How to Play Bingo Bango Bongo — Golf's Points Game Explained

What is Bingo Bango Bongo?

Bingo Bango Bongo is a golf points game where your actual score barely matters — what matters is being first. Three points are up for grabs on every hole, and none of them depend on shooting a low number. It's one of the few formats where a high-handicap player can genuinely out-score a scratch golfer, hole after hole.

How Bingo Bango Bongo scoring works

Three points are awarded on every hole:

Add up points across all 18 holes — most points wins. The catch is strict order of play: whoever is farthest from the hole always plays first, no exceptions. This is what makes the game fair for high handicappers — a shorter, safer shot that finds the green first still wins the Bingo point, even if a longer hitter would have reached in fewer strokes.

Worked example

On a par 3, Player A's tee shot lands on the green first — Bingo point. Player B then chips from just off the green to 2 feet from the pin, closer than everyone else once all balls are on — Bango point. Player A then holes their putt first — Bongo point. Final score for the hole: Player A wins 2 points, Player B wins 1.

Common mistakes

Track Bingo Bango Bongo automatically

Keeping tabs on three separate points across 18 holes by memory gets messy fast. Golf with Mates records who wins each point as you play and keeps a running tally, so nobody has to remember who was closest on hole 6.