Three points on every hole — first on the green, closest to the pin, first in the cup. The great equalizer: a 20-handicap can beat a scratch player without a single stroke of help.
Three points a hole, and none of them care how far you hit it: first on the green, closest to the pin once everybody is on, and first to hole out. A short hitter who plays in order and putts well can take a group of bombers apart.
Bingo Bango Bongo is a points game that ignores your score entirely. Every hole offers exactly three points: Bingo for the first ball on the green, Bango for the ball closest to the pin once everyone's on, and Bongo for the first ball in the hole. Because points go to whoever does something first — and golf etiquette makes the player farthest from the hole go first — shorter hitters and higher handicaps get constant chances to score. It's one of the oldest betting games in golf and still one of the fairest.
Worked example. Par 4. Alex (long hitter) drives 290 but Dana plays first from 150 and finds the green — Bingo, Dana. Alex knocks a wedge to 4 feet, closer than anyone once all balls are on — Bango, Alex. Dana, 22 feet away, putts first and pours it in — Bongo, Dana. Dana made bogey and outscored Alex's birdie 2 points to 1. That's Bingo Bango Bongo.
Out of turn = no point. The standard penalty: any shot played out of turn is ineligible for a point on that hole. Some groups go further and forfeit a point already won.
Par-or-better validation. Some groups require a point winner to finish the hole at par or better to keep the point (similar to greenie validation in Dots). Off by default; agree up front.
Anti-points. A spicier variant subtracts a point for three-putts or balls in the water. Pairs naturally with a Snake on the side.
Fringe doesn't count. Bingo requires the putting surface, not the fringe. Sounds obvious until someone's ball is sitting on the collar — settle it before the round.
With handicaps. Almost always played straight up, since the format equalizes on its own. If your group insists, give strokes only on the Bongo (net first-in wins).
Bingo Bango Bongo is scored in Duck Hook Pro. The pro or organizer sets up the game and keeps the card there, and Duck Hook Pro works out the result and the settle-up and shows it on a TV leaderboard. It isn’t in the free app yet.
See Duck Hook Pro Browse all 42 gamesThree points per hole — Bingo (first on the green), Bango (closest to the pin once everyone is on), and Bongo (first to hole out) — for a total of 54 points over 18 holes.
Every point depends on who plays first, so strict etiquette is the rulebook: honors on the tee, farthest from the hole plays first after that. Most groups rule that a shot played out of turn can't win a point.
No — that's the appeal. Because the short hitter reaches the green area first and putts from wherever they lie, high handicappers win Bingos and Bongos naturally. Most groups play it straight up with no strokes.
It works with two to five players, and a foursome is ideal. Every player competes for every point individually, so no teams are needed.
If two balls are genuinely equidistant for Bango, most groups either split the point or wash it. Bingo and Bongo rarely tie since one ball lands or drops first — when in doubt, the point washes.
Same energy, different game. Everything below has a full rules guide of its own.
Duck Hook Golf