What is Golf Solitaire?
Golf Solitaire is a quick game of clearing cards. You remove exposed cards one rank higher or lower than the current discard card, regardless of suit.[3]
How to set up the cards
Start with the following arrangement.[3]
- Shuffle one 52-card deck and lay out seven columns of five cards, all face up.
- Turn one of the remaining 17 cards face up to start the waste pile. Place the other 16 cards face down as the stock.
- Place the remaining 16 cards face down as the stock. Turn one over when you cannot make another move.
How to play
Follow these rules for the version described here.[3]
- Look at the top card on the waste pile and at the exposed card in each of the seven columns.
- Move an exposed card onto the waste if it is exactly one rank higher or lower. Suit and color do not matter.
- In this version, only a 2 can be played on an Ace, and nothing may be played on a King. You cannot move between King and Ace.
- If you have no useful tableau move, turn the next card from the stock onto the waste. You may go through the stock only once.
- Clear all 35 cards from the columns to win.
An example of a move
If the waste shows a 7, you can play an exposed 6 or 8 from a column.
If that reveals another playable card, you may continue before drawing from the stock.
Be careful with a King: in this version, nothing can be played on top of it, so you will need to draw from the stock to continue.
Tips for playing
These tips can help you decide what to do next. They are suggestions, not guaranteed ways to win.
- Before moving a card, see whether the next card in that column will also be playable.
- Try to make several moves in a row instead of using a stock card after every move.
- Remember that Kings and Aces do not connect in this version.
Common mistakes
- Do not assume you can play a Queen on a King. In the rule set used here, a King ends the current run.
- The stock is limited: you cannot go through it a second time.
- You cannot move cards between the seven columns.
Popular variations
Golf has several rule variations, especially around Aces and Kings. This guide follows a version in which nothing can be played on a King. Other versions allow more moves at the ends of the ranks.[3]
History & origins
Golf belongs to a family of patience games in which players clear exposed cards onto one pile. David Parlett describes the related game One Foundation, or Golf, as the starting point for his later invention Black Hole.[1]
Older printed collections show that patience games developed many closely related layouts and names. However, a single securely dated first appearance of the modern game called Golf has not been established.[2]
Golf can be played with different rules for the highest and lowest ranks. The version described here follows a published GNOME rules manual, which treats Kings as a stopping point.[3]
Frequently asked questions
Does suit matter?
No. Moves depend on consecutive rank, not suit or color.
Can an Ace go on a King?
Not in the non-wrapping rule set documented here.
How many stock cards remain?
Sixteen after the 35-card tableau and one-card starting discard.
Can I play a Queen onto a King?
No. In the rules explained here, nothing can be placed onto a King.
Sources & further reading
- 01David Parlett (undated (author retrospective)). Black Hole — original patience game.
David Parlett, original author’s rules and notes · Creator primary account
View source ↗ - 02David Parlett (undated). History of Patience/Solitaire.
David Parlett — original games historian essay · Specialist historical essay
View source ↗ - 03Rosanna Yuen / GNOME AisleRiot project (undated). Golf — game rules.
GNOME AisleRiot open-source manual · Original software rules manual
View source ↗