Golf Solitaire is one of the most beloved and widely played single-player card games in America. Its name comes from real golf — the goal is to finish with the lowest possible score, just like on the fairway. Unlike many complex solitaire variants, Golf Solitaire is refreshingly straightforward, making it the ideal game whether you're a seasoned card player or a complete beginner.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck. At the start, 35 cards are laid face-up in seven columns of five cards each. Your mission is to move as many cards as possible from the tableau to the waste pile by matching ranks in sequence — one higher or one lower than the current top card, regardless of suit. The remaining 17 cards form the stock pile, which you can draw from when no moves are available on the tableau.
What makes Golf Solitaire so addictive is its perfect balance of skill and luck. While the card layout varies each game, experienced players can dramatically improve their results through smart sequencing, pattern recognition, and strategic stock-pile management. Every game is a new puzzle to solve!
Golf Solitaire has been a staple of American card culture for over a century. Like most traditional solitaire games, its exact origins are somewhat murky, but it became widely popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, appearing in countless card game books published from the 1940s onward.
The game's golf-inspired scoring system — where lower is better and clearing all cards is the equivalent of a hole-in-one — made it immediately relatable to the millions of Americans who love the sport. This clever thematic connection helped Golf Solitaire stand apart from other patience games of the era.
With the rise of personal computers in the 1980s and 1990s, Golf Solitaire became a digital staple. Microsoft's inclusion of similar card games in Windows introduced millions of office workers to the joy of digital solitaire, and Golf Solitaire rode that wave. Today, it remains one of the top 10 most-searched solitaire games in the United States, enjoyed by players of all ages across desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.
A standard 52-card deck is used. Seven columns of five face-up cards each (35 total) form the tableau. The remaining 17 cards are placed face-down as the stock pile. One card from the stock is flipped over to start the waste pile.
You may move the bottom-most exposed card of any tableau column to the waste pile — but only if its rank is exactly one higher or one lower than the current top card of the waste pile. For example, if the waste pile shows a 7, you can place a 6 or an 8. Suit is completely irrelevant.
In most versions, Aces are low (below 2) but do not wrap around to King. This means you cannot place a King on an Ace or an Ace on a King. However, some rule variants do allow wrapping — our game follows the traditional no-wrap ruleset for authentic play.
When no valid moves remain on the tableau, you must flip the top card from the stock pile onto the waste pile. This new card becomes the current base for your next moves. The stock pile can only be used once — it cannot be reshuffled or redrawn.
Just like real golf, lower scores are better. Each card left on the tableau at the end of the game counts as +1 to your score. Clearing the entire board earns a bonus of −2 for each remaining stock card. Aim for zero or negative scores to master the game!
You win the round by clearing all 35 tableau cards before the stock pile is exhausted. If the stock pile runs out and no valid moves remain, the game ends and your score is tallied. The challenge is in consistently achieving clearing the board across multiple rounds.
Understanding the scoring system will help you measure your progress and set improvement targets. Here's a complete breakdown:
| Scenario | Score Effect | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|
| All cards cleared from tableau | 0 (base) − bonus points | Expert 🏆 |
| 1–5 cards remaining | +1 to +5 | Advanced ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 6–15 cards remaining | +6 to +15 | Intermediate ⭐⭐ |
| 16–25 cards remaining | +16 to +25 | Beginner ⭐ |
| All tableau cards remain | +35 | Needs Practice 📚 |
While luck plays a role, experienced Golf Solitaire players consistently outperform beginners. Here are proven strategies used by top players:
Before making any move, scan all seven columns to identify the longest possible chain of sequential cards. Moving a single card is rarely as efficient as chaining five or six consecutive moves.
Look for alternating patterns — 5, 6, 5, 6 — which allow you to chain back and forth across multiple columns for extended sequences.
Columns with cards buried deep in them (cards under 3+ other cards) are your biggest problem. Prioritize clearing from columns with many cards to expose those buried cards as early as possible.
A column cleared to 1 card is much easier to deal with than a full column of 5. Think ahead to what cards will be available after each move.
The stock pile is your lifeline — only 17 cards, and once gone, the game ends. Don't draw from the stock just because you can. Draw only when you're truly stuck with no viable tableau moves.
The more stock cards remaining when the tableau is cleared, the better your bonus score. Every stock card conserved is a point saved.
Avoid completely neglecting any column. Having one column with 5 cards while all others are empty limits your chain-building options enormously. Try to reduce all columns somewhat evenly.
If you clear a column completely, celebrate — but make sure you still have moves available in the remaining columns before drawing from the stock.
No downloads, no installs, no waiting. Click, load, and you're playing Golf Solitaire in seconds. Works on any modern browser across all your devices.
Fully responsive design built for touchscreens. Whether you're on iPhone, Android, iPad, or desktop, Golf Solitaire looks and plays perfectly every time.
Golf Solitaire will always be free to play here. No premium tiers, no paywalls, no subscription required. Enjoy unlimited games every single day.
We don't require personal information to play. No accounts, no tracking of your gameplay data, no spam. Your privacy is fully respected.
Our classic dark-green card table aesthetic pays homage to real casino felt. Spanish-style card design and smooth animations create a premium feel without the price tag.
Add Golf Solitaire to your home screen as a PWA for instant access, offline support, and a full-screen experience — no app store needed.