Golf Solitaire is one of the fastest solitaire games you can play — most rounds finish in under 3 minutes. But the simple mechanics hide genuine strategic depth, especially when you're chasing a low score over multiple rounds.
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Play Free Golf →The Golf Solitaire Layout
Golf Solitaire uses a single 52-card deck. At the start, 35 cards are dealt face-up into 7 tableau columns of 5 cards each — all cards are visible from the beginning. The remaining 17 cards form the stock.
One card from the stock is turned face-up to start the waste pile. This is the target card you're building off.
How to Play
You play cards from the tableau onto the waste pile. A card is playable if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current top card of the waste pile — suit doesn't matter.
For example, if the waste pile shows a 7, you can play any 6 or any 8. If you then play an 8, you can next play a 7 or a 9. Chains of playable cards can create long runs that rapidly clear the tableau.
The Stock
If no tableau card is playable on the current waste card, you must draw from the stock to change the target card. You get only one pass through the stock — there is no recycling. When the stock runs out and no tableau cards are playable, the round ends.
Kings and Wrapping
In standard Golf Solitaire, Kings are a dead end — no card can be played on a King, and a King cannot be played on an Ace. In "wrapping" variants, Aces and Kings connect (King → Ace → 2 is a legal sequence), significantly changing strategy.
Scoring
Golf uses stroke-count scoring like real golf — lower is better. Each card remaining in the tableau when the round ends costs you one "stroke." If you clear all 35 tableau cards, you typically earn bonus negative strokes (around -5 in most versions).
Over 9 rounds (a full "course"), your score accumulates. Professional Golf Solitaire players aim for total scores under par — often a total around 36–45 strokes for 9 rounds, depending on the par setting.
Golf Solitaire Variants
- Standard Golf: No wrapping, Kings are dead ends — as described above
- Wrapping Golf: Kings connect to Aces, increasing win rate and score potential
- Double Golf: Two decks, larger tableau — for players who want a longer game
- Putt Putt: A simplified Golf variant with only 5 columns — great for beginners
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win Golf Solitaire?
You win Golf Solitaire by clearing all 35 tableau cards before the stock runs out. Play chains of sequentially ranked cards (one higher or lower) onto the waste pile. Managing long chains and avoiding Kings is the key skill.
Can you play Kings in Golf Solitaire?
In standard Golf Solitaire, Kings cannot be played on Aces and no card can be played on a King — they are dead ends. In wrapping variants, Kings connect to Aces (King → Ace → 2 is legal), which significantly improves win rate.
How many cards are in the Golf Solitaire stock?
17 cards. After dealing 35 cards to the tableau (7 columns × 5 cards) and one card to start the waste pile, 16 cards remain in the stock.
What is a good Golf Solitaire score?
A score of 0 strokes means you cleared all tableau cards. Negative scores (from bonus strokes for clearing) are excellent. For a 9-round course, par is typically set at 45. Scores below 36 for 9 rounds indicate strong play.
Is Golf Solitaire based on skill or luck?
Both — roughly 60% luck and 40% skill. The initial tableau distribution matters a lot (buried Kings hurt). But choosing which chain to play first, and which direction to sequence through the waste pile, is where skill shows.