There are plenty of things you can do with a big yard--build a garden, do some landscaping or install a swimming pool. But if you aren't looking for a major yard project and want to keep your options open, consider using wide-open lawn space as a playing field. There are many inexpensive lawn games that can bring the whole family or neighborhood together.
Cornhole
Cornhole, sometimes known as corn toss and bean bag toss, is a lot like horseshoes, but wooden boxes called cornhole platforms and corn bags are used to play. Players throw the corn bags at the cornhole platform, scoring 3 points for putting the corn bag through the hole and 1 point for getting the bag onto the platform. Whoever scores 21 points first wins. The game can be played with singles or doubles, and the platforms are generally set 30 feet apart.
KanJam
KanJam is doubles disc game where teammates play on opposite sides, standing behind specially made cans with an open top and a slot in the front. The cans should be 50 feet apart. A player throwing the disc aims toward the can on the opposite side. If he hits the can directly, his team gets two points. If he throws the disc and his teammate deflects the disc so it hits the can, that's one point. The team gets three points if the disc is deflected through the top of the can, and a game-ending "instant win" is scored if a player can throw the disc directly through the slot. Teams alternate throwing the disc, and the game is played to 21 points.
Bocce Ball
Bocce ball, or lawn bowling, is an ideal game for a large lawn because you can use the entire lawn as your court. The game is played with eight large bocce balls--four for each team--and one small target ball called the pallino. Players are split into two teams. The pallino is thrown by the Team A in any direction or distance of their choosing. The same player then throws their bocce ball as close to the pallino as he can. The teams alternate throwing. After all balls are thrown, each ball that is closer to the pallino than the nearest ball of the opposing team scores 1 point. Tie balls cancel each other out. The game is played to 16 points, or 11 for singles.
Ladder Ball
Ladder ball is played with two small, specially made ladders set 15 feet away. It's played in rounds with each player tossing three bolas at the opposite ladder. Catching the bola on the ladder scores points based on values set for each rung before the game, and the winner of each round earns the first toss in the next round. Games are played to exactly 21. If a player goes over 21 in a round, none of his points from that round are counted. If the game is tied at 21 at the end of a round, overtime begins. The players continue until a round is completed with one player two points ahead of the other.
Disc Golf
Disc golf is similar to regular golf, but you use a disc and the hole is a basket on a pole. You can set your own course up you wish, placing holes where you choose while including obstacles that must be passed through. Players tee off from a designated area, with the landing spot of each throw marked. The player whose disc is farthest from the hole throws first on the second shot. Players continue until each disc is in the "hole." The player with the lowest score on each hole tees off first on the next. Set as many holes as you like.
Quoits
Quoits is a ring-toss game similar to horseshoes but doesn't require sand pits and uses rubber rings called quoits for throwing. Quoit boards, with a post in the center for throwing the quoits around, are set 18 feet apart from post to post. Each player gets 2 quoits to throw. Teams of one to two players stand on opposite sides and attempt to throw the quoit around the post, which counts as a three-point "ringer." If the opposing player tops the ringer by throwing a quoit over it, only he gets the three points. If topped again, the first player gets the points. If a player scores two ringers, it's six points. If a player hits a ringer and their second quoit is closer to the post than their opponent's, they get one extra point. "Leaners" are worth a point. If there are no ringers or leaners, the player with the quoit closest to the post scores one point. If their second quoit is closer than any of the opponents, they score an extra point. A quoit that is touching the ground or has touched the ground is a "dead quoit" and should be removed from the board. If it is not, quoits that touch the dead quoit become dead as well. First player or team to score 21 points wins.
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