Understanding Golf Solitaire Par: Rules & Scoring Explained

Unlike standard solitaire games where the goal is simply to win, Golf Solitaire (also known as the golf patience game) introduces a unique scoring structure borrowed from the golf course. Your success is measured by how few cards you leave behind on the board when the stock deck runs dry.

Learning how to play golf solitaire, understanding golf patience rules, and knowing how to calculate your points can help you refine your strategy and target lower scores.

How Golf Solitaire Scoring Works

A standard game of Golf Solitaire begins with 35 cards dealt face-up into seven columns of five cards each. The remaining 17 cards form the stock pile.

You clear cards from the columns onto the single waste pile by matching cards that are exactly one value higher or lower than the top card of the waste pile. For example, if a 6 is showing, you can play a 5 or a 7. Suits do not matter.

When you run out of moves and cannot draw any more cards, the game ends. Your score is determined by where the remaining cards are:

• Cards Left on the Tableau: Each card remaining in the seven columns adds +1 point to your score. If you finish the game with 6 cards left on the board, your score is +6.
• Cards Left in the Stock Pile: If you manage to clear all 35 tableau cards before drawing through the entire stock pile, each unused card in the stock pile counts as -1 point. Clearing the board with 4 cards left in the stock pile gives you a score of -4.

A lower score is always better, and the ultimate achievement is a negative score.

What is Par in Golf Solitaire?

In Golf Solitaire, par represents the baseline target for a series of games. Players usually compete across a round of 9 deals (matching the 9 holes of a standard golf course).

The par value for a single deal is 4 points. Therefore, the par score for a full 9-deal round is 36 points.

To beat the game, your total score after 9 deals must be lower than 36. Elite players target a round score under 15, while a perfect run can result in a negative total score.

Tactics to Beat Par

Lowering your score requires you to maximise the length of your card chains. Use these tactics to clear more cards:

1. Plan Multi-Card Chains

Before playing a card, scan the board to see if it allows you to chain multiple moves. For example, if the waste pile card is a 5, and the columns contain a 6, 7, 6, and 5, playing them in that sequence clears four cards in a single run. Choosing the wrong card first can cut your chain short.

2. Avoid Kings in Standard Play

In standard Golf Solitaire rules, Kings are dead ends. You can play a King on a Queen, but you cannot place any card on top of a King. This means Kings immediately stop your chain, forcing you to draw a new card from the stock pile. Clear columns containing Kings only when you have no other options.

3. Clear Columns Evenly

Try to clear cards across all columns rather than emptying one column completely while leaving others tall. Tall columns are harder to break down later because you have fewer choices for building sequences.