Nine Point — some groups call it 5-3-1 or “Nines” — is the game for a threesome. Every hole is worth exactly nine points: five for the best net score, three for second, one for third. Ties split on fixed patterns, so all nine points always land somewhere.
There are no teams and no captain — it’s every player against both others on every hole, which is why a threesome playing it never feels like a short-handed foursome.
| Situation on a hole | Mike | Sam | Tom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outright 1st · 2nd · 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Mike & Sam tie for 1st | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Mike 1st · Sam & Tom tie 2nd | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| All three tie | 3 | 3 | 3 |
A pickup or concede takes automatic last on the hole. Two pickups split the lower positions' points evenly — it's rare, and TwoDown notes it in the round story when it happens.
No presses or carryovers in Nine Point — the drama is that nine points move on every single hole.
Enter three scores and the split is instant — TwoDown applies the right 5-3-1 pattern for every tie shape, keeps the running points board on the hole card, and settles the pairwise gaps at your point value when the round closes.
Join the beta on TestFlightWhy nine points?
Every hole distributes exactly nine — 5 for the outright win, 3 for second, 1 for third, with fixed splits for every tie pattern. Over 18 holes that's 162 points in play.
How does it settle?
Pairwise, like Wolf — each pair squares the difference in their totals at the point value set on the first tee. A quarter a point is a common speed.
Can we play it with four players?
No — Nine Point is exactly three. It exists to make a threesome as good as a foursome. With four, look at Wolf or skins.
Net or gross?
Net by default — handicap strokes apply hole by hole. Gross is a setup toggle, same as every TwoDown game.