Ladder Golf: the Perfect Fourth of July Party Game

Have you heard of Ladder Golf or Ladder Ball? Ladder Golf is the perfect Fourth of July party game for your barbecue picnic because it is fun for all ages. What makes this game fun is that much like traditional horse shoes, you compete against another individual or team to score points without heavy horse shoes to toss at a stake.

The premise of this party game is that participants toss bolos onto a ladder, which is either stationary or rotates. Points are awarded based on which rung the bolo lands on, and points are subtracted if you are able to knock your opponent's bolo off the ladder. In traditional Ladder Golf, points are awarded as follows: top rung equals 3 points, second rung equals 2 points and bottom rung is equal to 1 point.

One of the nicest things about Ladder Golf, whether it spins or not, is that it can be purchased at some retailers on line for under $60. Dick's Sporting Goods sells this game under the name of Ladderball for about $30. Ladder Golf is also very portable, which makes it a perfect Fourth of July party game. If you travel during the holiday, the game can easily come with you. If you are a crafty kind of fellow with a penchant for PVC and handy with a drill, there's still time for you to make your own set for about half of the price.

One thing I do want to note here is that some games sport bolos that are made from golf balls, hence the name of Ladder Golf. Parents with small children may wish to seek out a game set that has soft bolos. Since the bolos are tossed at a stationary object, care should be given that the area is clear for safety reasons.

My father has a Ladderball set and we played while we were visiting. Unlike horse shoes where the stakes are in a set spot, the Ladderball set allowed us to move the ladder such that adults and kids could enjoy the game. The ability to reach across a broad age range is what makes Ladderball a perfect party game for Fourth of July party or barbecue.