Money Ball
A money ball in golf is the designated ball that one rotating team member must play on each hole during certain team tournament formats, with that player’s score counting toward the team total. The format also goes by several other names: Devil Ball, Lone Ranger, Yellow Ball, Pink Ball, or Pink Lady.
What is a money ball in golf?
A money ball is a role, not a special type of golf ball. In a money ball tournament, four-person teams rotate one player per hole as the designated money ball golfer. On each hole, that player’s score must be included in the team total, while the rest of the team contributes the second half of the score through a scramble or a best ball.
The rotation usually runs in order: Player A plays the money ball on Hole 1, B on Hole 2, C on Hole 3, D on Hole 4, then back to A on Hole 5. Every golfer ends up on the spot roughly four or five times across 18 holes.
The “money ball” itself is often a coloured or marked ball, supplied by the tournament organiser or chosen by the team, so it’s clear at a glance whose turn it is. The name comes from the pressure attached to that ball: a poor hole from the designated player can sink the team, while a strong hole carries everyone. Golf Compendium explains that the format starts with four-person teams, although three-person teams also work, and notes that the format goes by many names depending on the colour or theme of the special ball.
How the money ball format works
Two scores combine on every hole. The first is the money ball player’s score, which is fixed. The second is the best score from the other three teammates, calculated in one of two ways.
In the more common version, the three non-money-ball players play the hole as a scramble, choosing the best shot after each stroke and all playing from that spot. Their final scramble score is the second number added to the team total.
In the alternative version, the three other players each play their own ball, and the lowest individual score among them is added to the money ball score. This is closer to a best-ball setup.
Either way, two scores per hole make the team score. For example, if the money ball player records a 5 and the rest of the team produces a 4, the team’s score on that hole is 9.
Money ball vs. scramble vs. best ball
The money ball format gets confused with both scramble and best ball, mainly because it borrows elements from each. The differences come down to who has to score and how many scores count.
| Format | Team size | How the team scores each hole |
|---|---|---|
| Scramble | 2-4 players | All players hit, the team chooses the best shot, and everyone plays from there until the hole is done. One team score per hole. |
| Best ball | 2-4 players | Every player plays their own ball the whole way through. The lowest single score on the team counts as the team score. |
| Money ball | 4 players (sometimes 3) | The designated money ball player’s score must count. It combines with the best score from the rest of the team (via scramble or best ball) to make the team total. |
Scramble takes pressure off any one player. Money ball concentrates that pressure on whoever is up in the rotation, while best ball asks every golfer to deliver across the whole round.
What happens if a player loses the money ball
This is where money ball tournaments can get harsh, and the rules vary by event.
The strictest version eliminates the entire team from contention if the designated money ball is lost. They can keep playing the round, but the prize hunt is over. Brent Kelley’s LiveAbout write-up notes that many organisers soften this rule, since strict elimination tends to push teams to drop out partway through and ruins the event for everyone.
Some events instead eliminate only the golfer who lost the ball. The team continues as a threesome, and only if a second teammate later loses the ball is the whole team eliminated.
A gentler option allows the money ball player to put another ball in play with any appropriate penalty strokes, then finish the hole. That score is usually doubled to count as the team’s score on that hole.
The variation matters because it changes the strategy of the whole round. Under strict elimination rules, the money ball player will often play conservatively to keep the ball alive at all costs.
Other names for the money ball format
The same basic game appears under many names, and tournament organisers often pick one based on the colour of the ball being passed around.
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Devil Ball | The most common alternative name. Same scoring rules. |
| Lone Ranger | Emphasises that the designated player is “alone” against the hole while the others scramble. |
| Yellow Ball | The designated ball is yellow. Often used in association and charity events. |
| Pink Ball / Pink Lady | The designated ball is pink. Sometimes used in themed or charity events. |
| Choker Tournament | Less common, but it appears in some golf-format guides as a synonym. |
Golf Compendium and LiveAbout both confirm these names refer to the same underlying format, with only small variations between events.
Related Golf Terms
- Medal play — Another term for stroke play, where the total number of strokes determines the winner.
- Match play — A format where the winner is determined by holes won rather than total strokes.
- Mental game — The psychological aspects of golf, including focus, confidence, and course management.
- Marker — A person who keeps score for another player, or a small object to mark ball position.
- Member’s bounce — A lucky bounce that helps the ball, as if the course is favoring a member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is money ball the same as devil ball?
Yes. Devil ball, money ball, and lone ranger are the three most common names for the same format. The scoring is identical: the designated player’s score plus the best of the rest.
How many players do you need to play money ball?
Four-person teams are standard. Three-person teams can also play, with two scramblers and one money ball player rotating each hole.
Is the money ball a special type of golf ball?
No. It’s a designation. The ball is usually marked or coloured so everyone knows which one is in play, but any regulation golf ball works.
Does the money ball score double?
Only in certain variations. The default scoring adds the money ball score to the best of the other three. A “doubled score” rule appears in some events when the money ball player makes birdie or better, or as a substitute when the ball has been lost.
Can money ball be played with handicaps?
Yes. Many events apply handicap strokes only to the money ball player on each hole, since the scramble or best ball score already reflects a team effort. Tournament rules vary, so the organiser usually sets these in advance.
Sources
- Golf Compendium. “The Money Ball Golf Format Explained.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Compendium. “How to Play the Lone Ranger Golf Format.” Accessed May 2026.
- Brent Kelley, LiveAbout. “How to Play Devil Ball (or Money Ball) Golf Tournament.” Accessed May 2026.
- Brent Kelley, LiveAbout. “How to Play a ‘Yellow Ball’ Golf Tournament.” Accessed May 2026.
- Brent Kelley, LiveAbout. “How to Play a Pink Lady Tournament in Golf.” Accessed May 2026.
- Professional Golfers Career College. “Popular Golf Tournament Formats.” Accessed May 2026.
