What is Squatch Golf?
Squatch Golf is a game we came up with based off of rotation where every hole is a pattern projected on the table by the ICA Training System that each player attempts to run out. At the beginning of the course the ‘holes’ are only 3 balls, but by the end of the round it’s up to 9!
In this sample of five balls, the incoming shooter starts with ball in hand and attempts to shoot all five balls in order. 5 balls means that the par for this ‘hole’ is 5 strokes; if you miss, it adds only one stroke to your score- if you’re lucky. If you miss a ball and it rolls somewhere weird, it can turn into more than one extra stroke. Be careful- once you get to 4 strokes over par your turn is over.
An example scorecard is shown below.
Example:
Scorecard
The scorecard has two rounds of spaces, you know, to play more Squatch Golf.
Here you can see the hole number, the number of balls on that hole, and the par. The final rack is a whole rack of 9 ball and the hole starts with a break, which itself counts as a stroke itself- unless you choose not to take ball in hand after the break. Then it doesn’t count as a stroke. This means that if you sink multiple balls and end up with a decent shot after the break you have a great opportunity to lower your score. See the full rules below.
What is the ICA Training System?
The ICA Training System is a projector-based system that contains an incredible curriculum full of programs that guide you through a comprehensive understanding of all the important aspects of pool- shot making, banking, kicking, rails, spin, positional studies, safety play and defensive strategies, games and more. Not only that, but it has a built-in ability to create your own drills AND there are available modules you can add featuring instructional content from many top pro players and popular instructors.
For Squatch Golf, we use one of its simpler features- the ball randomizer. This way, no course is ever the same!
Full Squatch Golf Rules
• Starting order is determined before hole 1. Each player attempts a positional challenge shot from the ICA Training System and marks where their cue ball landed. Closest to the center of the target decides the starting order.
• Each hole is a randomized pattern of balls projected on the table by the ICA Training System and no two patterns are the same. The balls in the pattern must be shot in numerical order with lowest ball first.
• Each player starts their attempt at the pattern with ball in hand. The only other time they get ball in hand is after a pocket scratch.
• Each player sets up the balls for the next person. If the player forgets to do so, they are called ‘asshole’ and made fun of by the other players.
• The players shall use their best effort to place the balls in the center of the circles.
•At the beginning of each hole, the incoming player starts with ball in hand and attempts to run the balls in the fewest strokes possible. Par is the same as the number of balls on that hole. If all balls are made in order without missing, the score is 0 and it’s the next player’s turn. The maximum score per hole is 4 strokes over par, after which it’s the next player’s turn also.
• A pocket scratch is a 2 stroke penalty, whether the object ball was made or not.
• Not hitting the lowest ball first = 1 stroke penalty.
• If the player scratches when they make their final shot, 2 stroke penalty and their turn is over.
• Like 9 ball, flukes count.
• Making more than one ball on a shot can give you a negative score, similar to a birdie in golf.
• Hole #18 is a full rack of 9 ball. Each player attempts to break and run the rack using the same rules as above and starting with ball in hand. If the player chooses to take ball in hand after the break, the break counts as one stroke. If they choose to take it where it lies, the break does not count as a stroke. Making multiple balls on the break can lower your total score if you run out, especially if you don’t take ball in hand.
• NOTE: If you make the nine ball early on hole 18, it stays down and you continue running the rack and counting your strokes- the nine isn’t the ‘money ball’- the last one on the table is.