59

Type Hole Bet
Alias Geiberger
Format Game
Number of players 4
Team or Individual play Team
  • This game was named after American golfer Al Geiberger who was the first person to score a 59 on the PGA tour or any other pro golf tour in 1977.
  • 59 is a betting game that is played in groups. The goal of the game is to not be the first player to reach 59 strokes for the round. The Geiberger bet is set as an agreed-upon number of points or money before the round starts. All players except the first one to record a 59 have a chance to win the points or money at stake.
  • This is how the game works: the group of golfers tees off and plays the round. The first player to reach 59 strokes loses the bet.

        Geiberger Bet in Points:

        Suppose you have four players A, B, C, and D. If player A is the first one to hit 59 strokes, then the other players receive points according to the difference in strokes with player A. If player B has 57 strokes, player C has 53 strokes, and player D has 56 strokes, then player B earns 2 points, player C earns 6 points, and player D earns 3 points.

          Geiberger Bet in Money:

          The amount the bet is worth is decided before the round. The conditions can also be different. For example, if the bet is set at $1, then either the first player to reach 59 strokes pays $1 each to every other player or pays $1 for every stroke difference. So, if player A hits 59 strokes first and players B, C, and D are at 57, 53, and 56 strokes, respectively, then player A owes player B $2, player C $6, and player D $3.