Golf Solitaire is a game that requires little skills and lots of luck. However, if you want to increase your chances of winning, you must familiarize yourself with the rules and strategy of the game.
An exciting twist to the classic game of solitaire, Golf Solitaire presents a laid-back gameplay in the form of a rarely winnable game. Like the sport of golf, the objective is to procure a low score to win.
The beauty of Golf Solitaire is that it’s a fast-paced game that doesn’t require many technicalities but still provides a pretty gratifying and enjoyable experience.
It does require a bit of skill and wise decision-making, which keeps it from being too mechanical. This perfect combination gets you hooked and makes you come back again and again.
If you’d like to know how to play Golf Solitaire, this guide will take you every step of the way.
Basic Rules and Gameplay of Golf Solitaire
As with any other card game and Solitaire variations, Golf Solitaire requires a standard 52-card deck. From there, the initial layout is 35 cards – five piles or columns with seven cards each. The 35 cards are faced up and arranged vertically so that every single one is visible.
Beneath the 35-card tableau is a single pile with the 17 remaining cards arranged face-down. The first card above the stack is flipped up in the foundation to begin the gameplay.
Now, the gameplay proceeds as follows:
- As mentioned, the first flipped-up card sets the wheels in motion. You can move any card from the bottom row of the tableau as long as it is one rank higher or lower than the first card. It may also be of any suit or color. For example, if the first card taken from the remaining pile beneath the tableau is a 3, you can put a 2 or a 4 above it.
- Always remember that the sequence can go in both directions. That means you can place a 5 above a 4, then go back to 4, down to three, and up to 4 again.
- If there is no playable card from the first exposed row of the tableau, you play another card from the face-down pile. Remember that only the top card is available for the taking.
- The objective of the game is to remove all the cards from the tableau into the foundation pile. However, the math has already been done on this one. It is calculated that a player only has at least a 2 percent chance of winning Golf Solitaire.
- You don’t need to wipe out all the tableau cards to determine a winner! If you and your friends or families want to make it competitive, you can count all the remaining cards and declare the person with the least the winner.
- Another alternative scoring system is more complex. Here’s how it goes: If you clean out the tableau, one point is subtracted from your score for each card that remains in the stock. A game consists of nine “holes” or deals. Each hole has a par of 4; therefore, a score of 36 or less is better than par.
- This is the scoring system used in Tournament Golf. The main difference is it is played by two persons head-to-head, with each player having his own deck.
- Of course, if the game is strictly for fun, you can make up the scoring rules of Golf card game as you wish.
Tips and Strategies on Winning Golf Solitaire
Unlike Clock, Golf Solitaire requires a bit of skill and shrewd decision-making. If you want to win in Golf Solitaire more frequently, here are some tips you want to know.
- Scan the tableau. Scan the cards quickly to see which one might trigger the best initial sequence. Some online versions of Golf Solitaire take into account how long it takes you to clear the cards in their scoring.
- Always expose or uncover cards. Find the sequence that allows you to disclose as many cards as possible without using the stock.
- You won’t get extra points for emptying a pile. In this game, empty piles are basically useless. This means you should look at the longer piles to expose more cards.
- Count and remember discarded cards. Do not be too eager to remove cards on long sequences. If you have dumped all Sixes and Eights, for example, the Sevens could get stranded, and there will be no way to dispose of them.
- Learn from your mistakes. When playing online, most sites have an “Undo” button. Don’t hesitate to use that and try to backtrack your moves. See if there’s anything you could’ve done better and try to apply it next time.
- Don’t get frustrated. While the game uses a bit of skill, it is primarily based on luck. If that’s the case, you don’t need to be upset or uptight about everything. Just enjoy the game and have fun!
- Play regularly. The best way to familiarize yourself with the game flow is to play it regularly. If you do this, you’ll find yourself acting quickly and instinctively, preparing for possible alternatives with your build, and calculating several steps ahead.
Benefits of Playing Golf Solitaire
They say, “no man is an island,” but sometimes, a man needs his alone time. In fact, a little privacy can have a wonderful effect on your mental health. Playing Golf Solitaire could be an excellent way to spend your solitude, giving you your “me time” in a healthy manner.
On the other end of the spectrum, playing Golf Solitaire could also be a fun, social activity. You can create your own family league and see who’s best!
Either way, whether you’re playing Golf Solitaire alone or in the company of others, it’s going to have a positive impact on your health and well-being.
Here are more of the advantages of playing Golf Solitaire:
- Gets rid of stress and tension
- Helps improve memory
- Helps improve cognitive function
- Teaches important life lessons such as wise decision-making, delayed gratification, resilience, and patience
- Loosens up brain
- Puts you in a light meditative state
Of course, no matter how beneficial a game is, you must put everything in balance. After all, playing Golf Solitaire for 20 hours a day wouldn’t be too good for anyone, would it? For this reason, you are encouraged to play responsibly. Set a timer, don’t over-binge, and eat your dinner while it’s hot.
Final Thoughts
Solitaire has existed for generations and spawned hundreds of variations, ranging from child’s play to really complex. Somewhere in the middle is Golf Solitaire.
Golf Solitaire has been around since 1905. To win this game, you need a wonderful mix of skill and luck, but mainly more of the latter. It is calculated that only 2 percent of the games are winnable.
But just because a game of Golf offers little chance of winning, that does not mean it’s less fun. It has a simple set of rules and straightforward gameplay, while the scoring regulations can be adjusted to make it more competitive. All of these factors make Golf Solitaire a must-try for households with children and adults alike.
