The Best DIY Ladder Golf Game
Build your own DIY ladder golf game with this easy tutorial! It’s the perfect outdoor game for camping, BBQs, parties, and family nights.
Making a DIY ladder golf game is simple with these step-by-step instructions. Today I am sharing this uber-easy tutorial for creating your own perfect ladder ball set.
One of our all-time favorite summer games is ladder golf, though we call it ladder ball. So when our cheap, plastic store-bought set made of PVC pipe fell apart, we decided to make one of our own.
Do you have a favorite outdoor game? Be sure to check out some of our other outdoor projects, like this painted slide or DIY tree fort.
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How to Make This DIY Ladder Golf Game
We made these to be easily taken apart, as ladder ball is a popular game to play whenever we go camping. So we had to make sure that these were easy to transport and store in the trailer.
It comes apart into eight pieces with six dowels that can be laid flat and packed up.
We used the balls from our old ladder ball game set that had fallen apart so did not need to make new ones.
You could use real golf balls or tennis balls with holes drilled through the center and rope to tie two of the balls together. You need at least 6 balls (tied into 3 sets) for each player. Use different colors for each player.
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Tools Needed
Materials
- 8 bolts, 4″x1/16″
- 8 wing nuts
- 4 2x4s, cut to 48″ – These are the upright supports.
- 8 washers
- 4 2x4s, cut to 36″ – These are the base supports.
- 6 1″ dowels, cut to 36″ – These make the ladder rungs.
- 4 pieces of 1″ plywood, approximately 16″x12″
- 12 2″ screws
Instructions
1. Measure and mark all of the 2x4s and cut them to length.
2. Measure and cut the dowels to length.
3. Drill and countersink holes on each of the upright supports.
3 – 1″ holes, measured 1 1/2″ from the top, 13 1/2″ from the top, and 25 1/2″ from the top, and drilled 1″ into the 2×4.
2 – 1/16″ holes, measured 2″ from the bottom and 12″ from the bottom, countersunk, and drilled all the way through the 2×4.
4. Cut out triangular supports. Drill three holes at the base of each triangular support.
5. Screw the triangular supports to the edge of the base supports at the center of each.
6. Fasten the upright supports to the base supports using the bolts, washers, and wing nuts. Finally, insert the dowels into each wooden ladder, creating two ladders with which to play ladder golf.
They turned out to be super sturdy and durable! We have since painted the upright supports with black chalkboard paint to provide a place to easily keep score with a piece of chalk.
You could also mark points on the side of the upright and use an elastic band or piece of nylon rope to keep track.
I sealed the wooden rungs of the ladder with a clear Varathane to provide extra durability. Total bonus that they come apart for easy storage!
How to Play Ladder Golf
- The object of the game is to be the first player to reach 21 points.
- The top rung is 3 points, the middle rung is 2 points, and the bottom rung is 1 point.
- Players toss the golf ball bolas at the steps of the game ladder and hope that they stick.
- Decide who goes first with a coin toss and have a great game!
- Set a throw line and alternate family members on the next round.
- We often make up our own ladder golf rules, make the rungs a different point total, and have it so players have to reach the exact point total to win.
- In case of a tie, the next player has to get a bola on the top step.
This ladder toss is one of our favorite backyard games. It is the perfect lawn game for parties and family reunions!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is ladder golf?
Ladder golf, also called ladder ball or ladder toss, is a backyard game where players toss bolas (two balls connected by rope) onto a three-rung ladder for points.
How do you score points in ladder golf?
The top rung is worth 3 points, the middle rung is worth 2 points, and the bottom rung is worth 1 point. Only bolas still hanging at the end of the round count toward the score.
How far apart should ladder golf ladders be?
Official ladder golf rules recommend placing the ladders about 15 feet apart, although many families adjust the distance for younger kids or casual backyard games.
Do you have to get exactly 21 points to win ladder golf?
Yes! In most versions of the game, players must score exactly 21 points to win. If a player goes over 21, the points from that round usually do not count.
Can you knock off another player’s bolas in ladder golf?
Absolutely! Knocking an opponent’s bolas off the ladder is part of the fun and adds a strategic twist to the game. Any bolas knocked off before scoring do not count.
If you love this DIY ladder golf game, please help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too.
Lovely tutorial. Thanks for sharing
Where do you buy the balls?
Mine came with an older set. You can DIY your own using golf balls.
It is a very interesting game to play and have more fun by this.
Can you use 3/4″ ply wood instead of 1″? 3/4 is much more common and can easily be found in scraps rather than having to purchase an entire 4’x8′ sheet of expensive plywood.
Yes, 100%
Hi, I’m wondering if you had a pattern for the triangle supports or if you just drew your own? I’m excited to make this for my husband’s birthday!
We drew our own :) Have fun!
Thanks!