You got your first floating golf green, and now you want some pool golf game ideas to try and play with friends. This article will give you 7 fun ideas to play golf in your backyard swimming pool. Do note that to play most of the games listed below, you would need a floating green. But for your luck, I have already taught you to make a DIY floating golf green.
Swimming Pool Golf Game Ideas
There are multiple golf games you can try in the swimming pool. We have listed 7 of them for you to try:
- Skins
- Patriot Game
- Stroke Play
- Pong
- Match Play
- Lights Out
- Hole-in-one
Skins
Skins is probably the best game for beginners to play by the pool. Golfers in the hall of fame made this game well-known by putting for hundreds of thousands of dollars in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In contrast to stroke play, every hole has a tie, winner, or loser, and the best shot wins. Each golfer receives three shots per hole, similar to our stroke play game, and the best shot determines the player’s score.
Scoring:
Each hole is its own game and the player with the most hole victories wins. Ties can be carried over or not. At the end of 18 holes, the winner has won the most holes.
Shot outcomes from worst to best:
- Neither player hits the floating golf green – push (known as a tie)
- Hit the green
- The ball stays on the fringe
- The ball stays on the putting surface inside the fringe
- Holed shot
Note: Before the ball reaches the green on the respective shot, its location is known. Example: The player’s first shot is resting on the fringe, and the first ball rolls into the water as the player’s second shot is in the air. Before the second shot was fired, the first ball did not move. The opening shot is a par. The player’s score can be helped or hurt by the green moves and the second and third shots. When the next ball is struck, the previous ball’s location and score are recorded without affecting the success of the first shot.
Patriot Game
Like sinks on the putting green, this game is similar. Each player is given 12 shots, and the winner is the one who makes the most hits on the flag or flagstick. Unless an impartial judge is available to oversee the competition, the opponent decides whether the shot hit the flag or flagstick. This is a simple and easy-to-understand game.
Stroke Play
In a round of stroke play, the player must hit three consecutive shots to complete each hole. The player’s score for that hole is determined by their best shot. You can play 9 or 18 hole matches in a few minutes.
Scoring:
- Fail to hit the green on all 3 shots – Double Bogey: +2
- Hit any part of the green and the ball deflects into the water – Bogey: +1
- A ball rests on the fringe – Par – Even for that hole
- A ball rests on the putting surface inside the fringe – Birdie: -1
- Holed shot – Eagle: -2
Note: Before the ball reaches the green on the respective shot, its location is known. Example: The player’s first shot is resting on the fringe, and the first ball rolls into the water as the player’s second shot is in the air. Before the second shot was fired, the first ball did not move. The opening shot is a par. The player’s score can be helped or hurt by the green moves and the second and third shots. When the next ball is struck, the previous ball’s location and score are recorded without affecting the success of the first shot.
Pong
This pool golf game mode is inspired by the ping-pong we play at parties where people try to score into the cup. Simply, place as many cups as you like on the floating golf green.
Scoring:
- Players decide on the number of shots per turn
- Give out 1 point for hitting the green
- Give out 2 points for sinking a cup
- Give out 4 points for dunk shots (no bounce)
Continue until all cups are made. The player who ends the round with the fewest points wins.
Match Play
The number of shots per turn is decided by the players. One hole equals one round of turns.
Scoring:
- 1 point for hitting the green, 2 points for every ball that stays on the green
- Each hole in the back row is worth 5 points
- Both holes in the middle are worth 4 points
- The front hole is worth 3 points
After 9 or 18 holes, the player with the most points wins.
Lights Out
The number of shots per turn is decided by the players just like Match Play.
Scoring:
- 2 points for each shot made on the green
- Each time a hole is made, it gets plugged
- Points double every time a hole is plugged (1-2-4-8-16-32pts)
The scoring system creates variety and the one to score into the cup multiple times gonna snatch all the points.
Hole-in-one
Nothing fancy game, just a classic Hole-in-one. Everyone has already done it maybe but it still is fun to score the ball into the cup in just 1 try. This time try it in your swimming pool with floating greens. The one who scored first will be the winner.
Bonus Idea
Keep multiple plastic cups on the opposite side of the swimming pool in any shape you like from where you are standing.
Scoring:
- For each cup, you hit and fall you get 1 point.
- Scoring in the cup gets you 4 points.
You can also be creative and make your own style of the pool golf game.
Tips for Making Your Own Swimming Pool Golf Course
A golf course is a very expensive thing to build, but with some imagination and creativity, you can make your own golf course out of your swimming pool.
The first step is to find a pool that has an adequate depth. The water needs to be at least 2 feet deep for the ball to sink.
Next, you need to find a way to make the hole at one end of the pool and then mark it off with some kind of marker. You can use things like cups or cans as markers or even rocks at the bottom of the pool if you don’t have anything else on hand.
After that, all you need are some old golf balls and clubs from around your house, and voila! You’ve got yourself a swimming pool and golf course!