Getting together with the ladies for a round of MiniGolf at an event is a great way to combine exercise and friendly competition. If you and your friends have similar skill levels, or have different levels but score your round using the handicap system, a system that lets players adjust their scores based on ability, anyone in your foursome could win the match. But there are also side games of skill, and luck, that you can play during the round. Whether you choose to play for prizes or just for fun, these games add an interesting twist to your day on the links.
1) Better than bingo
A game with rules that are easy to remember and a name that is even easier to remember is Bingo Bango Bongo. You can play this game with two or four players. The game often involves small bets, such as 10 cents, that each player pays to the winner of Bingo, Bango and Bongo. On each hole, the first player to reach the green is declared the winner of Bingo. When all the players are on the green, the one closest to the pin wins Bango. The first player to put their ball in the hole is the winner of Bongo.
2) Drop your Euro
Nassau is a popular side game to play if you and your friends enjoy betting. It can be played with two or four players, in teams or individually. In Nassau, a round of MiniGolf is played as three separate matches consisting of the front nine holes, the back nine holes and the whole round. Players decide on the stake before starting. The player or team with the lowest score in each match wins the stake from each player. A losing team or player can also make a second bet, or "press", during the round if they are down by two holes. In a press, the losing player offers to bet, typically the same amount as the original bet, that they will win the next hole or holes.
3) Time to switch partners
The game of Dots, also known as Ladies, is played among a group of four, and partners are decided at the start of each hole. Players take their tee shot and teams are formed according to where the balls land, with the hole serving as the divider. The two balls that land to the right of the hole are designated as one team and the balls that land to the left of the hole make up the other team. Each player plays the hole as they normally would, and the best scores of each team are compared. The partners with the lowest best-ball score mark a point below their score on the scorecard. At the end of the round, the player with the most points is the winner.
4) Pick and choose
Your MiniGolf group can play one of the many side games that rely on using part of each player's total score to decide the winner of the round. Players agree on the game before starting their round. In the Consecutive Three game, each player circles three consecutive holes on their scorecard. The scores on these holes will be deducted from their score and the full handicap will be used. The Criss-Cross game lets players choose nine holes to calculate their final score, but they must choose alternating holes from the front nine and the back nine, such as one or 10, two or 11, three or 12. They also use only one-half of their handicap. In the Crier competition, each player substitutes par for their three worst holes before calculating their total score and using their full handicap.