Scores
Side games
Dots: rules, scoring and a free calculator
Dots, also called Junk, gives a point for the good things that happen on a hole: a birdie, a greenie, a sandie. It sits on top of any round.
2 to 8 players (the calculator here takes 2 to 4)
How Dots works
- Before the round, agree which dots count. Birdies and better are the base; many groups add greenies, sandies and a few more.
- During the round, anyone who earns a dot takes a point for it. A hole can give a player more than one.
- At the end, add up each player’s dots. Players above the group average finish ahead in points, and players below finish behind.
On each hole
- Play the hole as normal. Dots do not change how you play, only what you count.
- Birdie: a point. Eagle: two. A three putt takes a point away.
- Greenie: closest to the pin on a par 3 that you hit in regulation, and in most groups you need a par or better to keep it.
- Sandie: par or better after being in a bunker. Barkie: par or better after hitting a tree. Chippie: holed from off the green.
The common dots
Greenie, sandie, barkie, chippie, arnie (par or better without hitting the fairway), sharkie (par or better after the water) and polie (holing a putt longer than the flagstick) are the usual ones.
Pick the handful that suit your group and agree them on the first tee. Seven dots on every hole is a lot to keep track of.
In the app, Dots is a side game on the live card. You tap the dots as they happen and the points settle against the group average.
Common variations
- Some groups only count a greenie if you make par or better, so a closest-to-the-pin that ends in a bogey earns nothing.
- Some groups double the dots on the last few holes to keep the round close.
- Dots work well alongside Skins or Nassau, and add something to play for when a main game is already settled.
Dots calculator
Add your players and type the strokes for each hole. You get the standings and who won what. It uses the same game engine as the Pocket Looper live card.
Birdies, eagles and better count by themselves here. Greenies, sandies and the other dots you agree on are tapped on the live card in Pocket Looper.
| Hole | Par | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| 7 | ||||
| 8 | ||||
| 9 |
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Points
Questions golfers ask
What are dots in golf?
Dots, or Junk, are points for good things that happen on a hole, such as a birdie, a greenie or a sandie. They are played alongside the main game.
What is a greenie?
A greenie is a point for the player closest to the pin on a par 3 after hitting the green in regulation. Most groups also need par or better to keep it.
What is a sandie?
A sandie is a point for making par or better after being in a bunker.
How many players can play Dots?
Two or more. It works for any group size because every player counts their own dots.
Does the calculator count greenies and sandies?
The calculator on this page counts the dots that come from the score: birdies, eagles and better. The dots you tap by hand, like greenies and sandies, are kept on the live card in Pocket Looper.
More side games
Get this on every shot
Pocket Looper keeps Skins, Nassau, Wolf, Dots, Vegas, Sixes, Quota and more for your group on the live card, keeps the points as you play, and it is free.