ShotTally / Betting & games
Vegas golf game calculator
Vegas turns two scores into one number — low digit first — and the point swings get big fast. Enter everyone's raw scores hole by hole; fill in the par row and birdie flips are handled automatically.
How it works
In Vegas, each two-player team combines its scores into a single number with the low ball first: a 4 and a 5 make 45. The difference between the two team numbers is the points won on the hole.
The flip rule (where the game gets violent)
The classic twist: a natural birdie flips the opponents' number, high ball first. If Team B makes 5-6 against a Team A birdie, B's 56 becomes 65 — an 11-point hole becomes 20+. Fill in the par row on the scorecard and the calculator applies the flip automatically whenever one team has a natural birdie (both teams birdieing cancels out); leave par blank to settle without flips. Some groups also cap any single ball at a maximum (like 10) to contain blowups — apply any cap to the scores you enter and the rest settles itself.
FAQ
How are Vegas golf numbers made?
Put the team's low score first: a 3 and a 6 make 36, not 63. The gap between team numbers is the points for the hole, so keeping the low ball low matters more than the high ball.
What is the flip rule in Vegas?
A natural birdie by one team reverses the other team's digits — high number first — turning a 46 into a 64. It's the rule that makes Vegas famous and bankrolls cart-girl tips; agree on it before the round.
What stakes are normal for Vegas?
A nickel or dime per point. Point totals routinely reach 50–100+ over 18 holes, so a dime game can move $10+ — treat a quarter-per-point game as real money.
Do you use handicaps in Vegas?
Often, yes — players take their strokes on the appropriate holes and the net scores build the team numbers. It keeps mixed-handicap matches from being a one-way transfer.