How to Play the Defender Golf Game

Defender is the name of a golf game for a group of four golfers or a group of three golfers (it actually works a little better with threesomes). On each hole, one golfer is the "defender of the hole" — his job is to beat, or at least tie, the scores of any of the other golfers in the group. When the Defender has the low score, he earns points; when one of the other golfers in the group posts the low score on the hole, the others earn points. And, depending on the outcome of each hole, golfers might even lose points on a hole.

Who is the Defender on each hole? It's a rotation. In a 4-person group, each golfer gets to be the defender four times, but with two leftover holes (start the game on the third hole or end it after the 16th). This is why we said in the opener that the Defender game works a little better with threesomes: Each golfer gets to be the defender six times, and the full 18 holes are used. But either way works. And the role of defender passes to each golfer in turn: Golfer A on Hole 1, B on Hole 2, C on Hole 3, back to A on 4 (in a threesome), B on 5 and so on.

The defender tees off last on each hole, which, at least, gives the defender the chance to watch his competitors' shots and judge how aggressively he needs to play. Each golfer plays his own ball into the hole.

How many points are at stake on each hole, and how are they divvied up? There are two common point systems used in Defender, you can pick the one you prefer:

• When the defender has the lowest score on a hole, she earns 3 points and each of the other golfers in the group lose 1 point.
• When the defender ties for low score on a hole, the defender gets 1½ points and each of the others loses a half-point.
• When any of the others in the group has the low score on a hole, the defender loses 3 points and the others each gain 1 point.

Or, you can try this point system that does not involve anyone losing points:

• When the defender wins a hole, she earns 3 points.
• When the defender ties a hole, she earns 2 points.
• When anyone else wins a hole, the others in the group each get 1 point.

You can also adjust the points any way your group wants to. Just make sure everyone is in agreement before the round starts. Don't forget to agree to how much the bet is worth. What is the value of each point? Agree before the round begins, and pay out the differences at the end.

See Hog for another game that is similar to Defender.

More golf games:

• The Money Ball format explained
• How to play Three Club Monte (3-Club Challenge)
• How to play Murphies (aka, the Murphy bet)