How a hole scores
Two teams of two. On each hole, each team takes its two players' scores and combines them into one number — the lower score is the first digit.So if you make a 4 and your partner makes a 5, your team's number is 45 — not 9.
- Both partners hole out. Say your side scores 4 and 6 → your number is 46.
- The other side scores 5 and 5 → their number is 55.
- The difference is the points: 55 − 46 = 9 points to your team for the hole.
Add up the point differences over 18 holes. Set a dollar value per point before you tee off, and that's the round. Simple — until a birdie shows up.
The gotcha everyone learns the hard way
A birdie flips the OTHER team's number.If anyone on your team makes a birdie (or better), the opponents' two scores get flipped so the HIGH number goes first. So an opponent pair that made 4 and 7 — normally 47 — becomes 74. The flip is what turns a quiet hole into a 30-point swing. Two birdies on the same hole? It flips twice (i.e. back to normal) at most tables — agree on this before the round.
This single rule is why Vegas is feared. A clean birdie doesn't just help your number — it actively detonates theirs. New players forget it constantly, which is exactly why a live scorer that just does the flip earns its keep.
House rules worth settling first
| Decision | The common call |
|---|---|
| Dollar per point | $1–$5 is typical; the swings are big, so start low. |
| Double birdie | Flip twice (cancels) — or flip once and stop. Pick one. |
| Eagle | Some tables flip AND double the hole. Optional spice. |
| Partners | Fixed all 18, or rotate every 6. Rotating spreads the carnage. |
Why Vegas is worth running
Vegas keeps both partners in every hole — your 7 still matters because it might be the high digit, and one birdie can erase a bad hole entirely. It's the rare format where the comeback is always live. The only real downside is the math: combining, flipping, and tracking the running difference by hand is a headache by the back nine.