Fun Golf Challenges to Try with Friends
By Connie Capanegra, Keiser University College of Golf Instructor – LPGA Member
Golf is a sport that brings family and friends together and is a way to spend time outdoors enjoying the beauty of nature. Part of the allure of the game is the element of competition. It is one of the few sports where different ages and skill levels can play and compete in exciting ways by using handicaps or unique scoring formats.
Nothing beats a day on the course with a friend, followed by dinner, drinks, and stories, but it is difficult to set aside the time needed for regular practice and even harder to get in a full round of 18 holes. I want to share some ideas you can use just to compete during practice, the ideas and games below will enhance the camaraderie and fun the game was made for. The ideas offer unique challenges that can be skill-based or luck-based but promise to add excitement to your practice or play.
Each challenge or game may be modified in a way so the losing player always has a chance. For example, the winning point value increases each time. Challenge 1 is worth 1 point, challenge 2 is worth 2 points, and so on. The player who is down gets double points for winning. If going second is an advantage, toss a coin to see who goes first. Add an element of luck by tossing a die to see how many points you could win… or lose! Roll a 6 and you can win 6 points but if you lose, you lose 6 points.
- Longest Tee Drive: Players usually know who can hit the ball farther, but it’s not always the case with a golf tee. Limit the tees used to what’s already in your bag. What flies the farthest, a short wood tee or a long plastic tee? For an extra challenge, players use a sand wedge.
- Chipping Challenge: Create a mini-golf course around the chipping green using different targets such as plastic discs, golf tees, a range bucket, or existing holes. Each player creates challenge holes, all players play all the holes with points awarded based on accuracy. For an added challenge, players first must chip into a zone before being able to go directly to the target. For example, past a line or into a circle or around that tree, then to the target.
- Golf Bingo: Before teeing off, create bingo cards with various golfing achievements in a grid pattern. Examples include “scoring 2 birdies” “making a 10-foot+ putt,” or “3 pars in a row.” Players mark off their achievements throughout the game, and the first to get bingo wins. For extra excitement, randomize the order of the achievements on the back of the card and that becomes a second bingo card for your opponent. Each player has their main card but an alternate chance card on the back of yours!
- Closest to the Pin: Choose a par-3 hole and challenge each player to see who can land their ball closest to the pin from the tee. Turn it up a notch; let the loser flip a coin to see if they get a second chance shot which doubles the point value both for winning and losing.
- KT: Traditionally, KP is short for closest to the pin, commonly used during tournament play.
- Scavenger Scout: Set up a scavenger hunt around the course, but rather than hiding physical items, make a list of items found on the course, but ones that keep players observant. Examples include specific animals, plants, statues, or interesting but sometimes missed features of the course. Pictures are optional to be enjoyed later!
- One-Worst Scramble: Normally a scramble is played by choosing the best ball. Mix this up by changing the format so one time per hole the team must play the worst shot hit. This adds a collaborative strategical element because it could be the worst drive, chip shot, or putt that is chosen and unlike a reverse scramble maintains a quick pace of play.
- King-Kang-Kong: The first player to get their ball on the green gets a point (King!). Once all balls are on the green, the closest player gets a point (Kang!). The first person to hole out gets a point (Kong!). Modify by changing the point values or flipping a coin at the start of the hole to subtract points vs. adding them.
Coins, cards, dice, or other modifiers are a fun way to add an unpredictable element to any of these challenges. For example, at the start of each hole, each player flips a coin. One player’s coin determines if the points are doubled. Another player determines if the points are added or subtracted. Cards can determine who hits first or what club they must tee off with. This is fun to do on the last hole. Draw a Jack and hit a 3-wood. Draw a 9 and tee off with a 9-iron. Joker’s Wild and lets the opponent choose!
Remember that you can make golf as fun as you want, you just need to be creative and most importantly enjoy your time together. Some of the challenges above can level the playing field or add a twist that keeps the game interesting, but most of all fun. Golf is meant to be enjoyed and create memories that will last a lifetime.
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Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, we can elevate your game to new heights together. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.
