BOUNCE BACK
Perfect For: Short memories, emotional recoveries, and legendary comebacks
Description:
Golf will knock you down—Bounce Back rewards those who refuse to stay there. This is a fan-favorite side bet because it keeps everyone invested, even after a meltdown.
Any time a player follows up a double bogey or worse with a par or better on the very next hole, they earn 1 Bounce Back point (dollar value set by the group).
This works great for higher handicap players. If your group are some real sticks, make it simply following up a bogey!
But beware: if a player makes back-to-back double bogeys or worse, they lose 1 point.
This game turns disaster into opportunity and makes recovery holes feel like championship moments.
Optional Flavor Boosters
Add one or more of these to dial up the fun:
1. Birdie Bounce (Redemption Rocket)
If the bounce-back hole is a birdie or better, it’s worth 2 points instead of 1.
(Eagles may cause excessive trash talk—use responsibly.)
2. Triple Trouble Penalty
If a player follows a double with a triple bogey or worse, they lose 2 points instead of 1.
(Also must publicly apologize to the group.)
3. The Shout-Out Rule
Any bounce-back must be announced out loud:
“BOUNCE BACK, BABY.”
Failure to declare it before teeing off on the next hole = no point.
No mercy.
4. Carryover Chaos
If no one earns a Bounce Back on a hole, the pot carries over to the next bounce-back opportunity.
Suddenly, that recovery hole is worth real money and real pressure.
5. Mental Game Bonus
If a player bounce-backs after losing a ball, dunking one in the water, or taking an unplayable, they get a bonus +1 point for emotional resilience.
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PRINTABLE RULES FORM