Editorial
Pub golf is one of the few group drinking activities that actually works for large groups of people. The structure means nobody gets left behind during the three-hour event, the scoring keeps everyone engaged and competitive throughout, and the dress code—golf attire—is an instant icebreaker that transforms the evening into something between a game and a costume party. Here is how to run a pub golf event properly, from planning the route to calculating final scores.
Pub golf is a drinking game that operates like golf. Each bar is a "hole." Each drink served at that bar has a "par" (a target number of sips to finish the drink). Finish your drink in fewer sips than the par number and you score under par. Finish in more sips and you score over par. The player with the lowest total score at the end of the evening wins.
A 9-hole pub golf course means 9 bars. A standard round of golf is 18 holes, but pub golf with 18 bars is ambitious and only works with committed participants and daylight hours. Most successful pub golfs are 9 bars, which takes 3 to 4 hours depending on pacing and how much time players spend at each venue. Each bar represents one hole on the course.
Scoring works simply. Par 2 means the target is 2 sips. If you finish your drink in 2 sips, you score par. If you finish in 1 sip, you score a birdie (1 under par). If you finish in 3 sips, you score a bogey (1 over par). If you finish in 4 or more sips, you score a double bogey or worse. Each player keeps track of their own score on a scorecard passed around the group.
The card system is essential. Before each hole (bar), designate one person as the scorekeeper. Players call out their scores at that hole. The scorekeeper records everyone's score on the card before the group moves to the next bar. Scorecards can be as simple as a spreadsheet printed on one sheet of paper with 9 columns and player names down the left side.
Choosing the par for each hole is the most important planning decision because it determines the pace and difficulty of the entire event. The par must be adjusted for the type of drink and the venue.
Par 2 shots (pints) are the most common for beer bars. A standard pint takes most people 2-3 sips to finish (depending on sip size), so par 2 is achievable and makes for a fair challenge. Players can legitimately birdie (finish in 1 sip) or bogey (3-4 sips) depending on their technique.
Par 3 for cocktails is recommended for cocktail bars. A cocktail takes more sips than a pint because of portion size. Par 3 is achievable for most drinks and keeps the pace moving. Some venues serve smaller cocktails, so verify the drink size before setting par.
Par 4 for challenge shots can be used for unusual or complex drinks that a bar is known for. If a bar is famous for a massive drink or a slow-sip-friendly cocktail, par 4 acknowledges that difficulty. Challenge shots should be limited to 1-2 holes in a 9-hole course, or the pace slows dramatically.
The handicap system is essential for fairness. If some players are non-drinkers or much older than others, give them adjusted pars. A 65-year-old playing with 25-year-olds might get par 3 for a pint when everyone else has par 2. Non-drinkers can order soft drinks and play with par 1 or 2 depending on drink size. The handicap system ensures everyone stays competitive and engaged.
The bars you select are the backbone of the event. The best pub golf courses have variety, are walkable, and follow a logical geographic progression.
Nine bars within walking distance is the target. 1.5 to 2 miles maximum across 9 venues is ideal. Walking should take 5-10 minutes between bars. If the walk is longer, the pace slows and people get tired. If the venues are spread across a city, the event becomes a journey rather than a game.
Variety is essential. The route should include different bar types: start with a pub, move to a craft beer bar, visit a cocktail lounge, stop at a neighborhood bar, hit a wine bar, return to casual drinking, and end at a late-night venue. This variety keeps the evening fresh and ensures different drink types and environments. Visiting 9 identical bars is monotonous; visiting 9 different bar experiences is memorable.
The opening hole should be easy. Start at a classic pub with a pint-friendly par 2. The first bar sets the tone and should be accessible and welcoming. Players are sober and fresh. The first hole should be achievable so players feel confident entering the competition.
The closing hole should be memorable. End at the best bar on the route—the one you most want to visit. Players will spend the longest time at this final bar because the competition is over and they can relax. Ending at a great bar gives the event a strong finish and ensures the last memory is positive.
Good pub golf cities include London (Soho and Shoreditch have extraordinary bar density), New York (East Village is dense with venues), Dublin (Temple Bar area has the infrastructure), Edinburgh (Old Town is perfect for pub golf), and Nashville (Broadway corridor). These cities have the combination of bar density, walkability, and variety required for a successful 9-hole course.
The dress code is mandatory and part of what makes pub golf memorable. Golf attire means polo shirts (or golf shirts), plaid or khaki trousers, visors, argyle socks, and golf shoes. The more coordinated and committed the costumes, the better the event.
Prizes for best outfit add genuine competition beyond the drinking. Award the best-dressed player with a bottle of wine or a gift card. The costume competition incentivizes effort and adds a visual element to the evening. Group photos at each hole become Instagram-worthy moments instead of casual snapshots.
Charity shops are your best friend. A complete golf outfit—polo shirt, trousers, visor, socks—can be assembled for under 15 pounds at a charity shop. Players are more willing to commit if the costume is inexpensive. Some players will go all-in with golf shoes and full accessories; others will do minimal effort. Both are acceptable as long as everyone makes some attempt.
Group photos at each hole create a visual narrative of the evening. Designate one person as the photographer. At each bar, gather everyone outside and take a group photo. These photos become the story of the event and give players memories to share. The photos also document the progression through the course.
Scoring must be managed efficiently to keep the event moving. Too much time on logistics and the event drags. Too little time and scores get confused.
Scorecard template should be printed before the event. Create a simple spreadsheet: 9 columns (holes), player names down the left side. Each cell is one player's score at one hole. Print on one page so everyone can see the running totals.
Designated scorer at each hole is essential. Before moving to the next bar, appoint one person to record everyone's score. Players call out their scores clearly. The scorer writes them down on the card. Once recorded, the group moves to the next venue. This takes 2-3 minutes and keeps the process organized.
Penalties add an enforcement mechanism. Common penalties include: going to the bathroom adds 1 stroke to that hole, ordering a second drink at any hole adds 2 strokes, arriving late to a hole adds 1 stroke per person. Penalties should be announced in advance so players understand the rules. Penalties keep people engaged and add humor to the competition.
The handicap option for last place is a tiebreaker tradition. If someone is trailing badly, they get to select the next venue (or suggest the 10th hole if everyone wants to continue). This keeps people engaged even if they are losing and makes the event more democratic.
Eat before hole 1, not during. Eating while drinking changes the pace and makes the scoring complicated. Feed everyone before the pub golf starts. A proper meal (not snacks) keeps energy levels stable throughout the event. Players who are fed are more engaged and less likely to get too intoxicated.
Water at every hole is essential infrastructure. Designate one person as the water handler. At each bar, ensure that water is available to drink between alcoholic drinks. Hydration keeps people present and alert. A dehydrated player is a grumpy player. For a deeper look at managing yourself over a long multi-bar night, our guide on how to pace yourself on a bar crawl covers drink selection and timing in detail.
45-minute target per hole including walking time keeps the pace steady. Arrive at bar 1, spend 20 minutes there, walk 5 minutes to bar 2, spend 20 minutes, repeat. This pace means a 9-hole course takes 3.5 hours, which is manageable and keeps energy high. Too fast and people feel rushed; too slow and the event drags.
Emergency exit policy should be communicated in advance. Anyone can DNF (Did Not Finish) at any hole without embarrassment. If someone needs to leave for any reason, they can. The event is fun, not a forced march. Knowing they can leave without judgment makes people more relaxed and actually more likely to stay and enjoy it.
London Soho: 9 bars within 400 metres of each other. Pubs, cocktail bars, wine bars all within walking distance. The density makes this the gold standard for pub golf. Late-night capacity ensures a strong closing hole.
New York East Village: Extraordinary bar density with late-night venues available. St. Mark's Place and Avenue A have the infrastructure. The subway system makes getting home easy. Late-night venues stay open past midnight for the closing holes.
Edinburgh Old Town: Classic pub golf territory with historic pubs, modern cocktail bars, and wine venues. The Royal Mile and surrounding closes have the density. Weather can be a factor in autumn and winter.
Nashville Broadway corridor: Country bars, dive bars, honky-tonks, and craft bars all within walking distance. The culture is built around group drinking. Late-night venues stay open until 3am. Broadway is purpose-built for this event.
Dublin Temple Bar area: Dense with pubs, bars, and late-night venues. The culture is welcoming to group events. Walking distance is short. The atmosphere is celebratory.
Pub golf works because it transforms a bar crawl into a game. The scoring is an excuse to stay engaged and competitive for the whole evening. The dress code creates immediate camaraderie and identity. The route is curated and planned rather than random. The rules are simple enough to understand but complex enough to stay interesting. Most importantly, nobody gets left behind. Everyone has a role, everyone keeps score, everyone is competitive, and everyone reaches the end of the night with a shared memory.
A traditional bar crawl often devolves into chaos after 2-3 hours. People split off, some get too drunk, the group loses cohesion. Pub golf keeps the structure intact for the full evening. That structure is why it outlasts every other drinking game format. The best nights are not the ones where you drank the most; they are the ones where you stayed together and competed as a team.
Event planner and bar culture writer specializing in group experiences and drinking game design.
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