PutterBall is golf crossed with beer pong: a fold-out 2x12ft putting green with six holes in a pyramid each end, two mini putters and two balls. It's a party and back garden game, not a serious practice tool.
Garden Golf Games
Golf you can play six pints deep.
Summer is here and the golf doesn't have to stop when you get home. This is the back-garden arsenal: golf beer pong for the barbecue, chip-and-score cornhole that secretly sharpens your wedges, exploding balls to wind up a mate, glow balls for when the session runs past sunset, and the foam balls and chipping net that let you swing properly without losing a window.
We split this edit into two camps and you can buy from either. The pure-fun side — PutterBall, exploding balls, glow balls — exists to make a barbecue or stag weekend better and nothing more. The sneaky-useful side — the GoSports BattleChip target, foam balls and a pop-up chipping net — is a real short-game session disguised as a game, with foam balls that travel short and soft enough to swing full out in a normal garden.
Every bit of it works at a barbecue, a stag weekend or a random Tuesday evening, and most of it is cheap enough to grab on impulse. The handicap might not thank you for the beer-pong nights; the group chat will. If you want one buy that does both jobs, the chip-and-score target is the pick.
A cornhole-style garden game where you chip foam balls at a fold-out target board with three scoring holes, using your own wedge from an included mat.
Cheap novelty balls that puff into a cloud of white powder when someone smacks them, aimed at anyone wanting a laugh on the first tee or a stocking-filler for a golf mate.
Golf balls that light up so you can play after dark, either LED balls that flash on impact and run off an internal battery, or glow balls you charge up with a UV torch. Pure fun-round kit, not serious gamers.
A nine-pack of soft foam practice balls with Callaway's hex dimple pattern, designed for full swings in gardens and tight spaces.
A collapsible, spring-framed net that pops open into a freestanding target, usually with a couple of pocket holes to aim at. It's the cheap, grab-and-go way to practice chips and pitches in the garden without peppering the fence.
An insulated zip sleeve from Pins & Aces that holds up to 7 cans and slides down a club slot in your golf bag, so you can smuggle a few cold ones onto the course without lugging a cooler box. Aimed at anyone who likes a beer (or seven) on the back nine.
A slim, soft insulated sleeve (roughly 16 by 6 by 2.5 inches) that slots into your golf bag and holds six cans, aimed at blokes who want a couple of cold ones on the back nine without lugging a proper cooler.
A novelty bathroom golf set, the classic gag gift: a thin putting mat that wraps round the base of the loo, a tiny extendable putter, a couple of balls, a cup and flag, and usually a "Do Not Disturb" door hanger. Aimed squarely at white elephant, Secret Santa and stocking-filler territory for the golf mate in your life.
Frequently asked
- What golf games can you play in the garden?
- Golf beer pong (PutterBall) and chip-and-score cornhole are the big hitters for a barbecue, and foam balls with a chipping net let you swing properly without losing a window. Glow balls keep it going after dark.
- Can I practise golf in the garden without breaking anything?
- Yes — foam practice balls and a pop-up chipping net let you make real swings and short shots safely in a small space. Cornhole-style chipping games even sharpen your wedge distance control while feeling like a game.
- What's good for golf games after dark?
- LED glow balls let the session run past sunset, and they're a laugh at a barbecue or stag do. Pair them with a chipping net or beer pong and the fun doesn't stop when the light goes.
- Are foam practice balls safe for a small garden?
- Yes — foam balls travel a fraction of the distance of a real ball and won't crack a window or fence panel, so you can make full swings in a space that would be reckless with proper balls. They're the safe way to get real reps at home.
- Which garden golf game makes the best gift?
- PutterBall (golf beer pong) is the crowd-pleaser for a social golfer, while the chip-and-score target suits someone who'd secretly like to sharpen their wedges. Both pack down small, so they travel to a barbecue or stag weekend without fuss.
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