Curious to hear how you guys play the game. I played a round yesterday where there were a bunch of interesting twists to the rules so I wanted to see if I had just been playing the game incorrectly over the last 6 years, or if his version was just weird.

Rules I played by:
1. Random assigning of order of tee off that is cyclical.
2. Whoever tees off first then can draft any player after their tee shot. You can't go back retroactively (i.e., player 2 tees off, then player 3, you can't then go draft player 2).
3. Play single best ball after team is made
4. If you opt to go Wolf you double the stakes and it's 1 v 3. Halve of hole = no blood.

Variants I was introduced to yesterday:
1. Guy who tees off first can call wolf AFTER seeing everyone tee off. So if he waits til last guy to hit, he either has to pick the last guy or he can go solo. Still can't retroactively select someone.
2. If you are drafted, you have option of divorcing him and going solo or 'wolf'.
3. After you don't have enough holes to do another full rotation (i.e. after hole 16 in a foursome, person with fewest points tees off on 17, 18 and gets to select partners, followed by normal order of play).
4. Double best ball. So two fours vs a five and six on the hole make the score 44 vs 56 (double the single person's score if they go WOLF).


Curious to hear if any of you have other variations or rules that you play with WOLF? TBH, a lot of these variations that I played for the first time yesterday added some interesting dynamics and cool little elements to the game and the strategies.

Variant 1 is standard for me. I have played where if you choose wolf immediately after your tee shot points are doubled (so double double) and if you choose wolf before hitting your tee shot they are tripled (so triple double).

Variant 3 is also standard.

Ive never played wolf but it seems fun

That's pretty cool (var 1).

The divorcing your partner is pretty fun, especially on Par 3s.

I've only played this game a couple times a few years ago. Everything you just described sounds familiar. I think I've played the standard way and I've also played with all the variants. It's a pretty fun game, but I still like a skins game or just a simple stroke or match play better. I'm not big into elaborate games like that.

If you have a group of poker players the wolf games are the best. UCB: everything you described in the 'new' variants are standard for what I know except the last one (but I like it too). What manbearpig described is standard for our group too. I would add that what you called 'divorcing' when picked we call 'going pig' - its an important rule and makes for some interesting situations when someone hits one really close on a par 3, the higher EV is often not picking that person and planning to lose to him and whoever he gets as partner, because if you pick him he will auto pig and we play that birdies double the bet (and eagles re-double), so it can get costly.

Variant 3 we always use because it creates more action, last 3 holes on each side stakes double and whoever is stuck the most gets to go first every tee box. Often they will make bad wolfing decisions trying to get unstuck

We also play the non-picked team can double before leaving the tee box, and of course if villains double you can always re-double ad infinitum.

Now its easy to see how I had that story of starting out with a $5 wolf game and on hole 18 a guy had a $2400 putt.

I like the non-picked team having the option to double. Seems like some very fun variants for sure and I'll try them out, albeit at smaller stakes :P

Any others that someone wants to add?

I got to googling different variations after reading this thread. One I found interesting that I may try was having the wolf hit last. And he has to pick before his tee shot.

Another variation that Ive played is double-downs, which means the non-wolf group, either 2 or 3 players can declare their own ball against the wolf, as well as their teams. The only wrinkle is that all players have to agree, as it then becomes a 1:1 payout between each player and the wolf.

haha I'd love the pressure shots that develop if everyone just barfs on their tee shots

UCB lets get a good group for wolf in vegas in a few weeks!

Not yet sure my plans for Vegas. I'll PM you when I will be out there. Maybe I can buy out of the 59 bet, lol.

I love wolf - we played it almost everyday in college since we played in 5-somes. We typically play the usual way - wolf must pick before next Ted shot is hit or loses opportunity to pick that player; "lone wolf" if wolf picks himself before anyone else hits - double bet; "blind lone wolf" - wolf picks himself before he hits - triple bet. We have always done "throw backs" where a player picked can throw back the wolf & go alone - bet doubles. We also do the last 3 holes the lowest point total is wolf. I've played where if 3 beats 2 the bet is double (I think DD called them "villains" - I'm totally stealing that term!!).

When I was an assistant, we would "split 9's" - one asst would play the front & the other would play the back - if you shot lower than 33 you could play the back 9 - I played a wolf game & drove a par 4, went lone wolf - some guy holes out from the fairway, I miss eagle, hit it to 4 feet on the par 3 after it, throw back the wolf, guy after me hits a hole in one. I finished with 32 & walked in & told the other asst to go - he asked what I shot - told him 32, & he thought I'd keep going - I said "no way, I just lost over $600 shooting -4". Wolf is probably the only game where you can play that well & get killed!

Great game & the best if you have 5. Thanks for the thread - I've always liked the variations - neat to hear how others play it.

Yeah it seems like 5-some Wolf is the ideal group size. The bet multiplier sounds neat, definitely trying this!

At least we now know you were telling the truth when you said you dont play poker.

Lol.

I played once where everyone put $100 in before the round. After the round you would blindly pull a card from a normal 52 card deck for each point you had and the best hand won the pot.

dagolfdoc
I started getting lost from here on:
" We also do the last 3 holes the lowest point total is wolf. I've played where if 3 beats 2 the bet is double (I think DD called them "villains" - I'm totally stealing that term!!).

When I was an assistant, we would "split 9's" - one asst would play the front & the other would play the back - if you shot lower than 33 you could play the back 9 - I played a wolf game & drove a par 4, went lone wolf - some guy holes out from the fairway, I miss eagle, hit it to 4 feet on the par 3 after it, throw back the wolf, guy after me hits a hole in one. I finished with 32 & walked in & told the other asst to go - he asked what I shot - told him 32, & he thought I'd keep going - I said "no way, I just lost over $600 shooting -4". Wolf is probably the only game where you can play that well & get killed!

"

What does if 3 beats 2 mean?

Thanks !

There are 5 players in Wolf - the "wolf" picks their partner (the best shot or opportunity), so they are a 2 man team playing against a 3-man team. Since the Wolf team should be the strongest, since he had the choice of best opportunity, if the 3-player team wins the hole (an upset despite having more players) - they would be the Villains and would win double the bet. 3 beats 2 is referring to the 3-player team beating the 2-player Wolf team.

Sorry for confusion!

Variant 1 is standard for me. As well as Blind Wolf which triples the bet. Blind Wolf allows the Wolf to call Wolf before his tee shot, and Wolf of course, always has honors.