The main scorecard is just table stakes. The real action in most weekend groups lives in the side games—the running bets, carryovers, and payouts that make every hole matter. The problem has always been tracking them honestly without someone doing the math wrong on the 18th green. Here's how the most popular formats work, and how Xordinari Golf handles the bookkeeping automatically.
Skins
How it works: Each hole is worth one "skin." The player with the lowest score on a hole wins it outright. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole—so a string of ties can make a single hole worth five or six skins and the tension in the fairway shows it.
Skins can be played gross or net (with handicap strokes applied). Net skins tend to level the playing field in mixed-handicap groups. The app tracks carryovers in real time so everyone always knows what's riding on the next tee.
In Xordinari Golf: Set a per-skin dollar amount when you start the round. The app tracks carries, calculates the total per player at the end, and generates settlement links via Venmo or Cash App so no one has to do the math standing next to their car.
Nassau
How it works: Nassau is actually three bets in one—front nine, back nine, and overall 18. Each portion is a separate match, typically low score wins. The standard format is stroke play with handicaps applied, though match-play Nassau (where each hole is won or lost individually) is also common.
The real Nassau twist is the press. If a player or team falls two holes down in a nine, they can "press"—starting a new sub-bet that runs to the end of that portion. Presses can layer on top of presses, which is why the payout can get complicated fast. The app handles all of it: automatic press tracking, running totals, and a final breakdown per player.
In Xordinari Golf: Enter your Nassau stakes when creating a round ($5/$5/$5 is a classic starting point). Enable auto-press if your group uses that rule and the app will prompt players when a press should be offered.
Other Formats Worth Knowing
Wolf: One player per hole (rotating) acts as the "Wolf" and either picks a partner after seeing each tee shot or goes it alone against the field. Solo wins pay double. Great for four-player groups.
Stableford: Points-based rather than score-based. Bogey is 1 point, par is 2, birdie is 4, eagle is 8. Higher scores don't hurt as much as in stroke play, which keeps everyone engaged on bad-hole days. Xordinari Golf supports modified Stableford with custom point tables if your group has a preferred variation.
6-6-6 (also called Sixes): The group rotates partners every six holes. Front six, middle six, back six—three different partnerships in one round. Works for foursomes and keeps things interesting when the same team tends to dominate.
All of these formats are configurable in the app before or during a round. Settlement runs automatically at the end, so the focus stays on golf rather than arithmetic.