Figure #1 Figure #2 Figure #3

This game is similar to other games such as Bolo Toss, Cowboy Golf, Hillbilly Golf, Ladder Golf, Montana Golf, Rattler Rail Toss, Snake Toss, Texas Golf and The Snake Game. These games all have various rules as well as varying dimensions for the equipment. To make Dandy Golf, we just decided what would be the simplest game for a dad and a daughter to build at home, and what were the simplest rules to follow. The specs for our game equipment, as well as the game rules, are different from all games mentioned above.

Rules:

Ladders are placed so they are 20' apart. Since each base goes 2' out from its ladder, this makes the bases 16' apart. Each player gets 3 bolos (see Figure #3), all with the same color golf balls. Players toss their bolos at the ladder, trying to land them on one of the three rungs. The top rung is worth 3 points. The middle rung is worth 2 points. The bottom rung is worth 1 point.

If you land each of the three bolos on different rungs (as shown in figure #1), you get one bonus point; so you get 7 points total. If you land all three bolos on the same rung (as shown in figure #2), you also get one bonus point. So the best round is to land all three bolos on the top rung; this gets you 3 points for each bolo, plus the bonus point, for a total of 10 points. Players are allowed to knock opponents' bolos off the ladder.

The Game, 2 Players:

Player 1 stands immediately in front of the base of one ladder, and throws each of her three bolos at the other ladder, and then leaves them there while Player 2 throws. Player 2 then stands in the same place, and throws each of her three bolos at the other ladder, just like Player 1 did. Points are counted after both players are done tossing. Note that it's legal for Player 2 to knock Player 1's bolos off the ladder.

After both players have tossed their bolos in round 1, both go pick up their bolos and toss them back the other way at the other ladder. Whoever has the most points after round 1 will toss first in round 2, and so on. If players are tied, then the order is the same as the previous round.

Play continues until one player reaches 21 points exactly. If a player lands a bolo on a rung, and the points cause her to go over 21, then she scores no points for that round. Keep in mind though that if Player 1 happens to go over 21 on her tosses, it's still possible that Player 2 may accidentally knock a bolo off a rung, which may benefit Player 1. If both teams tie at 21, then neither team gets points for that round.

The Game, 4 Players:

Four players can certainly play individually, but it's much more fun if you play as two teams. Simply start as you normally would with two players. One player from Team 1 goes first, then one player from Team 2, then the second player from Team 1, then the second player from Team 2. All players toss their bolos at the same ladder. After the fourth player is finished, everyone picks up their bolos and you total the points for that round. Each team works together to reach 21 points exactly, as described above.

This creates an interesting situation. Recall that as players toss their bolos, it's legal to knock other bolos off the ladder. Well, what if the first player in a round has scored too many points and goes over 21? Don't forget that the round isn't over yet. Your opponent goes next, but then your teammate is up. And we have played in games where a player knocked their teammate's bolo off the ladder to win the game.

This four player format with two teams makes the games go a bit quicker, and it allows other teams to participate easier. This works great at a family reunion!

So, where can you buy Dandy Golf?

You can't. It's not for sale. But, the plans are here so that you can buy your own supplies and build your own game. We strongly suggest that you get a couple of family members and build it together. Building the game is as enjoyable as playing the game itself; and children really enjoy playing a game that they built. Whatever you do, have fun with it!

Options:

Feel free to customize the game to your liking:

• Consider using tennis balls instead of golf balls, so that it's a bit safer for very young children.
• You can make the bolo ropes a bit longer (i.e. 20"). This would allow a bolo to possibly wrap around two rungs on the ladder instead of one (in which case you score points for both rungs).