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Guide

Pub Golf Rules

9-hole and 18-hole formats, par drinks, penalties and a printable scorecard.

What is pub golf?

Pub golf is a structured pub crawl where each pub is a "hole" with a designated drink and a "par" — the number of gulps you're meant to finish it in. Lowest total score wins. It's the most British way to organise a night out: vaguely athletic on paper, entirely chaotic in practice.

The basic rules

  • Each pub is one "hole" with a fixed drink and a par.
  • Your score for a hole = the number of gulps you take to finish your drink.
  • Go under par for a birdie, over par for a bogey. Like real golf, but worse.
  • One nominated "marshal" (usually the soberest, briefly) settles disputes.
  • You play 9 holes for a half round, 18 for the full course.
  • Lowest total score wins. Loser buys the finisher pint.

The 9-hole course

A solid 9-hole round takes 3–4 hours and lands somewhere just before last orders. Adjust the drinks to suit your crew — this is a template, not gospel.

Hole 1 — Local boozer
Par 4
Pint of lager
Easy opener. Pace yourself — eight more to go.
Hole 2 — Sports pub
Par 5
Pint of ale
Slower sipping. Heavier on the stomach.
Hole 3 — Cocktail bar
Par 6
Long cocktail (e.g. mojito)
Through a straw counts as one extra stroke.
Hole 4 — Wine bar
Par 4
Large glass of wine (250ml)
No sipping. Keep it moving.
Hole 5 — Craft taproom
Par 3
Half of something strong (8%+)
The 'birdie' hole — short but punishing.
Hole 6 — Old man's pub
Par 5
Pint of stout
Settle in. Order a packet of crisps.
Hole 7 — Spoons or chain pub
Par 5
Pitcher cocktail (shared, your share)
Cheapest hole. Don't get carried away.
Hole 8 — Late bar
Par 3
Double spirit + mixer
Short hole. Drink fast, leave faster.
Hole 9 — Closing pub
Par 4
Pint of your choice
Finisher. Loser of the round buys it.

18-hole variation

For the full 18-hole format, run the same 9-hole sequence twice — second loop drops par by 1 on every hole (you're warmed up). Add a "front 9 / back 9" stop for food between holes 9 and 10. A full 18 takes 6–8 hours and is best started at lunchtime on a Saturday, not at 9pm.

Penalty strokes

Penalties keep the round honest. Agree on them before hole 1.

Spilling your drink+1
Going to the toilet mid-hole+1
Forgetting whose round it is+2
Phone out (non-emergency)+1
Refusing a drink+5 (DQ at marshal's discretion)
Falling asleep at the table+3
Talking about work+1

Dress code

Optional but encouraged: polo shirt, chinos or a short skirt, a single golf glove, and a visor. A foam club is excessive but rarely regretted. Most pubs will let you in — a few won't, which is also part of the game.

Plan your course in My Pint Flow

You can build the 9 holes as a crawl in the app — pick the pubs in order, share the link with your group, and stamp each one on your passport as you finish the drink. Scores live in the chat thread.

Plan a crawl

Safety bits (read this)

  • Eat properly before hole 1 and again at the halfway point.
  • Water between holes is free strokes — drink it.
  • If anyone wants out, they're out. No penalties, no debate.
  • Get a taxi home. Always.

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