Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on May 21, 2024.
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What happens when you take mini golf and merge it with the popular backyard game cornhole? Well, you get Cornhole Golf, and you can play this new game at Mars-Bethel Golf Course in Mars, PA.
And, yes, there is a space theme involved for good measure, too. It wouldn't be Mars without that!
What is Cornhole Golf and How Do You Play?
The concept of cornhole golf is one that the crew at Mars-Bethel Golf Course have been developing for quite some time, and the premise is a perfect combination of the two classic games.
The layout of the venue is setup in standard mini golf format. But instead of a hole being found at the end of a green, you find a cornhole board. Some of these are conventional cornhole boards of regulation size, whereas others are modified to fit the theme in fun ways.
Within the green, there are three dedicated spots where your group can throw a bean bag- each progressively closer to the board than the last. Some have obstacles in the way, others are at a difficult angle, and, much like mini golf, get easier to sink a hole in the closer you get. But, since this is cornhole, the goal is to sink the bean bag in the hole on the board.
Do this from the furthest throwing area (called Drive), you get one point. Do it from the second (called Chip), you get two. Hit it on the third (called Putt), three points. Miss it, and, much like mini golf, you get the max score which in this case tops off at four.
There are other rule dynamics at play here, such as having to leave all bean bags on the board from each progressive throw until your team is done. You also have a chance to improve your score slightly when you land a bean bag on the board but it does not necessarily go in. For every three times you do this, you can deduct one point from your total at the end of the game.
A Good Dynamic for a Group
Apart from the balance being a good blend of mini golf's layout with the general style of cornhole, we would be remiss if we didn't point out that this one is built to enjoy with a group of up to six. Unless you're extremely competitive at cornhole, going with more people can make the experience all the better.
One of the reasons this is important to highlight is the game element where bags must remain on the board until everyone has thrown from a particular starting point. Naturally, a bean bag that is on the board becomes an obstacle for the next thrower, and it could be hit into the hole or off the board entirely. The more people you play with, the more this dynamic can impact the experience and can really make the game even more fun.
Conversely, if you're like us and are, well, terrible at cornhole, having more simply makes the experience all the more enjoyable as well. Still, our competitive sides won even if our scores were, ahem, high.
This one comes together for a really interesting combination of two classic games, and even those who are quite skilled at cornhole will find some fun challenges here- particularly around the fact that you only get a max of three throws at each of the 18 holes. This makes for a rather fun competition that can be amped up even more with friends, and, coupled with the space theme that fits their base of Mars and you have a really novel experience!
Who knows, perhaps cornhole golf will expand and become as ubiquitous as mini golf. But for now, you'll need to make the trip to Mars just north of Pittsburgh to try out this novel game- no shape ship needed!
Mars-Bethel Golf Course is located at 540 PA-228 in Mars, PA. We attended a preview event for this course as guests of Butler County Tourism. As always, all opinions are our own.
