If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening with your mates, pub golf is one of the best drinking games you can take part in.
It’s a hugely popular game across the globe, so how do you play pub golf?
How To Play Pub Golf?
Setting Up the Course
One of the most important parts of playing pub golf is the course setup. Fortunately, pub golf gives you total flexibility in how you want the course to be designed and played.
Choose Your Holes
Start by selecting a series of pubs or bars, typically nine or eighteen pubs, each representing a hole on the course.
Consider the distance between venues and the variety of drinks available before you choose which will be which holes.
Assign Par Values
Each drink at a pub is given a ‘par’ score, indicating the number of sips it should take to finish the drink.
For example, a pint of beer might be a par 4, while a shot could be a par 1. For the player to achieve par, they’ll need to finish the drink in the par number.
Create Scorecards
Before the game, prepare pub golf scorecards for each player, listing the pubs, the designated drink (or choice of drinks) at each, and the par value.
Each player will pair up with another player who will mark their pub golf scorecard to make sure that it’s correctly marked and no one is cheating.
Pub Golf Rules of Play
Pub golf has a few basic rules that help make it run smoothly, but you can also add a few of your own rules to make it more
Dress the Part
The great thing about pub golf is the outfits that players wear to play.
For a great pub golf event, encourage participants to dress in golf attire to add to the fun such as golf visors, golf shoes and inflatable golf clubs.
Prizes for the best-dressed golfer can be a great incentive and make sure that everyone is dressed for success.
Scoring
Players score based on the number of sips it takes to finish their drink.
Finishing a drink in fewer sips than the par scores under par (a birdie), while taking more sips scores over par (a bogey).
The aim of the game is obviously to drink your drinks in the fewest number of sips
Penalties
Just like actual golf, it’s a good idea to have a few penalties for any rule infractions carried out by the players.
Implement fun penalties, such as spilling a drink or skipping a hole.
Penalties add to the player’s score, so the lower the score, the better.
Safety First
A safe game is a fun game, so it’s important to emphasise the importance of responsible drinking.
Players should never feel pressured to finish a drink and should pace themselves according to their limits.
If you see another player struggling with their drinks, check in on them and make sure to look after them.
Winning Pub Golf
At the end of the round, tally the scores to determine who the winner is. The player with the lowest score wins and is crowned the pub golf champion.
Prizes can also be awarded for the best dressed, and other categories like ‘Most Spirited Player’.
Remember, the goal of Pub Golf is to have fun and enjoy a few hours with your friends, so don’t take it too seriously and enjoy drinking responsibly.
Final Thoughts
Pub Golf is a fantastic way to add structure and creativity to a traditional pub crawl.
By planning ahead, players can ensure a night filled with laughter and friendly competition.