Golf Solitaire is a fast-paced, addictive single-player card game where the goal is to clear the tableau with the fewest cards remaining — just like scoring low in a round of golf. It uses a standard 52-card deck and relies on quick thinking, careful planning, and a touch of luck. This guide covers everything you need to know about Golf Solitaire, including setup, complete rules, scoring, strategy, and popular variants.
What Is Golf Solitaire?
Golf Solitaire gets its name from the scoring system it uses. Just like in the sport of golf, a lower score is better. Your score at the end of each round equals the number of cards left in the tableau that you could not remove. A perfect round — clearing every card from the tableau — is the equivalent of a hole-in-one.
The game has been played as a traditional card game for over a century and gained wider popularity through digital versions. It is considered part of the same family of “elimination” solitaire games as TriPeaks Solitaire, where the objective is to remove cards from the tableau rather than build foundation piles. Unlike Klondike Solitaire, which requires sorting cards by suit onto foundations, Golf Solitaire is all about clearing cards by matching values one higher or one lower than the top card of the waste pile.
Golf Solitaire is known for its simplicity and speed. A single round typically takes just two to five minutes, making it an ideal game for short breaks. You can play Golf Solitaire for free at Solitaires.gg — no download or registration required.
Game Setup
A game of Golf Solitaire is set up with three areas:
The Tableau (7 columns of 5 cards)
Deal 35 cards face-up into seven columns, with five cards in each column. All cards are visible from the start — there are no hidden or face-down cards in Golf Solitaire. Only the bottom card (the uncovered card) of each column is available for play at any time.
| Column | Total cards | Face-down | Face-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Because every card in the tableau is face-up, you have complete information about the layout from the very beginning. This is what makes Golf Solitaire a game where strategic planning can significantly improve your results.
The Stock Pile (17 cards)
The remaining 17 cards are placed face-down in a stock pile. You draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste pile. Once a stock card is drawn, it cannot be returned — there is no recycling of the stock pile in Golf Solitaire. This means you have exactly 17 draws to work with, so each one counts.
The Waste Pile
The waste pile starts with one card turned face-up from the top of the stock. This card serves as the starting base card. Throughout the game, you will place tableau cards onto the waste pile and draw new stock cards onto it. Only the top card of the waste pile matters — it determines which tableau cards you can remove next.
Complete Rules
Basic Gameplay
The core mechanic of Golf Solitaire is straightforward: you may move any available tableau card onto the waste pile if it is exactly one rank higher or one rank lower than the current top card of the waste pile, regardless of suit or color. For example, if the waste pile shows a 7, you can play either a 6 or an 8 from the tableau.
- Suit does not matter: Unlike many solitaire games, Golf Solitaire ignores suits entirely. Any card of the correct rank can be played.
- Only exposed cards are playable: In each column, only the bottom (uncovered) card can be moved. Once it is removed, the card above it becomes available.
- Sequences can chain: If you play a 7 onto a 6, and there is another 7 or a 5 available, you can continue chaining moves without drawing from the stock.
- Drawing from the stock: When no tableau card can be played on the waste pile, draw the next card from the stock. This new card becomes the top of the waste pile, and you check again for available plays.
King and Ace Wrapping
In the standard version of Golf Solitaire, Kings are a dead end. You cannot play any card on top of a King — the sequence does not wrap from King back to Ace. This means that whenever a King lands on the waste pile, your only option is to draw a new card from the stock. Some relaxed variants allow wrapping (King → Ace or Ace → King), which makes the game easier to win.
Game Over
The game ends in one of two ways:
- You clear the entire tableau: All 35 cards have been removed. This is a perfect round with a score of zero.
- The stock runs out: You have drawn all 17 stock cards and can no longer make any moves. The number of cards remaining in the tableau is your score for the round.
Scoring
Golf Solitaire uses a scoring system inspired by the sport of golf. Your score equals the number of cards left in the tableau at the end of the round. A lower score is better:
| Cards remaining | Score interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0 | Perfect round (hole-in-one) |
| 1–3 | Under par — excellent |
| 4 | Par |
| 5–8 | Over par — average |
| 9+ | Well over par — tough layout |
The standard par for a round of Golf Solitaire is 4. Experienced players aim to consistently score at or below par. In multi-round games (9-hole or 18-hole), your scores from each round are added together for a cumulative total, just like in actual golf.
Some digital versions also award bonus points for long chains of consecutive moves without drawing from the stock. These streaks reward players who plan ahead and find efficient sequences through the tableau.
Key Differences from TriPeaks
Golf Solitaire and TriPeaks Solitaire share the same core mechanic — removing cards that are one higher or one lower than the waste pile card. However, several important differences set them apart:
| Feature | Golf Solitaire | TriPeaks Solitaire |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | 7 columns of 5 cards (all face-up) | 3 overlapping pyramids (mix of face-up and face-down) |
| Hidden cards | None — all tableau cards are visible | Yes — several cards start face-down |
| Tableau size | 35 cards | 28 cards |
| Stock size | 17 cards | 24 cards |
| King wrapping | Typically no (Kings are dead ends) | Often allowed (King → Ace) |
| Card availability | Only the bottom card of each column | Cards uncovered by removing overlapping cards |
Because Golf Solitaire has no hidden cards, it is more purely strategic. TriPeaks introduces an element of uncertainty with its face-down cards, but compensates with a larger stock pile and often more lenient wrapping rules.
Strategy Tips
Golf Solitaire rewards players who think ahead rather than simply playing the first available card. Here are the most effective strategies to lower your score:
1. Scan the Entire Tableau Before Playing
Since all 35 cards are face-up, take advantage of this complete information. Before making your first move, scan every column to identify potential chains and problem cards. Look for long sequences that can be cleared in a single run. Spot Kings near the bottom of columns — these will be difficult to clear and should factor into your planning.
2. Build Long Chains to Preserve Stock Cards
Every card you draw from the stock is a card you cannot get back. The key to low scores is chaining as many tableau moves as possible before resorting to a stock draw. When you see multiple playable cards, choose the one that leads to the longest chain. For example, if you can play a 5 or a 9, and the 5 connects to a sequence of 4 → 3 → 4 → 5, take that path instead.
3. Prioritize Columns with More Cards
Focus on clearing cards from the tallest columns first. A column with all five cards still in it is a bigger liability than a column with two. By reducing the largest columns early, you create more available cards and open up additional chaining opportunities.
4. Watch for Kings — They Are Blockers
In standard Golf Solitaire, Kings cannot be built upon. A King on the waste pile forces you to draw from the stock. Be mindful of when a King is the only playable card. Sometimes it is better to draw from the stock and preserve a non-King move for later, rather than playing the King and immediately needing another draw.
5. Plan Around Cards That Appear Multiple Times
If you see three 6s available in the tableau, that rank is a powerful connector. You can use it to pivot between 5s and 7s multiple times. Identify which ranks have the most available cards and use them as hubs for your chains. Conversely, if a rank has no available cards, be cautious about building toward it.
6. Sometimes It Pays to Draw Early
It may seem counterintuitive, but drawing a stock card when you still have a valid move can sometimes be the right play. If your only available move is a King (which blocks future plays), it is often better to draw from the stock and hope for a card that enables a longer chain. Evaluate each situation carefully.
9-Hole and 18-Hole Golf Solitaire
Just like the sport, Golf Solitaire is often played in multi-round formats where cumulative scoring adds a layer of long-term strategy:
9-Hole Golf Solitaire
Play nine consecutive rounds of Golf Solitaire. Your score from each round is added together for a cumulative total. With a par of 4 per round, the total par for 9 holes is 36. A good 9-hole score is anything below 36, while expert players aim for totals in the low 20s or even teens. This format smooths out the luck factor — a single unlucky round can be offset by strong play in subsequent rounds.
18-Hole Golf Solitaire
For the full experience, play eighteen rounds. The total par is 72, mirroring a standard round of golf. This extended format is the truest test of Golf Solitaire skill, as luck balances out over many rounds and consistent strategy is rewarded. Competitive players track their 18-hole scores to measure improvement over time.
Relaxed Variants
Several common rule modifications make Golf Solitaire more forgiving:
- Wrapping allowed: Kings can wrap to Aces and Aces can wrap to Kings. This eliminates the “dead end” problem with Kings and significantly increases the win rate.
- Foundations for Aces: Some variants add a foundation pile where Aces can be automatically removed, freeing up space in the tableau.
- Larger stock: Certain digital versions allow a larger stock or multiple passes through the stock, making the game easier.
Win Rates and Statistics
| Variant | Approximate win rate (clearing all cards) |
|---|---|
| Standard (no wrapping) | ~2–5% |
| Wrapping allowed (King ↔ Ace) | ~30% |
| Relaxed (wrapping + other rule changes) | ~40–50% |
Achieving a perfect score (clearing all 35 cards) in standard Golf Solitaire is quite difficult. Most rounds will leave a handful of cards in the tableau. However, consistently scoring at or below par is an achievable goal for players who apply good strategy. The average player scores around 5–7 cards remaining per round, while experienced players average closer to 3–4.
The relaxed variant with King-Ace wrapping has a much higher win rate of approximately 30%, making it the most popular version in digital implementations. If you are new to Golf Solitaire, starting with wrapping enabled is a good way to learn the game's rhythms before tackling the stricter standard rules.
Key Terminology
- Tableau
- The seven columns of five face-up cards that form the main playing area.
- Stock
- The face-down pile of 17 remaining cards that you draw from during gameplay.
- Waste Pile
- The face-up pile where you play tableau cards and draw stock cards onto. Only the top card determines valid moves.
- Chain (or Streak)
- A sequence of consecutive moves from the tableau without drawing from the stock.
- Wrapping
- A rule variant that allows Kings to connect to Aces and vice versa, forming a circular rank order.
- Par
- The expected score for a round of Golf Solitaire, typically set at 4 cards remaining.
For more solitaire terminology, visit the complete solitaire glossary.
Play Golf Solitaire Online
Solitaires.gg offers a free, clean Golf Solitaire experience with no download or registration required. Features include:
- Standard and relaxed rule variants
- 9-hole and 18-hole scoring modes
- Undo and hint helpers
- Score tracking and personal statistics
- Works offline as an installable Progressive Web App (PWA)
- Responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Golf Solitaire?
Golf Solitaire is named after the sport of golf because the scoring system works the same way — a lower score is better. Each round has a par (typically 4), and your score is the number of cards left in the tableau. Players can compete over 9 or 18 “holes” (rounds), just like in real golf.
Can you always win Golf Solitaire?
No. Most deals in standard Golf Solitaire (without King-Ace wrapping) cannot be won perfectly. The complete-clear win rate is only about 2–5%. With wrapping allowed, the win rate rises to approximately 30%. However, you can almost always improve your score with better strategy — the goal is to score at or below par, not necessarily to clear every card.
What happens when a King is on top of the waste pile?
In standard Golf Solitaire, a King on the waste pile is a dead end — no card can be played on top of it. You must draw a new card from the stock to continue. In relaxed variants that allow wrapping, you can play an Ace on top of a King, which keeps the chain going.
How is Golf Solitaire different from Klondike?
Klondike Solitaire requires you to build four foundation piles sorted by suit from Ace to King. Golf Solitaire has no foundations — instead, you remove cards from the tableau by playing them onto a waste pile one rank higher or lower. Golf Solitaire is faster, has simpler rules, and all cards are face-up from the start, whereas Klondike begins with many hidden cards.