Let’s talk about yard games. I love them. Obsessed.
If I am at a wedding reception and there is corn hole or washers…my wife knows that she is pretty much on her own for the rest of the party. (I know this is not good…sometimes I am actually a good husband).
Top Choice is now offering installation of some of my favorites – washers and horseshoes.
Washers
If you look at wikipedia (here) you will realize that there are an abundance of ways to play washers. We have decided to offer the “Texas Version”…I am guessing there’s no need for an explanation (right y’all?). The Texas version is a 4ft X 4ft square with a hole in the dead center. We used some 3 inch PVC at our office, but you may consider requesting a 4 inch because it is always more fun to have more “ringers”.
In the “Texas Version” the holes are 21 ft center to center. You can throw from the other crushed granite pad.
I have seen multiple ways of scoring (depending on the version), but generally you will pitch 3 washers.
The game is played to 21 points. The closest washer to the cup is awarded 1 point. A touching leaner is awarded 2 points. A “see though leaner ” – any washer protruding the hole over the edge of the inside of the cup – is awarded 3 points. A “ringer” gets you 5 points. If your opponent lands on your ringer they get the point, and the other washers are scored normally.
Here is how I score it: we agree on a scoring system at the beginning and stick to it. There are so many ways to play that you pretty much have to just decide at the beginning and stick to it.
Horseshoes
I don’t play horseshoes much (mostly because I am not very good…and I hate losing), but the history of the game is fascinating. Many people credit the early roots of the game to the Greek and Roman discus throwing competitions. In the USA, many soldiers became fond of the game in the revolutionary war. The first ever national championship was held in Kansas (shout out to my parents) in 1909 and the winner took home a whopping $2.50. Ever since then, there has been a fairly robust community of horseshoe pitchers. If you want to read a detailed history, I recommend you go here.
The standard game now has stakes 40ft apart. We can build sand pits that are 3ft x 6ft. But you can ask for a different size if you’d prefer.