How to score mini golf
How to keep score: write the number of strokes each player takes on a hole, then add the holes when the round is over.
Normal stroke limit: most casual boards pick up at 6. Some courses post 7. Agree the cap before hole 1 and write that number if someone picks up.
Who wins: lowest total on the card. Ties stay ties unless your group already agreed a playoff hole.
The one-sentence rule
Count every swing that is meant to move the ball, stop at the hole max you agreed, and add the card — lowest total wins.
That sentence is enough for a family or friends round. Mini golf shops post their own boards. Those posted rules beat anything on this page. Nothing here is a national or world-body rulebook for casual putt-putt.
Before hole 1
Two minutes at the counter or on the first tee pad saves the argument on hole 8. Fill this in out loud, then start.
| Decide | Usual casual choice | Write it down |
|---|---|---|
| Names on the card | First names, one column each | 1–6 players on this site |
| Length | Whatever the course built | 9 or 18 holes |
| Stroke cap | 6 on many boards; 7 on some | Toggle 6 or 7, then stick to it |
| Out of bounds | Ask the counter | Replay, place, or +1 — their call |
| Mulligans | Off unless you want chaos | Yes/no, and how many |
If a posted sign already answers cap, out of bounds, or “max per hole,” copy the sign. Do not invent a stricter game than the course asked for.
On each hole
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tee | Start from the pad or marked spot. If the course wants the ball behind a line, honor that line. |
| Count | Every stroke counts — taps, whiffs you meant to hit, and the putt that drops. |
| Write | Put the number in that hole’s box before anyone tees the next hole. Waiting until the 18th is how totals drift. |
| Cap | At the max, pick up and write the cap. Do not keep hacking. |
| Next | Same order you agreed (often “away” — farthest from the cup putts next — or a fixed player order). |
Running totals are just the sum of the boxes so far. You do not need par to know who is ahead. If two players share the low number, say “tied” instead of forcing a winner color on the card.
Stroke cap and pick-up
A stroke cap is a house ceiling, not a secret official number. It keeps a slow hole from eating the evening. When a player reaches the cap, they pick the ball up and write that cap — 6 or 7 — in the box. That player is done with the hole.
Why 6 vs 7? Some courses print 6 because it matches a short hole and keeps groups moving. Others print 7 so a hard rail or a windmill still feels finishable. Neither number is “more correct.” The correct number is the one on the board, or the one your group said before hole 1 if the course is silent.
If you change the cap mid-round, the old holes stay as written. Only new holes use the new ceiling. This browser card will also clamp a typed number so it cannot sit above the current cap.
Out of bounds, stuck, and “ask the counter”
Courses disagree on rails, water, and themed obstacles. Some want a one-stroke penalty and a drop. Some want you to replay from the last lie. Some want you to place at a marked spot. There is no single casual answer that covers every windmill.
| Situation | What to do on a casual card |
|---|---|
| Ball leaves the hole / water / street | Use the posted OB rule. If none, ask the counter once and reuse that answer. |
| Ball stuck under a rail or in a prop | Ask before you pry. Many shops want staff to free it, or a free drop. |
| Ball moved by someone else | Put it back. Do not add a stroke for a kick you did not take. |
| You cannot agree | Play the hole both ways for fun, or take the cap and walk — keep the group moving. |
A note on par
Some scorecards print par. Casual stroke play still uses your strokes, not whether you were “over par.” Par is a reference, not the winner. A hole marked par 2 with a cap of 6 still writes 1 through 6. Do not convert the card into Stableford unless everyone asked for that game on purpose.
Paper vs phone
A pencil card works in sun and rain. A phone card adds for you and keeps names readable. Use whichever the group will actually fill in. This site is the phone card: 1–6 players, 9 or 18, cap 6 or 7, totals in the footer, saved in this browser. Print CSS is there if you want a paper copy of the same grid.
Open the scorecard if you are about to tee off. Read the house-rules cheat sheet if you still need the 30-second speech before hole 1.