Overview
Three-putt and you take the snake. The next player to three-putt takes it off you. Whoever holds it at the end pays each other player.
Same hole
Two three-putts on one hole? The last one to do it takes the snake. Tap them in the order they happened.
The snake
- Same all round: the snake is worth the amount you set.
- Grows: every three-putt adds the amount, so five three-putts make it five times as much.
- Doubles: every three-putt doubles it, up to a cap. The cap is 4 doubles unless you change it, so a $5 snake goes $5, $10, $20, $40, $80 and then stays at $80. Three-putts after that still pass it on. Pick No cap to let it keep doubling.
Each nine
Turn it on to settle the snake at the turn and start a fresh one on the back. Stop early and whoever holds it then pays.
Four-putts count twice
A house rule for a snake that grows or doubles, off unless you turn it on: a four-putt takes the snake and counts as two three-putts. Tap the player, then tap 4-putt.
Split the snake
A house rule, off unless you turn it on: whoever holds the snake at the end pays its value once, and everyone else shares it, like a pot. A $6 snake in a foursome costs the holder $6, and the other three get $2 each.