Mini Golf: 16 games for summer and church camps

16 Challenges and Sub Games for Portable Mini Golf

Our portable mini golf course has 9 fun and exciting holes of play all on it’s own. However – some people love to add twists and competition to the event and here are a few fun ideas on what you can do to maximize a round of mini golf.

Lowest Score Wins: The classic competition where the player with the lowest score at the end of the course wins.
Hole-in-One Challenge: Players compete to see who can score the most hole-in-ones throughout the course. Alternately one hole can be designated as the “hole in one challenge” and everyone focuses on their best putts on that hole.
Obstacle Course: Set up additional obstacles on each hole and see who can navigate them with the fewest strokes. This can also be done where designing the obstacles is a part of the challenge. Teams design a hole, play them all and vote for various awards such as “most original”, “best design”, “most challenging”, and “favorite overall”.
Team Relay: Divide players into teams and have them take turns completing each hole, with the lowest cumulative score winning.
Closest to the cup without going in: This is a challenge similar to a hole-in-one – but you don’t want it to go in. Use peel-and-stick dots with names on them to mark who gets closest on a single hole – without going in. Going in could add strokes.
Around the World: Players must complete the course in the fewest strokes possible, but they must use a different club grip on each hole. Examples: regular, behind the back, pool cue, one handed etc.
Blindfold Challenge: Players take turns being blindfolded while their partner or team mates guide them to hit the ball. The team with the lowest combined score wins.
Speed Golf: Players race through the course, completing each hole as quickly as possible, with the lowest total time winning. Subtract time for each stroke under par to make sure they’re actually trying to make their shots too!
Target Practice: Set up targets around the course and award points for hitting them. The player with the highest total points wins. Require them to hit the targets before going into the hole. Hint: Targets can have sponsors logos on them or teaching moments if at a themed event or church camp.
Left-Handed Challenge: Players must complete the course using only their non-dominant hand.
Bounce Shot Challenge: Players must bounce the ball off obstacles to reach the hole, with the fewest strokes winning.
Trick Shot Contest: Players take turns attempting creative and difficult trick shots, with judges awarding points for style and difficulty.
Theme Night: Set a theme for the competition, such as costumes or decorations, and award prizes for the best-dressed player or team.
Mini Golf Olympics: Organize a series of mini-golf events, such as longest drive, obstacle course, and hole-in-one challenge, with overall winners determined by cumulative performance.
Parent-Child Tournament: Pair kids with their parents or guardians and see which team can navigate the course with the lowest combined score.
Obstacles with a purpose: Donate boxed and canned goods to the food bank and use those items to create obstacles. It’s a fun way to build and create while also doing some good in your community.