A greenie is when a player hits their shot closest to the pin on a par 3 and makes par or better on the hole.
Greenies are a type of side bet in golf, like sandies, and are usually an add on to the main game.
Greenies are sometimes referred to as “KPs”, or closest to the pin.
As with all golf gambling games, the exact rules may vary depending on who you are playing with, but here are the general rules for greenies.
- They can only occur on Par 3s.
- Your tee shot must be on the green to have a chance at winning a greenie.
- You must be closest to the pin after the tee shot (see stealing a greenie for one caveat).
- You must make par or better to win the greenie.
Stealing A Greenie
It’s possible to win a greenie if you aren’t closest to the pin after the tee shots.
Typically, only the person closest to the pin is eligible to win the greenie, but many variations allow for stealing a greenie with a birdie.
If you make your birdie putt and the player who was closer to the pin misses theirs, you steal the greenie.
In most cases, you can’t steal a greenie with a par.
So if the person closest to the pin doesn’t make a par and you do, you don’t win a greenie.
*Sometimes, this is allowed, so ensure all players agree to the rules before play begins!
Carrying Over A Greenie
If nobody hits it on the green and makes par or better, no one gets the greenie.
The group then decides whether to carry the greenie over to the next par 3.
If they decide to carry it over, the following par 3 counts double.
Examples: Greenie Or No Greenie?
All examples assume you are playing in a foursome.
- Only one player hits the green and two-putts for par. Greenie.
- Two players hit the green and both three-putt for bogey. No Greenie.
- Three players hit the green, one player makes a birdie, and the other two make par. Greenie. (For the birdie, regardless of whether they were closest to the pin or not)
- All four players hit the green; three make par, and one makes bogey. Greenie. (For the par who was closest to the pin after the tee shot)
- All four players hit the green; the one closest to the hole makes a bogey while everyone else makes a par. No Greenie. (Usually)
Related: What Is A Sandy In Golf?