Golf Party Games 11 Essential DIY Ideas for Your 2026 Event

Struggling with golf party planning? You want to host a memorable event, but you’re worried about keeping everyone, especially non-golfers, entertained. Creating a fun atmosphere that goes beyond just watching the sport can feel like a major challenge.

To make a golf party fun, you need a mix of interactive and easy-to-learn golf party games suitable for all ages and skill levels. This involves setting up simple chipping contests, DIY putting challenges, and creative golf-themed activities that encourage friendly competition and laughter, ensuring even non-golfers can have a great time.

Drawing from established best practices and hands-on experience, this guide provides the ultimate solution. We’ll walk you through 11 essential DIY golf party games you can create for your 2026 event. You’ll discover how to turn simple household items into hours of unforgettable fun for everyone.

How Do You Make a Golf Party Fun and Unforgettable?

The secret to a truly unforgettable golf-themed event isn’t about having a perfectly manicured lawn or expensive equipment; it’s about creating an atmosphere of inclusive fun. The primary goal is Entertainment, and the best way to achieve this is through a well-curated selection of Games. The challenge most hosts face is bridging the gap between avid golfers and guests who’ve never held a club. By incorporating a variety of fun golf party games, from simple Backyard Games like a Chipping Contest to skill-based Putting Games, you ensure everyone feels welcome and engaged. The key is to provide activities that are easy to understand and play, fostering friendly competition and laughter over serious technical skill. This approach transforms your gathering from a passive viewing party into an interactive and memorable experience for all.

Golf Party Games 11 Essential DIY Ideas for Your 2026 Event

Here is your complete blueprint for turning your next gathering into a legendary event. We’re moving beyond just listing ideas; this is a comprehensive guide on how to set up golf party games using items you likely already have. Each of the following 11 ideas is a mini-guide designed to be easy, affordable, and incredibly fun. Whether you’re planning for adults, kids, or a mixed crowd, these creative golf party games will provide the perfect entertainment. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and build some fun.

1. Create a DIY Putting Green Challenge

Pin this easy DIY game to your ‘Backyard Party Ideas’ board!

Materials Needed

• A set of plastic or toy golf putters (one for each player or team)
• Several light-weight plastic or foam practice golf balls
• Red plastic party cups or a similar container to act as the “hole”
• Masking tape or small flags to mark the starting points

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Select Your Course: Choose a relatively flat area in your backyard or a long hallway indoors. For outdoor play, you can even use a sharp tool to cut a hole in the grass just big enough for the cup.
2. Set the Hole: Place your plastic cup on its side for an indoor game, or sink it into the ground for an outdoor one. This is your target.
3. Mark Starting Points: Use masking tape (indoors) or small flags (outdoors) to create 3-5 different “tee off” spots at varying distances and angles from the hole.
4. Establish Rules: Decide on the number of strokes allowed per hole or play until everyone sinks the putt. Keep score on a simple notepad.

Pro-Tip: For a more challenging golf game, create an obstacle course using books, pillows, or small garden gnomes that players have to putt around. This is a great way to adapt the game for more experienced players or adults.

2. Set Up a Backyard Chipping Contest

Save this fun backyard golf game idea for your next event!

Materials Needed

• A golf chipping wedge or pitching wedge.
• A bucket of wiffle balls or soft foam golf balls (essential for safety).
• A large bucket, a laundry basket, a kiddie pool, or a collapsible golf chipping net to serve as the target.
• Markers or rope to define the chipping area.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Position the Target: Place your bucket, basket, or chipping net at one end of your yard. A distance of 10-20 feet is great for beginners.
2. Define the Chipping Zone: Use rope or spray chalk to mark a “chipping box” from where players must hit their shots.
3. Create Scoring Rings (Optional): For a more advanced game, place hula hoops or create chalk circles around your main target. Shots landing inside the hoops but outside the main target earn fewer points.
4. Play in Rounds: Give each player 5 balls per turn. Award points based on where the ball lands (e.g., 5 points in the bucket, 1 point in the closest hula hoop). The player with the highest score after 3 rounds wins.

Pro-Tip: In my experience as an experienced golf event organizer, using different colored foam balls for each player or team makes it much easier to track scores and avoids confusion.

3. Organize a Hilarious Golf Pong Match

Your next bachelor party golf game is sorted! Pin this now.

Materials Needed

• A portable putting green mat or a smooth, flat surface.
• 10-20 large plastic party cups.
• A putter and several golf balls.
• A low table or board to place the cups on if not using a dedicated game mat.
• Beverages of choice (for the adult version).

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Arrange the Cups: Set up 10 cups in a classic triangular formation at one end of the putting mat, just like in beer pong.
2. Define the Putting Line: Mark a clear line 6-10 feet away from the cups from which players will putt.
3. Play in Teams: Split into two teams. Teams take turns trying to putt the golf ball into one of the opposing team’s cups.
4. Follow the Rules: When a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team removes that cup from the mat (and takes a drink, if playing the adult version). The first team to eliminate all of the opponent’s cups wins.

Pro-Tip: For a more challenging version, use smaller cups or increase the putting distance. You can also create “penalty” cups with funny challenges written on the bottom for players who sink a ball in them. This increases the social dynamics of group play.

4. Host a Marshmallow Driving Contest

The safest and most delicious golf party game for kids! Pin this idea.

Materials Needed

• A golf driver or wood (plastic toy versions are perfect for kids).
• A bag of large or jumbo marshmallows.
• Golf tees.
• A small tape measure to determine the winner.
• Small flags or markers to mark where each marshmallow lands.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Establish the Driving Range: Find an open area in your yard. This game is surprisingly contained, as marshmallows don’t fly nearly as far as golf balls.
2. Tee Up: Have each player place a large marshmallow on a golf tee.
3. Let ‘Er Rip: Players take turns taking a full swing at the marshmallow. The goal is the longest drive.
4. Measure and Mark: After each swing, use a small flag to mark where the marshmallow landed. Use the tape measure to find the furthest drive of the round. Award a small prize for the winner.

Pro-Tip: This is one of the best icebreaker games for parties. It gets everyone laughing and levels the playing field, as hitting a marshmallow is equally awkward for both seasoned golfers and complete beginners.

5. Design a Water Hazard Splash Challenge

Perfect for a summer golf birthday party! Pin this splashy idea.

Materials Needed

• An inflatable kiddie pool.
• A bucket of floating practice golf balls. These are essential so you can easily retrieve them.
• A chipping wedge.
• (Optional) A small floating golf green target for a more advanced setup.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Create Your Hazard: Fill the kiddie pool with water and place it in an open area of your yard.
2. Set the Goal: The objective is to chip the ball and have it land (and stay) in the water. For a harder version, place a floating green in the middle of the pool and aim for that.
3. Define the Chipping Area: Mark a spot about 5-10 feet away from the edge of the pool where players will stand.
4. Score the Splashes: Give each player 5 floating balls. Award 1 point for each ball that lands and stays in the pool. If using a floating green, award 5 points for landing on it.

Pro-Tip: This game is a huge hit at summer birthday parties. For extra fun, add some rubber ducks to the pool as “moving obstacles” that players have to avoid hitting. It’s a simple example of gamification in golf events.

6. Run a Team-Based Golf Ball Relay Race

A perfect team-based golf game for kids’ birthdays!

Materials Needed

• Two golf balls.
• Two golf tees.
• Four cones or markers to designate the start and turn-around points.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Set the Course: Place two cones as the starting line and two cones about 20-30 feet away as the turn-around point, creating two parallel lanes.
2. Divide into Teams: Split the group into two even teams and have them line up behind the starting cones.
3. Start the Relay: The first person in each line must balance a golf ball on a golf tee (held in their hand like a spoon).
4. Race to the Finish: On “go,” they race to the far cone, circle it, and race back. They then pass the tee and ball to the next person in line. The first team to have all its players complete the relay wins. If a player drops the ball, they must stop and re-balance it before continuing.

Pro-Tip: For younger kids, allow them to use a spoon instead of a golf tee to make it easier. For older kids or adults, make them hold the tee with their non-dominant hand for an extra challenge.

7. Launch a Closest-to-the-Pin Contest with Lawn Darts

A new twist on a classic! Pin this lawn game idea.

Materials Needed

• A modern, safe lawn darts game set (with weighted, round-tipped “darts,” not the sharp ones of the past).
• A tape measure.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Set the Target: Place the target ring (that comes with the game set) in the center of an open area in your yard. This is your “pin.”
2. Establish a Throwing Line: Mark a clear line about 15-25 feet away from the target.
3. Take Aim: Players take turns tossing their lawn darts underhand, trying to land them as close as possible to the target ring.
4. Measure for the Winner: After everyone has thrown, use the tape measure to find the dart that landed closest to the edge of the ring. That player wins the round. Play best of 5 rounds.

Pro-Tip: This is one of the best golf themed party activities for non-golfers. It’s instantly understandable and allows everyone to compete on a level playing field, which is critical for a successful mixed-group party.

8. Build a Mini Golf Hole with Household Items

The perfect rainy day golf party solution! Pin for later.

Materials Needed

• A putter and soft indoor golf balls.
• A collection of household items: cardboard boxes, books, pillows, empty soda cans, plastic cups, pool noodles, etc.
• A plastic cup to be the hole.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Gather Your Supplies: Raid the recycling bin and toy chest! The more creative the items, the better.
2. Design Your Hole: Challenge your guests to work in teams to design and build their own mini-golf hole in a designated area (like a hallway or a room). Use books for ramps, boxes for tunnels, and pillows for bumpers.
3. Place the Hole: At the end of the obstacle course, place the plastic cup on its side.
4. Play a Tournament: Once all the holes are built, have everyone play a round on each hole. Keep score. The player with the lowest total score after playing all the holes wins the Mini Golf Championship!

Pro-Tip: As part of the event design principles, turn this into a contest before the game even starts. Award a prize for the “Most Creative Hole Design.” It gets guests collaborating and adds another layer of fun.

9. Create a Golf-Themed Scavenger Hunt

A unique golf party game that gets everyone exploring!

Materials Needed

• A dozen colored plastic golf balls.
• Paper and a printer for the clues.
• Small prize for the winning team (e.g., a sleeve of real golf balls or a small trophy).

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Write Your Clues: Create a series of 5-10 rhyming clues that lead to different locations around your house or yard. The answer to each clue is the location of the next clue. Example Clue: “I have a face but cannot see, you look at me to know when it’s time for tea. (Answer: A clock)”
2. Hide the Clues & Balls: Before the party, hide the clues. At the final location, instead of another clue, hide a stash of the colored golf balls.
3. Start the Hunt: Divide guests into teams and give each team the first clue.
4. Declare a Winner: The first team to solve all the clues and find the hidden cache of golf balls wins the prize.

Pro-Tip: For a printable golf game, design your clues on a simple template with a golf-themed border. You can even roll them up like scrolls and tie them with green ribbon to make them feel more special.

10. Play Golf Croquet

Two classic games in one! Pin this creative golf party game.

Materials Needed

• A standard croquet set (wickets, stakes, and balls).
• A golf putter for each player.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Set Up the Course: Set up the croquet wickets in your yard in the traditional double-diamond pattern.
2. Assign Balls: Each player chooses a colored croquet ball.
3. Play by Golf Rules: Instead of using the croquet mallets, players use their putters to hit their ball.
4. Navigate the Course: The goal is to navigate your ball through the entire wicket course in the correct order and sequence, just like in real croquet. The player to complete the course with the fewest strokes wins.

Pro-Tip: This is a fantastic casual golf party game because it slows down the pace and encourages conversation. It’s less about power and more about strategy and finesse, making it enjoyable for all guests.

11. Host a “Guess the Green Jacket” Contest

The easiest golf party game ever! Perfect for a Masters party.

Materials Needed

• A large, clear glass jar.
• A big bag of green jelly beans, M&Ms, or other small green candies.
• Small slips of paper or a notepad.
• A pen.
• A small prize for the winner.

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Count the Candy: Before the party, secretly count the exact number of green candies as you fill the jar. Write this number down and hide it.
2. Set up the Station: Place the filled jar in a central location with the slips of paper and a pen. Create a small sign that reads, “Guess the Green Jacket! How many candies are in the jar?”
3. Collect Guesses: As guests arrive, have them write their name and their guess on a slip of paper and place it in a bowl.
4. Announce the Winner: Towards the end of the party, read through the guesses. The person whose guess is closest to the actual number without going over wins the jar of candy or another small prize.

Pro-Tip: This is a must-have for a Masters viewing party. It’s a classic for a reason: it’s zero effort for the host during the party and gives everyone a chance to win, regardless of their golf knowledge.

Key Takeaways

Planning a fantastic golf-themed party comes down to a few core principles. By keeping these points in mind, you can ensure your event is a hole-in-one for every single guest.

• Focus on DIY: You don’t need expensive equipment. The best golf party games can be made with household items like cups, buckets, cardboard boxes, and marshmallows.
• Mix Active & Passive Games: Offer a variety of activities. Include active games like a Backyard Chipping Contest and passive ones like “Guess the Green Jacket” so guests can choose their level of participation.
• Prioritize Inclusivity: The key to a fun golf party is ensuring non-golfers can play. Games like the Marshmallow Driving Contest or Golf Ball Relay require no prior skill.
• Safety First: When using real golf clubs, always opt for soft foam or wiffle balls, especially if kids are present. This is a best practice for any backyard event.
• Adapt for Your Space: Many games can be adapted for indoors or outdoors. A putting challenge works just as well in a hallway as it does on a lawn, making it a great rainy day golf party solution.
• Get Creative with Scoring: Simple point systems and small, silly prizes can turn a casual activity into a memorable and competitive golf party game.

FAQs About golf party games

### What are the best golf party games for adults?

The best golf party games for adults often involve a social or competitive twist, like Golf Pong or a Closest-to-the-Pin contest. These games are engaging, encourage friendly banter, and can be easily adapted into drinking games if desired. A backyard chipping contest with a detailed scoring system also adds a great competitive element for a grown-up crowd.

### How do you make DIY golf party games?

You can make DIY golf party games by creatively using household items as your course and equipment. For example, use red solo cups for putting holes, cardboard boxes for tunnels, books for ramps, and laundry baskets for chipping targets. The key is to see everyday objects as potential parts of a fun, homemade mini-golf course.

### What are some fun golf themed activities for non-golfers?

The most fun activities for non-golfers are those that require no actual golf skill, such as a Marshmallow Driving Contest or a Golf Ball Relay Race. A golf-themed scavenger hunt is also fantastic, as it focuses on puzzle-solving rather than athletic ability. These games ensure everyone feels included and can participate on a level playing field.

### How do you set up a backyard golf party?

To set up a backyard golf party, first designate separate zones for different games to ensure safety and flow. Use soft foam or plastic balls instead of real ones. Offer a mix of skill-based games like a chipping contest and silly games like a marshmallow drive. Finally, have a central spot for snacks, drinks, and scoring.

### What are good golf party games for kids?

Good golf party games for kids are safe, simple, and active. The Marshmallow Driving Contest is a hilarious and completely safe option. A Golf Ball Relay Race is great for team energy, and building a DIY Mini Golf hole out of household items is a perfect creative activity that doubles as a game.

### Can you play golf party games indoors?

Yes, many golf party games are perfect for indoors, especially putting-based ones. You can create a DIY Putting Green Challenge in a hallway or set up an entire DIY Mini Golf course throughout your living room using pillows and boxes as obstacles. A guessing game is another excellent indoor option.

### What kind of prizes are good for golf party games?

Prizes for golf party games can range from silly to serious. For kids, small trophies, medals, or bags of candy work well. For adults, a sleeve of premium golf balls, a funny golf-themed hat, a gift card to a local driving range, or simply the bragging rights are all great options.

### How do you play golf pong?

To play golf pong, you set up 10 cups in a triangle at one end of a putting mat and take turns with an opponent trying to putt a golf ball into the cups. It follows the same rules as beer pong: when a ball lands in a cup, that cup is removed. The first player to clear all the opponent’s cups wins.

### What are some printable golf party games?

Printable golf party games are typically trivia, bingo, or scavenger hunt clues that you can print at home. A golf-themed trivia sheet about famous players or tournaments is a great option. You can also create custom bingo cards with golf terms or design and print clues for a scavenger hunt around your party space.

### How do you make a golf party fun for a mixed-age group?

To make a party fun for a mixed-age group, you must offer a variety of games with different skill requirements. Have a challenging chipping game for the adults, a simple relay race for the kids, and an inclusive game like the Marshmallow Driving Contest that everyone can play together. This ensures no one feels left out.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, hosting an un-fore-gettable golf party has less to do with a big budget and more to do with big creativity. The 11 DIY golf party games in this guide are more than just activities; they are frameworks for fun that you can adapt to your space, your guests, and your style. By embracing a hands-on approach and prioritizing inclusivity, you guarantee that every guest, from the seasoned golfer to the complete novice, leaves with a smile.

Don’t be afraid to mix, match, and modify these ideas. The true spirit of a great party lies in the shared laughter and friendly competition.

Which of these games are you most excited to try at your next event?

Last update on 2026-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API