Good times for all — when you only have three

THIS ISSUE, we’re making a little switch to focus on three options for fun games on the

■ Split Sixes

A hybrid version of skins for a group of three golfers. As the name suggests, there are six points at stake on every hole. If someone wins it outright, they get four points. The second-best score gets two points and the third gets none. If the hole is won and the other players halve, then the allocation of points is 4-1-1. If two players halve and beat the third, then it’s 3-3-0. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds.

■ Chairman 

The player with the lowest net score on each hole becomes the Chairman on the next hole. If two players tie, then the current Chairman continues for the next hole. The big difference is that a hole can only be won by the current Chairman. The player who wins the most holes takes the bragging rights … and the money.

■ Ghost

A game of four-ball better ball match play with three real players and one imaginary player. One player is allocated to play with the “ghost,” who makes par on every hole. The ghost plays off scratch and gives shots to every other player in the group. We recommend pairing the higher handicapper with the ghost. Or each player is teamed with the ghost for six holes. The player with the most points wins.

The great thing about these games is that the Handicap Index® can still be converted to a Course Handicap™ and used similar to traditional formats of play.