M MIND / GAME ON
Raise the stakes on your Saturday-morning game BY CHRISTOPHER POWERS Drop the Hammer
each hole will be worth, as each one is considered a separate match. For this example, let’s say you agree to play each hole for R10. Once the match starts, players can hammer opponents at any point, which doubles the bet. The idea is to hammer the other side when it’s in trouble and you feel like you have a good chance of winning the hole. If Player A tees off first and pipes one down the middle and Player B pulls one into the left rough behind a tree, it would be in Player A’s best interest to hammer Player B, making the hole now worth R20. Possession of the hammer then shifts to Player B (Player A can’t hammer twice in a row). If Player B hits a hero shot from the left rough
Looking to spice up your normal match-play wager? There’s a fun way to do it, and it’s
onto the green, he or she can hammer Player A back, making the hole worth R40. Player B also can opt to save the hammer for later. It’s Player B’s to use at any point. Once a hole is completed, the stakes return to R10. VARIATIONS: You could let the value of a hole carry over if it’s halved, just like a skins game. Another wild version is “air hammer,” where you only can double the bet when your opponent’s ball is in the air or after a putt is struck. You might recall seeing this wrinkle on full display in a Season 1 episode of Netflix’s “Full Swing,” featuring a high- stakes match between Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. In their match, any birdie or better also doubled the bet!
a game even the pros love. It’s time to learn “Hammer,” a sometimes cruel game where stakes can get very high very quickly by preying on crappy shots. If “Hammer” is on the agenda, we suggest a stop at an ATM on your way to the course. NUMBER OF PLAYERS REQUIRED: 2 or 4 BEST FOR: Players who like to dial up the pressure on their opponent and/or get in other golfers’ heads. HOW TO PLAY: Hammer is about as simple as it gets. Its foundation is basic match play, but you and your opponent/s need to decide how much
12 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
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