What Is Play Nine (Game Overview)?

Play Nine is an ingenious card game that mixes a little bit of luck with real strategy and thinking on the fly to simulate the thrill of playing a 9-hole round of golf. No matter what age (8 and up) or skill level you are, Play Nine equalizes the odds so that anyone can win. These features (plus a few more) make Play Nine the best golfing card game we’ve played this year!

Play Nine Review: Our Honest Opinion

There’s a reason why Play Nine has over 22,000 reviews on Amazon with a phenomenal 4.9 out of 5 rating. Actually, there are many reasons why it’s a top-selling card game. The first ones that come to mind are: it’s easy to learn, fun (and easy) to play, colorful, fast-paced, balances strategy and luck, and offers fair competition — an 8-year-old has just as much of a chance of winning as a seasoned golf pro.

Play Nine: The Cons

After testing Play Nine with our staff, I asked what could be done to make the game better. No one could think of a single aspect that needed even a minor improvement. In fact, our in-house gaming expert said, “This is exactly what people look for when buying a card game. It’s easy to learn and fun to play.”

Play Nine: The Pros at a Glance

  • You don’t have to know how to play real golf to love this game.
  • It’s family-friendly.
  • You can learn how to play in minutes.
  • Gameplay combines luck and strategy.
  • Anyone’s standing could change drastically after drawing the next card.
  • Play Nine is travel-ready.
  • It’s a fast-paced game that can be completed in 30-90 minutes.
  • The artwork is fun and colorful.
  • Younger players can learn and reinforce basic math skills when playing.
  • It comes with a little golf pencil.
  • Keeping score is easy.
  • The Play Nine app plays exactly like the card game, but also features “Play With Friends,” “Tournaments,” “Multiplayer,” and “Solo Play” modes.

How to Play Play Nine: Rules, Ages, & Play Time

Is Play Nine Easy to Learn?

Yes, Play Nine is very simple to learn. With illustrated and well-organized instructions, players can go from opening the box to playing their first hole in just a few minutes.

If you prefer to learn by doing (instead of reading), download the Play Nine app and play the interactive tutorial.

What Are the Play Nine Rules & How Do You Win?

Set Up

To begin, shuffle the deck and deal one card to each player. The lowest card determines who goes first. Reshuffle all cards and deal each player 8 cards (face down). Players arrange their cards into two rows of four. The rest of the deck is placed face down. Flip the top card to start the discard pile.

Play

To tee off, each player turns over any two cards on their course. After teeing off, player one chooses a card from the deck or the discard pile and decides how to best play the card — use it or discard it.

Strategy

Players try to pair up matching cards (in the top and bottom rows) to cancel out strokes. The more matches you line up, the lower your score could be.

Ending the Hole

Once one player turns over all 8 cards, the remaining players get one more draw each. After the last draw, all players turn over any remaining face-down cards. The hole ends, and strokes are tallied and added to the scorecard.

Holes Two Through Nine

Collect and shuffle all cards. Deal each player 8 cards (face down) and play holes two through nine the same way you played the first hole.

Winning the Game

Tally up the strokes for each player. The player with the lowest score at the end of 9 holes wins. In the event of a tie, play a sudden-death hole.

How Many People Can Play?

Play Nine is designed for 2 to 6 players. If you would like to play with 8, you would need to purchase a second game and play with more cards. The manufacturer recommends using 162 cards. Since each game comes with two packs of 54 cards, you would be using three packs.

What Is the Age Range for Play Nine?

Play Nine is for players 8 and above. If you have younger children in your family, adults can help them play, or you can purchase Play Nine KiDS, which was created for players 3 and up.

How Long Does a Typical Game Take?

A full game of Play Nine includes 9 holes, which can be played in anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. If you prefer a shorter or longer game, you can reduce or extend the number of holes to best suit your time needs.

Behind the Scenes: Interview with the Creators of Play Nine

Who are the creators? Do they play golf or cards or both?
Both! The game was created by two best friends who loved to play golf together! They combined their passion for golf and tabletop games to create Play Nine. Over the years, the two ladies walked into pro shops and golf stores selling their new game until finally they partnered with Bonfit to bring the game to mass market.

What made golf the topic to turn into a card game?
Golf was the natural fit because it’s what they loved, and because golf is something a lot of people already understand. Low score wins, a hole-in-one is the dream, and a Mulligan is your friend.

Bonfit America came in as the exclusive distribution partner in 2006. Our founder, Paul Krok, saw it as a great fit alongside the golf products we already made, and we’ve been growing it together ever since.

What aspects make for a fun and exciting card game? Is it more about skill or luck?
A great card game is easy to learn in five minutes, has decisions that actually matter, and can swing at any moment. If you can teach it to your grandparents and your kids at the same table, you’ve got something.

Play Nine is the perfect mix of both. You’re dealt eight cards face down, so there’s luck in what you get. But every turn, you’re deciding whether to flip, swap, or chase a matching column to cancel out your strokes. A newer player can win a hole, but over nine holes, the better strategist usually comes out on top.

Is this your first game? Do you have other games or products available?
Play Nine was the founders’ first game, but it’s grown into a whole family. Here’s what’s out there today:

  • Play Nine, the original card game of golf, for 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up
  • Play Nine KiDS, a mini-golf version for ages 3 and up that builds number confidence while kids play
  • The Play Nine app on iOS and Android, where you can play solo, take on Journey Mode, or challenge friends online
  • Gift bundles and scorecard pads, including a bundle with a plush toy

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in going from idea to actual product?
Getting people to take a chance on an unknown game. Sales reps were hesitant, so the founders hit the pavement themselves. They pitched gift shops and golf pro shops, donated games to charity fundraisers, and ran game nights at restaurants and retirement homes.

What finally broke it open was word of mouth. A hair stylist started selling it in his salon. One of his customers brought it on a Thanksgiving trip, and a guest who worked in the golf industry saw everyone playing and reached out. That’s when things took off. From there, partnering with Bonfit got Play Nine onto Amazon and into stores nationwide, and in 2023, it landed on Target shelves across the country with Walmart in 2026.

When did you add the app version? Was that something you had always planned on doing, or was it something extra you wanted to offer?
The Play Nine app launched in 2021 on iOS and Android, and today thousands of people play online every day. It started as a way for people to keep playing with friends and family when they couldn’t be at the same table, and it’s grown into its own thing. You can play solo against the computer, work through Journey Mode course by course, or play real-time matches against friends and players around the world.

Did it create any additional challenges?
It definitely created new challenges. A physical game is done once it’s printed. An app is never done. We’re constantly updating it, listening to player feedback, fixing bugs, and adding new modes. The upside is we get to hear from players every single day, and that feedback makes both the app and the card game better.

What tips do you have for someone who wants to create their own game?
A few things I’d tell anyone starting out:

  1. Play test way more than you think you need to, and with people who aren’t your friends. Strangers will tell you the truth.
  2. Keep the rules short. In a game like Play Nine that’s made for the whole family, quick games and easy rules are key. It’s hard to teach new games, so the quicker they can learn, the better.
  3. Go where your players already are. For Play Nine, that was golf pro shops, gift stores, and fundraisers before it was ever on Amazon or at Target.
  4. Don’t underestimate the business side. Printing, shipping, warehousing, and distribution are a whole second job.
  5. Find a partner when you’re ready to grow. The founders teaming up with Bonfit is what took Play Nine national.

Would you do it again now that you know what is involved?
Would we do it again? Absolutely. There’s nothing better than hearing a family has made Play Nine their holiday tradition.

Who is your ideal customer: adults, children, golfers?
Play Nine is one of the few games that is for everyone! Play Nine is technically for ages 8 and up, but the fun images, quirky mascot, and fast gameplay make this game ideal for family game night, a weekend at the lake, or a group of friends after a round. You don’t need to know a thing about golf to play, but golfers get an extra kick out of it.

Our sweet spot is multi-generational families. One of our favorite reviews is from a grandpa named Bill who plays with his grandkids, and that’s exactly the kind of table we love seeing. For families with younger kids, Play Nine KiDS brings it down to ages 3 and up.

Who is Gimmie? What is his personality? How can they enhance the game?
Gimme is our golf ball mascot, and the name comes straight from golf. A “gimme” is that short putt your buddies wave off and say you’d make, anyway. It’s a little act of good sportsmanship, and that’s Gimme’s whole personality: friendly, upbeat, and always rooting for you to have fun as he finds himself in hilarious situations.

You’ll see Gimme across the app and our marketing, and there’s even a Gimme plush in our gift bundle, so the kids at the table have a buddy too.

What has been the best thing someone has said about Play Nine?
We hear a lot of great things, but the ones that stick are about family. Over and over again, we hear things like “my cards are so worn out because we play every night.” Play Nine exists for one reason: to build connections with your loved ones. Relationships are built one moment at a time, and we’d like to play one small part in that… or nine. 🙂

Brittney told us her whole family loves it and that it’s “super easy to learn.” Bill plays it with his grandchildren and loves the strategy. And John said the game can change “in a snap,” which is exactly what keeps everyone at the table until the ninth hole.

The founders emphasized this themselves: people share Play Nine because it connects friends and family in a special way. Every time someone tells us they bought a second copy to give away, that’s the best compliment we can get.

What is the best way to stay in touch and learn what’s next from your company?
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and check out playnine.com for new products, gift bundles, and the full rules. You can also grab the Play Nine app free on the App Store and Google Play.

There’s a lot coming. We’re working on new extensions for the card game, new modes in the app, and more tournaments, so stay tuned!

Where to Buy Play Nine

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Note: Prices subject to change.

Final Verdict: Should You Gift Play Nine This Year?

Yes! Play Nine is one of those rare gems that is a winner for nearly anyone on your gift list. It makes a great Secret Santa gift, a wonderful surprise for a teacher, or something fun for your bestie or your partner — there are never too many games for game night! Older adults will love it as much as children, and Play Nine is obviously perfect for the golf enthusiast in your life. Even your college kid will appreciate having the game in their dorm for social events. Best of all, it’s affordable, so we recommend buying several. That way, you’ll always have a gift on hand for unexpected holiday guests. Just make sure you stash one away for yourself.

Photos courtesy of Play Nine.