Snooker Golf is played on a full-size Billiards Table. It is best played between two opponents, but can be played by four players as two teams with two men in each team.
The six pockets of the snooker table represent the six holes of a “Mini Golf Course”.
Each player has his own Cue Ball and his own Object Ball; there are only four balls used in the two man version of Snooker Golf.
The player playing the first shot uses White as his Cue Ball and Red as his Object Ball. The second player uses the Yellow as his Cue Ball and the Green as his Object ball.
Looking from the Baulk end of the table towards the top cushion, the six “Holes” are designated numbers. The corner Hole at the left side of the top cushion is Hole Number One. Then going round the table clockwise the Holes are numbered up to Six with the sixth Hole being in the middle of the side cushion on the left-hand side.
The aim of the game is to play the cue ball onto the object ball and successfully send the object ball round the table, scoring each Hole in numerical order as per the rules below.
The game commences by “TEEING OFF” in the following manner.
The cue ball is played from within the “D” and the object ball is placed on the centre spot.
The striker must play to pocket his object ball in the first Hole and should he be successful the object ball is re-placed on the centre spot and the striker plays from where the cue ball has come to rest on the table and then tries to score the second hole. Whenever a player fails to score his hole, his balls remain on the table and his opponent then takes his turn at the table and Tees Off.
The two players continue taking alternate turns at the table playing in the manner described above until a player successfully scores all six holes.
When a player’s balls are not in play they are said to be, “IN HAND”, and when
a player is In Hand, on returning to the table the Cue Ball must play from within the “D” and the Object Ball is placed on the Centre Spot.
However should the centre spot be occupied by an opponent’s ball during play, then the object ball is placed on the pyramid spot, and should that also be occupied by an opponent’s ball, the object ball is placed on the Top Spot.
1 After every foul shot a player must remove both of his balls from the table, his opponent then returns to the table and the offending player must play his next shot from hand. The offending player is penalised by having to go back one Hole. Should a foul be committed before a player has scored any pockets, then he simply starts again on the first Hole.
2 If a player fails to hit his object ball either directly or by means of striking a cushion, it is a foul shot.
3 If a player hits any ball before striking his own object ball first, it is a foul shot and should any ball be moved in this way, it is replaced in its original position. This prevents a player from deliberately moving his opponents balls from an advantageous position.
4 Should a foul be committed during a shot where the player has first struck his own object ball fairly before the shot is then deemed a foul for any subsequent occurrence, then the balls of the non-offending player shall remain where they have come to rest. However should either of the non-offending player’s balls enter a Hole as a result of such a shot, then both of the non-offenders balls are deemed to be in hand and the non-offending player shall play his next shot from hand.
5 If a player pockets his object ball into any Hole that he is not “on” at that time, it is a foul shot; his opponent then returns to the table and the offending player plays his next shot from hand.
6 If ever a player causes any ball other than his own object ball to enter a Hole it is a foul shot.
7 If after fairly striking his own object ball a player causes his opponent’s object ball to enter the Hole that his opponent is on at that time; then it is deemed that the opponent has scored that Hole and he plays from hand onto the next Hole. Should a player’s ball enter the sixth and final Hole in this manner, then the game is won.
8 When the cue ball is touching any other ball the player must shoot away.
Should the ball that is touching the cue ball be the player’s own object ball, the player may shoot away and it be regarded as a fair shot.
9 “Push Shots” and "Jump Shots"are not allowed in Snooker Golf.
AFTER A FOUL SHOT A PLAYER IS ALWAYS PENALISED BY HAVING TO GO BACK ONE POCKET; WITH ONE EXCEPTION. IF THE OFFENDING PLAYER IS ON THE FIRST POCKET, HE BEGINS AGAIN ON THAT POCKET AND ONCE HAVING SCORED THAT POCKET, HE CONTINUES ONWARDS ROUND THE TABLE.
In the four player version of Snooker Golf the balls are paired as follows:
Cue Ball White, Object ball Red;
Cue Ball Yellow, Object Ball Green;
Cue Ball Brown, Object Ball Blue;
Cue Ball Pink, Object Ball Black;
The White and Red and Brown and Blue play jointly as a team, and the Yellow and Green and Pink and Black play jointly as the opposing team.
The game is won when one of the object balls successfully scores the sixth hole. That team is then deemed to be the winner. It is not necessary for both players in a team to complete the six holes.
In the four ball version it is permissible for a player to knock the object ball of the corresponding set into the hole that it is “on”, and this would then count as that object ball having scored that hole. The balls of the player playing such a shot would remain on the table. No penalty would be attributed to that player and he would not have to go back a hole.
Stuart Rhodes has a passion for the game of snooker and has kindly submitted this article about a game he played a long time ago, with the express wish that it won't be lost or forgotten, but perhaps can be enjoyed by a new generation of players. Pro9 would like to express it's gratitude to Stuart Rhodes for generously sharing these rules with our readers - it's like an early Christmas present. I hope you all enjoy playing this game if you get the time over the holidays.