Birdies, Eagles, and Mulligans… Oh my!

My kids and I have been having a ball (no pun intended) playing golf. But not the traditional kind of golf that requires a manicured golf course, expensive equipment, or funny pants. Instead, we’ve been finding fun ways to play “golf” at home.

Here are two games we came up with. Both games can be played by kids and adults of all ages and abilities.

Have fun!

Circle Golf

This is a fun game to practice putting skills. The object is to sink putts from 9 different positions on a circle in the fewest number of strokes.

What You Need:

• Backyard Area or Park


• Small Golf Club, Croquet Mallet, or even a small board


• Golf Ball, or other small ball, such as a Pinky Ball (the deeper the grass, the bigger the ball may need to be)


• Plastic Cup or Jar


• String, Garden Hose, or Long Jump Rope
  
• 9 Markers, we like to use Marker Rounds (they have so many uses)


• 1 or more Players

How to Play:

• To prepare for the game, use string, a garden hose, or a jump rope to mark off a circle in your yard that is about six feet in diameter.


• Place 9 markers around the perimeter of the circle. Don’t worry if they aren’t equally spaced. Each marker represents the “tee” and players will start putting from these positions.


• If you are playing in your own backyard, and you have permission, dig a small hole in the center of the circle, and place a plastic cup into the hole. Save the grass you cut out, so you can fill the hole back in later. If you are playing in a park, or don’t want to dig a hole in your yard, lay a plastic cup or jar on its side so it faces the first tee position – the cup will serve as the hole. The cup will have to be turned toward each tee as the player moves around the circle.


• One at a time, each player putts their way clockwise around the circle, beginning at the first tee and progressing through the other eight tees after successfully putting at each position.


• Players should keep track of the number of strokes taken at each position. Have the other players count the strokes aloud as the putter plays. This involves the other players and helps everyone remember the number of strokes taken.


• The player to complete the course in the fewest number of total strokes is the winner.

Variations:

• Change the diameter of the circle to a larger diameter for more challenging putts.


• If you prefer, have player one start at the first tee and record the number of strokes, then player two plays the same tee, etc. When all the players have completed the first hole, play begins again on the second hole, and so on.

Driveway Golf

Here is a fun game to play on your driveway! The object of the game is to flip or toss a small object along a “golf course” drawn with chalk on your driveway or sidewalk, in the fewest number of “strokes”.

What You Need:

• Driveway, Sidewalk, or any Paved Surface


• 2 or more Players


• Chalk


• Small Object for each Player – a small stone or bottle cap works well

How to Play:

• The first step to playing Driveway Golf, is to design the course. Have each player draw a golf hole on the driveway – one hole usually consists of a tee-box (starting point), fairway, and the green (putting surface where the hole is located). Hazards such as water, woods or sand traps are also common. The hole should be represented by a circle that is about three inches in diameter. Use your imaginations when designing each hole along the course. For example, a hole could be located on an island in the middle of a pond, or be surrounded by trees, sand traps, and water hazards. Be creative!


• Once the course has been drawn, number the holes from 1 to 9 (or 1 to 18 for a longer game), then determine which player will tee-off first.


• The first player should crouch down by the tee and toss their object toward the first hole.


• Objects that land partially or wholly in a hazard, must be placed outside the hazard, and a penalty stroke is added.


• Play continues through the course, through the last hole. The player with the fewest total strokes wins the game.

Variations:

• Use chalk to draw a score card on the driveway, as shown, to keep track of the number of strokes each player has for each hole.


• When playing with young children, you may want to allow them a “handicap” and let them tee-off closer to the hole.


• Create in color! Use a variety of colored chalk to create your course – blue for water hazards, green for trees, and brown for sand traps – you get the idea!

You Might Also Like:

Card Golf – This card game allows you to play golf anywhere! We also include score cards you can download and print from all the major golf courses in the world!

Dirtbag Footbag – Get active while playing with a footbag! This eight panel, hand-sewn, sand filled footbag (sometimes called a hacky sack) is what all the kids are asking for! It’s perfect for beginners and pros alike! Available in four colors.

Classic Marbles – In addition to fine-tuning small motor skills, playing marbles helps children develop social skills, learn to take turns, recognize and solve problems, negotiate, learn to cooperate and develop empathy. And… it’s just plain, old-fashioned fun!

PitchCar – All the excitment (and skill) of racing! Choose your favorite car, design and build your track, and with a flick of your finger, you’re off and racing! We’ve even created our own PitchCar Golf game! See the bottom of the product page for details on how to play.

FalsaWood Boomerang – Looks like it’s been carved by hand out of real wood, yet it’s made of a soft, safe material for indoor or outdoor fun!

FalsaWood Ball – Looks dangerous when it’s thrown at you, but it’s falsawood, soft and safe!

Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.