Golf Solitaire
The five-minute solitaire. Seven tableau columns of five cards each, a stock pile of 17 cards, and one foundation that grows by one rank up or down with each play. Golf gets its name from the scoring system — fewer cards left on the table is a lower (better) score, just like the sport. Strong players regularly clear the tableau, but going under par is genuinely impressive.
How to Play Golf Solitaire
- Seven columns of five face-up cards each (35 cards).
- One card flipped to the foundation; remaining 16 cards become the stock.
- From the bottom of any tableau column, play any card one rank above or below the foundation card.
- Suits don't matter.
- Rank does not wrap in standard Golf — Kings cannot follow Aces.
- When you can't play, flip the next stock card to become the new foundation. Once the stock is empty, the game ends.
- Win by clearing all 35 tableau cards.
3 Strategy Tips
- Look for chains. Before flipping stock, scan the column bottoms for a sequence you can play in order (5 → 6 → 7 → 6 → 5 etc.).
- Avoid stranding face-down cards. If you play down a column too aggressively, the next card waiting underneath might not match. Plan one column at a time.
- Kings are dead ends. Once a King hits the foundation, nothing legally plays on top. Save them for after you've cleared as much as possible.
FAQ
What does "Golf" refer to?
The scoring: each remaining tableau card is one stroke. Clear all 35 cards = par or below. The cleared count is your "score."
Does rank wrap (King to Ace)?
In classic Golf, no. Some online variants enable wrap as an option; it makes the game much easier.
What's the win rate?
Strong play wins ~50%. With wrap rules enabled, it climbs to ~70%.