What is Desk Golf?
Desk Golf is a free golf game you play with one thumb or a mouse, right in your browser. There is nothing to install and no account to create. Every hole fits on one screen and is seen from the side. You can play a quick round on a coffee break, compare today's score with friends, or see how long you can survive in endless mode.
There are two ways to play. The Daily is a five-hole course that is the same for every player on a given day. Endless is a run of holes that keeps going as long as you keep making par.
Controls
- Pull back anywhere on the screen, like a slingshot. The ball flies in the opposite direction of your pull.
- The further you pull, the harder you hit. The ring around the ball shows your power; it turns red at 100%.
- Release to shoot. Drag back to where you started to cancel.
- The dotted line shows how the shot starts, stopping where the ball would first land. The rest of the flight is up to your feel.
- On a keyboard: ← → change the angle, ↑ ↓ change power (hold Shift for fine steps), Space or Enter shoots.
The Daily course
A new course appears every day at midnight, your local time. It has five holes that get harder from the first to the last, each from a different landscape. Everyone playing that day gets exactly the same holes, so scores are directly comparable.
- You get one official attempt per day. If you leave mid-round, you continue where you stopped, with every stroke counted.
- A hole is picked up after 10 strokes and scored as 10.
- Your result is shown against par, with a row of squares you can share: ⭐ hole in one, 🦅 eagle or better, 🐦 birdie, 🟩 par, 🟨 bogey, 🟧 double bogey, 🟥 worse.
- Play on consecutive days to build a streak 🔥.
- After the official round you can replay the course for fun. Replays don't change your score.
Endless mode
Endless is about survival. You start with 5 strokes in the bank. Every shot costs one stroke. When you sink a hole, the bank is refilled by that hole's par (plus one bonus stroke for a hole in one), up to a maximum of 9. Make par and you break even, make birdie and you gain, make bogey and you lose. When the bank is empty, the run is over. Your score is the number of holes you cleared.
Every five holes the scenery changes and a new challenge is mixed in:
| Zone | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Meadow | Rolling fairways and a few bunkers. The first two holes are always gentle. |
| Dunes | Lots of sand. Sand saps 30% of your power. |
| Lakes | Water carries. Finding water costs a penalty stroke. |
| Canyon | Rock walls and plateaus. Rock bounces the ball hard. |
| Gale | Strong wind pushes the ball while it's in the air. |
| Twilight | Night falls and the aim line gets shorter. Trust your hands. |
After Twilight the zones repeat (Meadow II and so on). Holes get longer and trickier, and the aim line keeps shrinking until around hole 36. When a run ends you can continue once with three extra strokes. You can also send a challenge link: your friend plays the exact same sequence of holes and sees the number to beat.
Surfaces and hazards
| Surface | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fairway | Normal bounce and roll. Full power. |
| Green | Smooth and fast. The cup is on the green. |
| Rough | The ball stops quickly, and shots from the rough lose 14% power. |
| Sand | The ball barely rolls, and shots from sand lose 30% power. |
| Water | The shot counts plus one penalty stroke; you play again from where you hit. |
| Out of bounds | Leaving the course at either side costs the stroke; you play again from where you hit. |
| Rock | Walls and cliffs. Hard, lively bounces. |
| Trees | Leaves soak up the ball's speed and drop it. |
| Wind | Shown at the top of the screen. It only pushes the ball while it's airborne. |
Scoring words
Par is the number of strokes a good player should need. One under par is a birdie, two under an eagle, three under an albatross. One over is a bogey, two over a double bogey. Sinking it with your first shot is a hole in one. Par for every hole is set by playtesting it with a computer player, then adjusted to what a person can realistically do.
Tips
- Land short and let it roll. A ball that lands just before the green usually ends up closer than one that flies at the flag.
- Steep shots stop, low shots run. A high lob checks up where it lands; a low punch keeps rolling.
- Full power is the easiest shot to repeat. Pull all the way back and only change the angle.
- Putts follow the ground. On the green, the preview follows the roll, so use it.
- Watch the cup speed. A ball rolling too fast hops over the hole. Gentle putts drop.
- Play the wind. Into the wind, hit lower and harder; downwind, the ball flies further.
Collectible balls
Ten ball designs unlock as you play: finish a daily, keep a streak, clear 10, 25 or 50 holes in one endless run, make 25 birdies, or make a hole in one. Pick your ball from the "Balls" button on the home screen.
FAQ
Is it free?
Yes. The game is supported by ads, such as an optional video ad for an extra continue in endless mode.
Do I need an account?
No. Your progress, streak, best score and unlocked balls are saved in your browser on this device.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. It works on phones, tablets and computers. On a phone, turning it sideways gives you a bigger course.
Why did my friend get the same daily course?
Each device builds the course from the date, so everyone gets the same five holes without anything being downloaded. That's what makes daily scores comparable.
See also our privacy policy.