Rules
Picking a Partner
After the Wolf tees off, he or she has the option of picking their partner for that hole. For example, on hole #1, Player 1 is the Wolf and tees off first. Player 2 then tees off. The Wolf now has the option of picking Player 2 as their partner for that hole, but they must choose before Player 3 hits their tee shot. If the Wolf passes on Player 2, then Player 3 tees off. Now, the Wolf can name Player 3 as their partner. If the Wolf passes on Player 3, then Player 4 tees off. Now the Wolf has only two remaining options. They must choose Player 4 as their partner or opt to go alone against all the other players. If the Wolf goes alone, he or she is known as the “Lone Wolf.”
Scoring
Points are awarded on each hole. Each player on a winning team earns one point. Conversely, each player on a losing team loses one point. If the Lone Wolf wins a hole, he or she wins 3 points and each opponent loses 1 point. Players with the most points at the end win the game.
The Wolf Game Rules©
Wolf
Each player will be designated as the Wolf on successive holes, the order to be determined by lot (coin toss, ball toss, etc.) on the first tee. Player 1 will be the Wolf on holes #1, #5, #9, #13, and #17; Player 2 will be the Wolf on holes #2, #6, #10, #14, and #18; Player 3 will be the Wolf on holes #3, #7, #11, and #15; Player 4 will be the Wolf on holes #4, #8, #12, and #16.
Order Of Play
On each hole, the Wolf tees off first. The other players tee off in the order determined above. For example, on hole #1, Player 1 is the Wolf and tees off first, followed by Players 2, 3, and 4. On hole #2, Player 2 is the Wolf and tees off first, followed by Players 3, 4, and 1.
Optional Rules©
Pig
When a player is chosen by the Wolf to be his partner, the player chosen can decline. The decision to decline must be made before any other player hits or before the group leaves the tee box. The player declining the partnership is called the “Pig.” The Pig is alone against the other players.
Hammer
Any time the non-Wolf team feels they have an advantage, they can “Hammer” the Wolf team. If the Wolf team accepts the Hammer, the points at stake for that hole are doubled. If the Wolf team declines the Hammer, they automatically lose the hole. The Wolf team cannot Hammer. The Hammer cannot be invoked if either team has holed out or put a ball “inside the leather.” The Wolf team must accept or reject the Hammer before any player makes another shot.
Re-Hammer
If Hammered, the Wolf team can “Re-Hammer.” This doubles the stakes again. So, a hole originally worth 1 point could be worth 4 points if the Hammer and Re-Hammer are invoked. The Re-Hammer can be declared at any time unless either team has holed out or put a ball “inside the leather.”
Blind Wolf
If the Wolf hits a particularly good tee shot, he can go “Blind.” He has to make this decision before any other player hits. Going Blind means the Wolf is playing alone against the other players and as a result, the bet is doubled. If the Wolf goes “Lone” instead of “Blind,” the bet is not doubled.
Carryovers
If a hole is tied, the points for that hole are carried over to the next one, but partnerships do not.
Eagles
If a hole is won with an eagle, the points are doubled. A hole-in-one or a double eagle triples the points.
Double-Blind
If the Wolf declares he is going alone before he hits his own tee shot, then he is the Blind Wolf going “Double Blind.” In this instance, the point value for that hole is tripled.
Carry-Overs
If a hole is tied, the points for that hole can be carried over to succeeding holes. If, for example, holes #1 and #2 are tied, hole #3 is now worth 3 points.
Natural Birdies
If a hole is won with a natural birdie (without a handicap), the points for that hole are doubled. If won with an eagle, the points for the hole are tripled. In the case of a double eagle, the points for the hole are quadrupled if won.
Big Loser
On holes #17 and #18, the player with the least amount of points is the designated “Big Loser.” The Big Loser has the option to declare that the hole is now worth half the number of points he is down. If, for example, the Big Loser is down 20 points, he can declare that the hole is worth 10 points. The Big Loser tees off first and is the Wolf for the round. The remaining players tee off in the reverse order of the number of points they have won with the Big Winner teeing off last. Hammers and Pigs are not allowed if the Big Loser rule is employed. Players must agree on the first tee whether or not the Big Loser rule is in effect. No handicap strokes are allowed on holes #17 or #18 if the Big Loser rule is in play. Players who would normally receive strokes on holes #17 or #18 will be given strokes on the next highest handicap hole(s). Assume, for example, that hole #17 is the fifth handicap hole. A 5-handicap player would receive a stroke on the sixth handicap hole instead of hole #17 (unless the sixth handicap hole is #18). Depending upon what happens on hole #17, the Big Loser on hole #18 may be a different player than the Big Loser on hole #17.
Big Winner
This is an alternative to the Big Loser rule. If the “Big Winner” rule is employed, the Big Loser can declare that holes #17 and #18 are worth half the number of points that the Big Winner is up, instead of half the number of points the Big Loser is down. All the other terms of the Big Loser rule apply.
Five Players
If there are five players, the Wolf team has two players, and the non-Wolf team has three.