Every summer, at our family get-together, there have to be garden games - they're more important than the BBQ.
We’ve had break-a-plate, badminton, skittles, Molkky, darts, Cornhole (my personal favorite) … the list goes on - and I normally win them all.
This year, with the annual party coming on the back of The Open at Royal Birkdale, I was keen to get the whole family playing some form of golf - so the search began.
It didn't take long before I came across the “ultimate backyard golf game”.
It seemed like BucketGolf was everywhere, so I messaged my dad and told him to stop worrying about the hosepipe ban - we would not be needing the garden to look like Augusta.
Would I regret dropping the traditional putting competition from the itinerary in favor of an untested golf game?
BucketGolf says its mission is “to bring families and friends together through competitive fun”, and one of the most appealing aspects of the game was the fact that it looked very playable - big buckets for holes, large clubheads and huge plastic balls.
And it looked like a lot of fun, perfect for what I had in mind, and suitable for golfers and non-golfers, as well as little ones.
Just before The Open got underway at Royal Birkdale, I took delivery of the BucketGolf 6 Hole Bundle - and I headed straight out to my garden.
First impressions? Excited. This ‘bundle’ included six buckets, six flagsticks, six plastic balls and six tee boxes) - plus four clubs, which is plenty enough (you can order more/less as well as left-handed ones).
Everything looked well made, and the carry bag was a nice addition, making it easy to pop into the boot of the car and keep all the items neatly stored together in one place.
Onto the set-up. The fact that it’s easy to assemble was also a big plus. Erecting the gazebo earlier in the day had been rather complicated, so this was a relief.
The six-hole course was laid out in less than 10 minutes, swinging around a basketball stand, over and between vegetable patches, a hobbit house, and a well.
So, shortly after lunch, it was time for some golf.
After just a few minutes, it was clear that I’d made the game too difficult; although the buckets are very wide, it’s still quite a skill to land one in even from close range.
However, what’s good about BucketGolf is that you can make up your own rules. There are ways to make it easier, and you can invent your own scoring system: one for hitting the bucket, five for landing a ball in it, for example (this kept the kids interested).
The clubs are excellent. Even if you’re a beginner, the oversized heads make it easy to get the ball in the air (most of the time), and they’re very robust, able to withstand poor strikes and the odd temper tantrum.
At the risk of sounding like I took the game way too seriously (I did), you can actually get a good amount of draw and slice spin on your shots; the clubs might not be Vokey wedges, but you can have some fun shaping shots and opening the face to get a bit more height (I told you I took it seriously).
The flagsticks, which poke through a small hole in the bucket into the ground, are a nice touch, too, although this is not so easy to do when the ground is rock hard - so don't try and force them in or they are likely to break.
Meanwhile, the numbers on the tee markers and buckets elevate the experience and give it just enough of a ‘serious’ competition feel.
As for the custom balls, which are designed to fly between 10-40 yards, they do deviate in the wind, which is no surprise given the holes - something which actually adds to the fun in blustery conditions.
I realize I'm going to sound like a wet blanket here, but I lost my enthusiasm after about 30 minutes - although this might say more about me than the game itself.
I found myself wondering whether I could squeeze nine holes in after the party, and whether it would be more fun to play with actual golf balls (it is, but it’s neither safe nor in the spirit of the game).
However, long after the party was over, I was back out in the garden playing against my brother - this time for a lot longer and with something on the line (again, it might say more about me that we had to have a wager).
My overriding feeling is that BucketGolf just lacks a bit of an X factor, some kind of feature that makes it more engaging.
That said, the fact that I have had it out a few times since the party suggests that it does have an addictive quality (I'm currently actually using the buckets and flags for chipping practice with proper balls).
And I should stress that because I love the ‘real thing’ so much, playing any other version - and I include going to the range and playing on a golf simulator in this - never really gets the juices flowing in quite the same way.
I probably sound like a killjoy, so I’ll put my fun hat on and say this: as golf games for the garden go, for occasions that get everyone involved for some outdoor fun, it’s a well-thought-out and well-made product.
Is it worth $230 (£174.99)? I think this is quite pricey. BucketGolf fans, of which there are many out there, might disagree, for it can provide hours of fun.
For me, Cornhole is still hard to beat.
