Banker is a golf betting game where one player becomes the "banker" on each hole and plays against the rest of the group. It is simple to learn, but it adds a fun layer of pressure because the banker is taking on multiple players at once.
Banker works especially well for foursomes, but it can also be played with three players. The game is usually played hole by hole, with the banker role rotating throughout the round.
This is a simulation, not a live round. Tap the green Start Simulation button to learn the game and watch this made up match unfold one hole at a time. Just like in our app, you'll see a summary of the drama below the holes and a leaderboard.
The scores above are invented, but the scoring is not: this is the same card and the same live leaderboard your group sees on Big Fairways while you play.
Play BANKER Now! Big Fairways runs every man to man match against the bank for youIn Banker, one golfer is selected as the banker for a hole. The banker plays individual matches against the other players in the group.
Each player is trying to beat the banker on that hole. If a player beats the banker, the banker pays that player. If the banker beats a player, that player pays the banker.
This creates a simple "banker versus the field" format.
The exact origin of Banker is not clearly documented, but the game has long been played as a casual golf betting format. Like Wolf, Nassau, and other side games, Banker became popular because it gives players something to compete for on every hole.
The appeal is that the banker has a chance to win from multiple players at once, while the rest of the group gets a clear target: beat the banker.
Before the round starts, the group agrees on:
On each hole:
Let's say four players are playing Banker for $2 per match.
Player A is the banker.
Scores on the hole:
Results:
The banker usually rotates from hole to hole.
For a foursome, the rotation could look like this:
Because 18 holes does not divide evenly by four, groups should decide before the round how to handle the final holes. Some groups continue the normal rotation, while others let the player who is behind become banker near the end.
Banker is fun because it creates a different kind of pressure than regular stroke play. When you are the banker, you are not just playing one opponent. You are playing against everyone else in the group.
That means one good hole can be very profitable for the banker. But one bad hole can cost the banker multiple bets.
For the other players, the game is easy to understand. You do not have to beat everyone. You only have to beat the banker.
There are several ways to play Banker.
Some groups keep it simple with one fixed value per hole. Others allow players to bet more against the banker, especially after seeing tee shots.
Common variations include:
The two most common options are:
If you are playing Banker for the first time, use this simple version:
Banker is a great golf game for groups that want a simple format with plenty of action. It is easy to track, works well with handicaps, and gives every player a turn in the high-pressure banker role.
If you want a golf side game where one player takes on the field and every hole matters, Banker is a fun format to try.
Keep score automatically and settle up in the app Every match against the bank, every push, settled at the endOne player is the banker on each hole and plays a separate one on one match against every other player at the same time. If you beat the banker he pays you, if he beats you then you pay him, and a tie usually pushes. The bank then moves on to the next player.
Most groups simply rotate in teeing order. Because 18 holes does not divide evenly by four, groups need a rule for the closing holes. Big Fairways's house rule is that from hole 16 the player who is down the most takes the bank, which gives him a way back. The demo round above uses exactly that.
Most groups push, meaning no money changes hands on that match. Some groups give ties to the banker to reward taking the bank on a hard hole. Either works, but agree it on the first tee.
Yes. A common variation lets any player double his own match against the banker before tee shots, and lets the banker double back. It is the fastest way to make a $2 game interesting, and the fastest way to make it expensive.
Three is the minimum for the format to make sense, four is the sweet spot, and it scales up from there. The more players in the group, the more the banker stands to win or lose on a single hole.