Any number
Stroke Play
Lowest total score over 18 holes
Add up everyone's strokes over the round; lowest total wins. The traditional tournament format and the easiest to settle as a multi-player bet.
The rules
1
Counting
Total strokes (or net strokes if using handicap). One stroke at hole 7 affects the bet the same as one stroke at hole 18.
2
Payout schedules
Common: winner-take-all. Or split: 1st gets 60%, 2nd gets 30%, 3rd gets 10%. Configurable per round.
3
Handicaps
Apply each player's full course handicap to their gross total to compute net score.
When to play
Larger groups (5+) where match play doesn't scale, or when you want a single overall winner.