points are in play over a round.

Scoring

One point each, tallied over the round. There is no relationship to par at all, which is the entire trick: a player who takes four shots to reach the green can still win bingo if they were furthest out and played first.

Strict order of play is what makes this fair — the player furthest from the hole always plays first. Ignore that and the longest hitter simply wins bingo all day.

When to play it on a golf trip

Bingo Bango Bongo is the best game on this list for a group with a genuine beginner in it. Because points come from being first rather than being good, a high handicapper can win the round outright without anyone bending the rules for them.

It is also excellent on a resort course with big greens, where the closest-to-pin point is genuinely contested.

House rules worth agreeing first

That furthest-from-the-hole plays first, every time, without exception.
Whether a ball on the fringe counts as on the green for bingo.
Whether bango is measured or eyeballed. Eyeballed is faster and usually fine.

FAQ

Why is order of play so important? Because bingo rewards reaching the green first. Let people play out of turn and the long hitters sweep it.

How many points are available in a round? Fifty-four — three per hole across eighteen holes.

Is it good for mixed abilities? It is the best game here for that. Handicap barely matters, which is why it keeps beginners in the game.

Run it without the spreadsheet

GolfTracker Trips scores this format across every round of a trip, alongside whatever
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Start free at GolfTracker Trips — up to 8 players and 2 rounds, no card.