How do you play Wolf in golf?

Wolf is played in a group of three to five, with new teams formed on every hole. Players rotate as the Wolf, who after the tee shots either picks a partner or plays alone as a Lone Wolf against the rest. Points are scored each hole based on the outcome and totaled at the end of the round.

How many players do you need for Wolf?

Three to five. Four is the classic setup — it gives a clean four-hole Wolf rotation — but the game and the app work with 3, 4, or 5 players.

When can the Wolf pick a partner?

After each player tees off, before the next ball is struck. Pass on a player and you can't come back to them. Reach the tee without picking anyone and you're going Lone Wolf, one against the field.

Does the Wolf tee off first or last?

Either — your group decides at setup. Players rotate tee positions every hole, and the Wolf is fixed as the first or the last to tee off for the round.

How do you settle up in Wolf?

Total the points at the end. The most common payout is per-point — each loser pays the winner the point difference times an agreed value — but some groups play a flat pot, winner takes all. The app calculates either automatically.

[ The Game ]

HOW TO PLAY WOLF.

Also known as Ship, Captain and Crew, Pig, or simply Captain. A three-to-five-player game of shifting alliances, played stroke by stroke.

THE BASICS

Wolf is played in a group of three to five players, with new teams created on every hole. Usually the Wolf teams up with a partner against the rest — but when a player goes Lone Wolf, it's one against the field. Everyone plays their own ball (stroke play) throughout the round.

ORDER MATTERS

An order is set before the round — flip a tee or randomize. Players rotate through tee positions on every hole. The Wolf can be either first or last on the tee.

The classic four-player rotation, with the Wolf teeing off last:

HOLE 1 → Rod, Ed, Mike, Wayne (Wolf)

HOLE 2 → Wayne, Rod, Ed, Mike (Wolf)

HOLE 3 → Mike, Wayne, Rod, Ed (Wolf)

HOLE 4 → Ed, Mike, Wayne, Rod (Wolf)

Repeats on hole 5. Re-order for 9, 17 & 18.

PICK A PARTNER… OR GO LONE

When the Wolf is last: after each player tees off, the Wolf must decide whether to pick that player as a partner — before the next ball is struck. Pass on a player and you cannot come back to them. If the Wolf reaches the tee without picking anyone, they're going Lone Wolf — one against the field.

When the Wolf is first: the Wolf tees off, then watches the others. Same rules apply — call your partner before the next shot, or take the loner gamble.

SCORING THE HOLE

Many groups play their own variation. A common one:

▸Wolf + partner win the hole: 2 points each
▸The Hunters win: 3 points each
▸Lone Wolf beats everyone: 4 points
▸Anyone beats the Lone Wolf: 1 point each (except the Wolf)

Ties yield zero points in the classic game — though the app's optional Carryover mode rolls the pot into the next hole instead. The app lets you customize all of this.

SETTLING UP

At the end of the round, total the points. The most common payout is per-point: each loser pays the winner the point difference times the agreed value (say $1 per point). Some groups play a flat pot, winner takes all. The app calculates either automatically.

COMMON QUESTIONS

How do you play Wolf in golf?: Wolf is played in a group of three to five, with new teams formed on every hole. Players rotate as the Wolf, who after the tee shots either picks a partner or plays alone as a Lone Wolf against the rest. Points are scored each hole based on the outcome and totaled at the end of the round.
How many players do you need for Wolf?: Three to five. Four is the classic setup — it gives a clean four-hole Wolf rotation — but the game and the app work with 3, 4, or 5 players.
When can the Wolf pick a partner?: After each player tees off, before the next ball is struck. Pass on a player and you can't come back to them. Reach the tee without picking anyone and you're going Lone Wolf, one against the field.
Does the Wolf tee off first or last?: Either — your group decides at setup. Players rotate tee positions every hole, and the Wolf is fixed as the first or the last to tee off for the round.
How do you settle up in Wolf?: Total the points at the end. The most common payout is per-point — each loser pays the winner the point difference times an agreed value — but some groups play a flat pot, winner takes all. The app calculates either automatically.

That's it. The rest is just golf.

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