In this Article
Bingo bango bongo golf awards three points per hole for the first on the green, closest to the hole, and first to hole out. Learn the rules, order of play, a payout example, and 5 tips to win more.
Your foursome has one scratch player, one 20-handicap, and two guys who hit it everywhere. Nobody wants to play skins and watch the best player collect every dollar. That is exactly when somebody on the first tee says, ‘Let’s play bingo bango bongo.’
Bingo bango bongo golf is a points game where you earn points for what you do on each hole, not for your total score. It is the great equalizer, and I use it with my students in Chicago whenever a group has mixed skill levels. This guide covers the rules, the order of play, a real payout example, and five ways to win more points.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What Is Bingo Bango Bongo Golf? The Short Answer
Bingo bango bongo golf awards three points on every hole. One goes to the first player on the green, one to the player closest to the hole once everyone is on, and one to the first player to hole out. That makes 54 points available over 18 holes.
You can play with two or more players, though foursomes are the most common, according to National Club Golfer. The player with the most points at the end wins. A triple bogey on one hole does not sink you, because you can still pick up points on the next one.
How the Three Points Work
Each hole has three separate prizes. Here is how each one is won.
- Bingo: the first player whose ball lands on the green. It does not matter how many shots it took to get there.
- Bango: the player whose ball is closest to the hole once every ball is on the green.
- Bongo: the first player to hole out.
Notice that bingo rewards getting on the green first, not playing well. A player who hits a short, safe approach shot from the fairway can beat a long hitter who is still in the rough. That is what makes the game so fair for mixed groups.
Here is a quick example. On a par 4, you hit a good drive, but your partner is farther away and plays first. He puts his approach on the green, so he wins bingo. You then land your ball three feet from the hole, which wins bango. If you make that putt before anyone else holes out, you also win bongo.
Order of Play: The Rule Everyone Forgets
The whole game depends on one rule: the player farthest from the hole always plays first. That is why shorter hitters get the first shot at bingo. Ready golf does not work here, especially on par 3s, because playing out of turn can steal a point from someone else.
Golf Digest adds a useful rule for pace of play. There are no tap-ins or gimmies, so every putt is holed out in order. That keeps the bongo honest and stops arguments about who finished first.
The player with the best score on a hole earns the honors and tees off first on the next hole. After that, play is always determined by distance. If you keep a scorecard, mark the points won on each hole right after you finish, so nothing gets forgotten at the turn.
A Real Scoring and Payout Example
Settling up is simple. Agree on a value per point before you start, then compare each player’s total with the group average. With four players and 54 points, the average is 13.5 points each.
| Player | Points won | Difference from 13.5 | Net at $1 per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player A | 20 | +6.5 | +$6.50 |
| Player B | 15 | +1.5 | +$1.50 |
| Player C | 11 | -2.5 | -$2.50 |
| Player D | 8 | -5.5 | -$5.50 |
The points add up to 54, and the winnings and losses cancel out to zero. Another popular option is a fixed pot, where everyone pays in the same amount and the player with the most points takes it all. Pick one method on the first tee, because the money question causes more arguments than the rules do.
Handicaps and Fair Play
The format has no official handicap system, so you need to handle skill gaps yourself. In most groups, you will not need to. A 20-handicapper who plays first and lands on the green with a safe 7-iron has a real shot at bingo against a scratch player.
If the gap is large, there are two easy fixes I use with students. First, give the weaker player the point on any tie for bango. Second, make longer hitters play from a tee box farther back. Both keep the game close without complicated math.
Ties for bango should always be settled before the round. Some groups split the point, while others give it to the player who reached the green first. Either works, as long as everyone agrees.
Popular Variations
Because bingo bango bongo has no governing body, groups customize it freely. These are the versions I see most often.
- Longest drive for bingo. Give the first point to the longest drive, or the longest drive in the fairway. It rewards power, so use it when you want a change from the standard version.
- Lowest score for bongo. Award the last point to the player with the lowest score on the hole instead of the first to hole out. It rewards consistent golf over speed.
- Rising point values. Make each point worth double on the back nine, or triple on the 18th hole, to keep the game alive late in the round.
- Combined with a main game. Play stroke play or match play for the round, and run bingo bango bongo as a side bet. National Club Golfer notes it can be combined with either format.
Bingo Bango Bongo vs Skins: Which Should You Play?
Both games add excitement to a casual round, but they reward very different things. Skins is all about the lowest score on a hole, so a strong player can dominate it. Bingo bango bongo golf rewards position and order of play, so the weaker player always has a chance.
| Feature | Bingo bango bongo | Skins |
|---|---|---|
| What wins | Position: first on, closest, first in | Lowest score on the hole |
| Points per hole | 3 | 1 (more with carryovers) |
| Best for | Mixed skill levels | Players of similar ability |
| Handicaps needed | Rarely | Often (net skins) |
| Pace of play | Slower, strict order | Normal |
My rule of thumb is simple. If everyone in the group shoots within five strokes of each other, play skins. If your foursome includes a beginner and a low handicapper, play bingo bango bongo golf, and nobody will go home feeling like the day was wasted.
Pace is the one real downside. Because the farthest player must always hit first, you cannot play ready golf. Keep the game moving by picking your club while others hit, and have the next player ready to go. If your round is dragging, our guide on how long 18 holes of golf takes shows what a normal pace looks like.
Bingo Bango Bongo and Other Golf Side Games
This game pairs well with other small bets. A greenie rewards the closest tee shot on a par 3, which is very similar to the bango point. A sandie pays for a par save from a bunker, and a barkie pays for a par save after you hit a tree.
If your group wants a bigger main game, try a skins game, where only an outright low score wins the hole. Playing as a team instead? Read our guide to what a scramble is in golf.
5 Tips to Win More Points
Knowing the rules is half the battle. These are the adjustments I teach for winning more points.
1. Play for the green, not the pin
Bingo only requires that you reach the green first. If you are playing before the long hitters, take the club that gets you safely on the putting surface. A 15-foot putt on the green beats a perfect shot in the bunker.
2. Attack the flag when you are last
When you are the last to hit your approach, you cannot win bingo, so your job is bango. Take dead aim at the flag, because the other players are already on the green and you need to beat their distance.
3. Take the safe target when you play first
If you are first to play, bingo is yours to lose. Pick the fattest part of the green instead of chasing the flag, because reaching the putting surface is all that counts. Save your sharp putting for the bongo.
4. Lag your putts close
Bongo goes to the first player to hole out, so a three-putt hurts twice. Lag long putts to within a few feet, then finish quickly before a playing partner does. For a simple scoring target to measure your short game, see our guide to a good score for 9 holes.
5. Settle the rules on the first tee
Decide the point value, the tie rule for bango, and whether you allow gimmies. The best rule, again, is no gimmies. Write the decisions on the back of the scorecard, and you will avoid most disagreements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bingo bango bongo golf?
It is a points game where each hole awards three points: bingo for the first on the green, bango for the closest to the hole, and bongo for the first to hole out.
How many points are available in a round?
Three points per hole means 54 points over 18 holes, or 27 points over nine holes.
Who plays first in bingo bango bongo?
The player farthest from the hole always plays first. This applies on every shot, including putts, so nobody plays out of turn.
Do you need a handicap to play?
No. The format has no built-in handicap system because shorter hitters naturally get the first chance at bingo. Groups with a big skill gap can agree on a tie rule or tee box adjustment.
What happens if two players tie for bango?
You decide before the round. Some groups split the point, and others give it to the player who reached the green first.
Can you play it with two players?
Yes. The game works with two or more players, but three or four players make the points more competitive.
The Bottom Line
Bingo bango bongo golf is the best format I know for a group with mixed skill levels. Agree on the point value and tie rules, play in the correct order, and take the safe shot when it earns you bingo. Do that, and the next round will be a lot more fun for everyone, not just your best player.
