GOOFY GOLF!

Fun Golf-Themed Games for Families

 

Next time you and your kids want to have some fun, but don't really feel like visiting the nearest golf course, try these family-friendly, around-the-house golf games to create new memories with those you love!

Living Room Mini-Golf

Why go outside to practice your short game when you can set up your own mini-golf course in the living room? Here’s how…

Players: 1 to 6

Supplies: A golf ball, a putter, a tennis shoe, and miscellaneous items from around the house.

Scoring: Just like golf, the person who uses the fewest strokes to get the ball in the hole wins!

Set Up: First, clear out an open area in the living room or great room of your home. Next, place a tennis shoe on its side in one corner of the room. The opening of the shoe is now the "hole" into which you will try to putt the golf ball. Collect a few mini-golf-style obstacles and set them in the middle of the room. For instance, a book that is slightly opened and balanced (like a teepee) on its front edges on the floor could be a "bridge" under which to hit the ball. Or a crumpled towel on the floor could be a "sand trap" on your course.

Playing the Game: After you’ve set up a course in the living room, have players start on the side of the room that’s opposite from the "hole" (your shoe resting on its side). Then take turns trying to gently putt the ball into the hole. Count how many strokes it takes for each person to place the ball in the shoe – the lowest score wins that hole.

After everyone has had a turn, redesign the course (by moving furniture, adding or removing obstacles such as couch pillows and the like, or changing the placement of the shoe/hole). Then have everyone take turns playing again. Keep playing new course designs for as long as you and your family like!

IMPORTANT WARNING: Be sure to keep the course small enough for putting – and to monitor younger players to make sure they don’t hit the ball too hard inside the house. A rule of thumb is that the ball should never bounce, but only roll, across the floor. That will help prevent the possibility of unfortunate accidents such as broken lamps or windows!

Living Room Mini-Golf – Pocket Billiards Style

When you’re ready for a different challenge, try this fun variation on the Living Room Mini-Golf Game described previously.

Players: 1 to 6 (players can also play in teams)

Supplies: 15 golf balls, 6 tennis shoes, a putter, and several pillows.

Scoring: The person who sinks the most golf balls into the holes wins.

Set Up: First, clear out an open area in the living room or great room of your home. Next, imagine that the center of the floor is the top of a pocket billiards table and place each tennis shoe in the six spots where the holes of that table would be. Turn each shoe on its side, facing inward (to receive the balls). The opening of each shoe is now the "hole" into which you will try to tap in the balls.

Ring the imaginary billiards table with pillows from the bedrooms and viola – you now have a makeshift pool table on your floor!

Playing the Game: After you’ve set up your pool table on the living room floor, have players arrange 15 golf balls in a triangle shape near one end of the "table." These will serve as the billiards balls you will use. Next, designate a different ball as your "cue ball," and use the top of your putter as the cue stick to tap it into the others for the opening "break." Take turns trying to use your new "cue stick" and "cue ball" to sink the other balls into the shoes. As in regular pool, if you make a shot into a hole, your turn continues. If you miss, it is the next player’s turn.

The player or team that sinks the most balls during a game wins!

Putt to the Pool (Almost!)

Take advantage of a swimming pool nearby to play this lighthearted game of lag-putting.

Players: 1 to 6

Supplies: A golf ball and a putter for each player. You’ll also need a swimming pool.

Scoring: The person who putts a golf ball closest to the pool – without going in! – wins.

Set Up: Pick a spot several feet away from the edge of the pool and have everyone place their golf balls there to start. Make sure everyone is spaced out a bit from each other, and that they are all an equal distance away from the swimming pool.

Playing the Game: When everyone is ready, have players count "1 – 2 – 3" in unison and then gently putt their golf balls toward the swimming pool. The person whose ball stops closest to the pool – without going in! – wins that round and gets one point. Anyone whose golf ball lands in the pool is penalized by having to start one step behind the other players in the next round. If ALL players’ golf balls go into the pool, then all players can move one step closer to the pool for the next round.

After players retrieve their golf balls, have everyone either return to the original starting place or pick a new starting spot in the pool area, and then play a new round. The person with the most points at the end of 10 rounds wins. (Bonus! The person with the least amount of points gets to throw the winner in the pool – if he or she can!)

Golf Ball Portrait Gallery

Try this little art project to express your true golf personalities.

Participants: As many as you want!

Supplies: At least one golf ball for each person, a mirror or two, and markers.

Set Up: Give each person a golf ball and access to markers and mirror(s).

The Art Project: When everyone is ready, instruct your family’s budding Picassos to use the markers to draw their own self-portraits on each of their golf balls. Encourage laughter and creativity with facial expressions and hair (or lack of hair!) that’s drawn on the golf balls. Tell everyone to be as detailed as he or she would like, and to feel free to consult a mirror whenever necessary.

Afterward, take turns showing off your works of art for everyone in your group. Then display them proudly for the whole time you are on vacation. When it’s time to go home, take these golf portraits home as mementos of your fun time away.

Bonus: If family egos can take it, try drawing portraits of each other on new golf balls for extra fun.

Bounce Golf

A backyard combination of basketball and golf can lead to hours of family fun.

Players: 1 to 6

Supplies: One to three old golf balls for each player, and a small but sturdy trash can.

Scoring: The first person to land 10 golf balls into the trash can wins!

Set Up: Head out to the backyard and place the trash can at the edge of the patio away from the house. Give each player at least one golf ball. Then have players stand with their backs to the house, facing the trash can.

Playing the Game: When everyone is in place, explain that the object of the game is to try to gently bounce a golf ball off the patio and into the trash can. Remind players to bounce gently and AWAY from the house (so as to avoid causing their golf balls to break a window other object). Then have players take turns trying to gently bounce their golf balls into the can.

Give each player one point for each of his or her golf balls that land in the trash can. Then retrieve the golf balls and try again. The first person to reach 10 points wins!

--MN