After a nice barbeque with family and friends, a fun and challenging lawn game is a relaxing way to spend an evening. Lawn games are casual competitions meant to bring laughter and fun to any backyard get-together. They usually require minimal equipment you can find at your local retail store and feature rules that are simple to understand.
Croquet
Croquet is arguably one of the most common lawn games and can be set up, played and taken down very easily. In croquet, players take turns hitting colored balls through a series of metal or plastic hoops that stick in the ground, known as "wickets." Players earn extra strokes both by passing a ball through a wicket or by hitting their opponent's ball. The object of the game is to be the first player to get your ball through all the wickets and hit the wooden stake at the end of the course.
Bocce
What once started as a competitive game in Europe has now made its way to backyards all across the country. Bocce is another simple game that requires little equipment but can make for an enjoyable time. In bocce, a player throws a small white ball into the lawn. Players on each team then take turns throwing larger, heavier balls in an attempt to get as close as possible to the white ball. The player with the ball closest to the target wins one point, and knocks out his opponent's closest ball to the target. Only one player per round can score points. If any other of the scoring player's balls are closer than his opponent's next closest ball, he earns a point for that ball as well. Players can score up to four points per round. In most games, the first player to 13 points wins.
Horseshoes
A game involving accuracy and rewarding proximity, horseshoes involves players standing at either end of a playing court and toss horseshoes toward a stake sticking out of the ground. The object of the game is to encircle the stake with the horseshoe, or land it within at least 6 inches of the stake. A horseshoe that lands around the stake is called a "ringer" and earns three points. Any horseshoe leaning on or landing within 6 inches of the stake scores one points. Games are usually played to 40 points, with each player throwing two horseshoes per round.
Ladder Ball
Ladder ball, also known as ladder golf or bolo toss, involves players throwing a series of two small balls connected by a string---called a bola---at a three-rung ladder-type target. Wrapping a bola around the top run earns a player three points, while the middle rung is worth two points and the bottom rung is worth one point. Players take turns throwing three bolas during a round. If a player lands all three bolas on one rung or one bola on each rung within a round, the player earns one bonus point. The first player to 21 points wins the game.
Cornhole
Cornhole is a simple game where players toss bean bags onto a slanted board with a hole toward the top in an attempt to get the bean bag to stay on the board or go through the hole. Players take turns tossing four bean bags at the board. In doubles play, each teammate alternates tossing the bags until all four have been tossed. Any bag that falls all the way through the hole is worth three points. A bag that lands on the board but not through the hole earns the player one point. The first player to earn 21 points wins the game.
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