Fun Golf Tournament Side Games: How to Organize Activities Between Matches

What Are Fun Golf Tournament Side Games?

Fun golf tournament side games are additional contests or challenges that run alongside a main golf tournament, typically scheduled during breaks between rounds or matches. These games keep players engaged, add friendly competition, and create a more social atmosphere. Common examples include putting contests, closest to the pin, longest drive, and various on-course challenges like straightest drive or chipping accuracy. They work for any group size, from a small gathering of friends to a large club event.

Why Add Side Games to Your Tournament?

Side games offer multiple benefits: they reduce downtime between matches, give eliminated players a reason to stay involved, and add variety beyond the main stroke-play or match-play format. They also accommodate different skill levels—someone who struggles with full swings might excel at putting or a closest-to-the-pin contest. From an organizer’s perspective, side games are easy to set up with minimal equipment and can run simultaneously with the main event.

Choosing the Right Side Games for Your Group

Select games based on available time, space, and participant interest. Here are popular options:

How to Organize a Putting Contest

A putting contest is one of the easiest side games to set up. Use the practice green and set up a simple knockout bracket. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Determine participants: Ask who wants to join; no limit needed.
2. Create a bracket: If you have 8 players, pair them randomly. For odd numbers, give byes. Example: 5 players → one bye, two first-round matches, winners advance to semifinals.
3. Set a format: Each match is a single-hole putting duel from a fixed distance (e.g., 15 feet). The player closest to the hole or holing out in fewer putts wins. For a quicker version, use sudden death: first to hole a putt wins.
4. Schedule: Run matches in 5-minute slots. With 8 players, first round takes 20 minutes (4 matches), semifinals 10 minutes, final 5 minutes—total under 40 minutes.
5. Announce progression: Post the bracket on a whiteboard or share a digital bracket. Clearly state that winners advance immediately after their match, and the next opponent should be ready.

Example: If John beats Mike in match 1 and Sarah beats Tom in match 2, John and Sarah play next. Keep the bracket visible so everyone knows who’s up.

Running Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive Contests

These two are often paired because they can run on the same hole or adjacent areas during a break. Closest to the pin requires a par-3 hole, ideally one near the clubhouse. Longest drive needs a wide fairway with a clear landing area.

Closest to the Pin

Each player hits one shot to the green. Measure from the ball’s resting spot to the hole. The shortest distance wins. Record each player’s distance on a leaderboard. If you have many players, allow one practice swing but only one scoring shot. This contest works best when all participants can hit at roughly the same time, so schedule it during a longer break between matches (e.g., lunch break). For 20 players, expect about 15–20 minutes.

Longest Drive

Mark a grid or use a measuring wheel. Each player hits two or three drives, and only the longest that lands in the fairway counts. This prevents someone winning with a wild slice into the rough. Use a specific marker (like a flag or cone) for the current longest ball; players can move the marker if they beat it. This creates excitement and reduces measuring time.

Incorporating On-Course Challenges

On-course challenges are side games that happen during the main tournament round itself, without requiring extra time. Examples:

• Straightest drive: Place a string or chalk line down the middle of a fairway; the ball landing closest to the line wins.
• Closest to the pin on a specific par 3: Same as above, but designated as a hole within the round.
• Longest putt holed: Players record their longest made putt during the round.
• Team skins game: A side bet where each hole has a value, and the lowest net score on a hole wins the skin.

To organize these, set clear rules before the round, provide scorecards for tracking, and have a designated person collect results at the end. On-course challenges add fun without disrupting the main tournament pace.

Planning a Realistic Schedule for Side Games

Side games should fit naturally into the tournament schedule without causing delays. Here’s a sample schedule for a one-day event with 16 players in an 8-team match-play bracket:

• 9:00 AM – Morning matches begin (four matches on the course).
• 11:30 AM – First round ends; players have 30-minute break.
• 11:30–12:00 – Putting contest first round (if using practice green).
• 12:00 PM – Lunch; closest to the pin contest on a nearby par 3 during lunch.
• 1:00 PM – Semifinal matches begin (two matches).
• 2:30 PM – Semifinals end; break for longest drive contest on the range or a designated hole.
• 2:30–3:00 – Longest drive contest; putting contest semifinals/final if needed.
• 3:00 PM – Final match begins.
• 4:30 PM – Awards ceremony combining main tournament and side game winners.

Adjust times based on your group size and course logistics. Always leave buffer time for slow play or unexpected delays.

Communicating the Plan to Participants

Clear communication prevents confusion. Before the event, send a simple one-page schedule explaining the main tournament format, side games, times, locations, and rules. On the day, use a central board (physical or digital) to post brackets, leaderboards, and next steps. Announce upcoming side games 10 minutes before they start. For brackets, use a visible chart and update it immediately after each match. For contests like closest to the pin, keep a running leaderboard with names and distances.

Adapting for Different Group Sizes

Side games scale easily. For small groups (8–12 players), you can run a putting contest and a combined closest-to-the-pin/longest-drive contest during a single break. For larger groups (20+), consider running multiple side games simultaneously at different stations (putting green, chipping area, range) and rotate players through. Use sign-up sheets to manage participation and avoid overcrowding.

Example for 24 players: Split into three groups of 8 for a putting contest, closest to the pin, and chipping challenge. Each group spends 20 minutes at a station, then rotates. Total side game time: 60 minutes plus transition.

Making the Next Round Clear to Everyone

Progression clarity is crucial. After each side game round, announce the winners and who they play next. For brackets, draw lines connecting winners to the next round. If a contest has multiple attempts (like longest drive), keep a leaderboard visible and update it live. For on-course challenges, explain beforehand how winners will be determined and when results will be announced.

By following these steps, you’ll turn a simple golf gathering into a well-organized, enjoyable event that keeps everyone engaged from first tee to final putt.