Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Will golf for beer

It ain’t your grandpa’s game: Plaid shorts and argyle socks are optional in this alcohol-soaked “sport” of bar golf.

By Adrienne Bommarito

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

Last spring, Natalie Durda received an invitation to a friend’s birthday party that consisted of playing bar golf. Always up for a good time, Durda, Eden Prairie Minnesota senior, decided to attend, though she had no idea how to play.

“I was like, ‘sure. Now what the hell is that?’” Durda says.

Bar golf is a drinking game where individuals get together and play nine holes. However, unlike traditional golf, bar golf is not played on a golf course, but at nine bars.

Dan Hutchinson, co-owner of the website www.barnonedrinks.com, says the game should be played in a central area with lots of drinking establishments. Massachusetts Street provides a good bar golf course, so if you are in the mood for something different this weekend, read on to organize your own game of golf.

Tye Zehner, Overland Park senior, organized bar golf for friends last year. He says lots of planning is required to get ready for a night (or day) of bar golf. Nine establishments within the same vicinity need to be chosen, teams need to be made and the scoring system needs to be decided.

First choose the nine bars that your group will visit. It will be helpful if all the bars are within walking distance. To save money, choose bars that have drink specials for that specific night. Traveling to nine bars and drinking at each one can get expensive.

Next, divide the attendees into teams. Bar golf can be played as every person for themself, but lots of people playing in teams can make for great competition.

Separate the teams so they are even in terms of drinking experience. Zehner advises not to put all the heavy drinkers on one team and the weak drinkers on another. Make the chance at winning fair for everyone.

Then decide how to score the game. Par, the number of strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole, should be set for each drinking establishment. Par can be set however your group decides. For example, you can decide that everyone will drink a beer at one place, a single drink at another, and a shot at a third place.

Making par means that each person drinks the set amount previously decided upon. If one person drinks two drinks at that same establishment, their score is then minus one, meaning they drank one more drink than everyone else. If another person doesn’t drink at all, their score becomes plus one. The object is to meet par or to have the fewest amount of points at the end of the game.

Each team carries a score card during the game. Zehner says to have a person on a different team initial the score card when a drink is finished so there is no cheating.

When Zehner played bar golf last year, par was set for one drink at each establishment. However, he said his friends set a zero tolerance policy on weak drinks. Participants had to drink beer or a single mixed drink of some kind.

“No foofoo drinks. You can’t do half beer, half lemonade. You can’t do a girly drink,” Zehner says.

Remember to give an allotted time frame to remain at each bar. For example, Zehner gave each player 20 minutes at each establishment before moving to the next hole.

Bar golf can be played during the day or at night. Hutchinson says to play at night to avoid complete embarrassment while walking to each hole.

“The evening covers up the stumbling, swerving and other traits associated with being drunk,” he says.

The attire of the game is part of what makes it so much fun. Each player can choose to dress in the goofiest golf clothes as possible. Imagine plaid shorts, popped polos, loafers and oversized pearl earrings.

Once you have finished the ninth hole a winner should be determined. Prizes for the winning team can be whatever you can conjure: a stuffed animal, a trophy or if you’re really up for more drinking, a free round of drinks.

Hutchinson says to skip the material prize and give the winning team exactly what they will be needing the next day.

“A bottle of aspirin, warm bed and a good night’s sleep would be a great prize,” he says.

Zehner enjoyed his evening of bar golf because it was a fun way to spend time at the bars. He says there’s a lot of competition and bragging rights involved.

“Everyone has a common thing that they’re doing at the bar and everyone looks ridiculous. You’re not just going to the bar and sitting down; it’s active,” he says.

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