A new backyard toss game known as Ladder Golf, Bolo Toss, or Hillbilly Golf is sweeping the country. Search EBay and you will find a huge list of people selling both pre-made sets and plans for making sets. Keep reading though, and you’ll be able to get those plans for free!
Being a resident of the Cincinnati area, I recently was turned onto Ladder Golf when my friends and I began to grow tired of playing the Cornhole toss game that Cincinnati put on the map. Now the Cincinnati area is beginning to set its site on this new game which challenges its players to throw golf balls on ropes at ladder bases in the hopes of getting them to stick to the rungs. The game is challenging, addictive, tons of fun, and a set is very easily and economically made.
To build your own Ladder Golf-like game, you will need the following items from a home improvement store.
PARTS
4 – ¾ inch x 10 foot PVC pipes (white plastic pipes found in the plumbing section)
12 – ¾ inch 90 degree elbow PVC slip on pipe fittings
12 – ¾ inch “T” shaped PVC slip on pipe fittings
8 feet of nylon rope (although it’s usually more economical to buy a 25 foot package)
You will also need colored golf balls. These are sometimes difficult to find and are by far the most expensive component to making a Ladder Golf like game set. You will need 12 colored golf balls, 6 each of two different colors. Walmart or a used sports equipment store are usually the best bets at finding cheap colored golf balls.
Using either a PVC cutter or hand saw, cut your PVC pipes into eighteen 20 inch pieces and eight 8 inch pieces. Using two elbow fittings and three 20 inch pipes, make two “U” shapes. Now, using a “T” fitting on each side, attach the “U”s to create a rectangle. Next, place a 20” pipe into the vertical holes left open in the “T” fittings. Now, place a “T” fitting on each vertical pipe with the single perpendicular opening facing inward. Insert an 8″ pipe in each side and repeat. Cap off the top of both vertical pipes with elbow fittings facing inward. Finally, take the last three 20″ pipes and form the ladder rungs by placing them between the “T” and elbow fittings left open on the verticals. Repeat all of these steps to create another matching ladder base. Refer to the picture to the left for visual assistance.
Now that you have the ladders built, you need to make the bolos. Bolo is the term given to the golf ball rope combos you throw at the ladders. Start by placing each of your twelve golf balls in a vice and drilling a hole through them one at a time. Next, wrap one end of your nylon rope with tape to create a “needle.” Thread all twelve balls onto your nylon rope. Threading them all on at once will require you to make only one tape needle. Now, using a candle, heat the end of your nylon rope until it blackens. Quickly press the heated rope onto a heat resistant surface to flatten. Slide your golf ball up to it. The flattened rope should prevent the ball from coming off the end. Measure your rope to 16 inches and repeat the heating/snuffing process on the other end. Continue the process until you have made 6 bolos.
Now you are ready to play. Place your ladders 30 feet apart and start tossing bolos. For official game rules, visit http://www.laddergolf.com or http://www.bolotoss.com.
