Takin’ it to the Cornhole

from David Fisher who used to be the “Cowboy” David Fisher of the Hamburger Square Post(I believe that’s the connection from the old “Cowboy’s Corner”))

Cornhole is one of the latest games to surface in our area, and is known as a great game with a terrible name. Some have started calling it “Corn toss,” or “Corn bags” for obvious reasons. It has been around for awhile, and is predominant in the state of Ohio. Supposedly, today’s version of the game was created by Ohio State students in 1996. Cornhole is similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole boards and corn bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes.

The corn bags are made of soft 12 oz. duck canvas. They are 6″x6″, and are filled with 14-16 ounces of feed corn. The corn breaks down as the bags are used, and forces the bags to slide on the boards when thrown. The boards are 24″x48″, and are constructed of a 2×4 frame and covered with 1/2″ plywood. The plywood has a 6″ hole in it, near the back of the board. The boards are placed 27 feet apart, with the back of the board elevated 12” above the ground, and the object is to throw your corn bags into the hole (hence the game’s name), or at least on the board.

Contestants take turns pitching their corn bags at the cornhole board until a contestant, or team, reaches the score of 21 points. Each player has 4 bags, with different colors for each team, and the players throw their bags in alternating fashion, until each player has thrown all 4. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the board, or “in the count” scores 1 point.

The game has a couple of significant benefits over horseshoes: 1. You can play indoors, if you can find a place with a high ceiling, although most games are played in the yard; 2. Kids are able to play easily. The bags are easy to throw, and if the distance is too great, just move the boards closer together; 3. The game is very portable, as you can load the boards and bags into the car and take them with you, and; 4. It doesn’t hurt when you throw the corn bag and hit another player, which eventually, you will do.

Now that the game has been explained, where does one play? So far, only a few public places have the boards set up, as far as I know. Some friends and I have gotten into the game and have our own setups, and have found the best places to buy boards and bags. Now we are considering starting a league. We think we would like to play twice a month, or more if the interests builds enough. There are lots of questions as to how to set up this league, such as: 1. Where to play; 2. when to play, weeknights or weekend afternoons; 3. How many people are interested; 4. How many sets of boards and bags do we need; 5. what format do we use. I would like to find out what kind of interests there are in this, and then get everyone together and discuss the questions, in attempt to set it all up to suit the most people. Many people participate in bowling leagues, or play golf once a week, and I assure you, this can be as much fun and cost a lot less. A complete set of boards and bags costs less than $100, and a league would cost you less than that.

If interested in this game, visit the American Cornhole Association’s website at www.playcornhole.org for lots of information, and if interested in participating in the league, or need to find some boards or bags, drop me a line at dfisher@easinc.net, and I’ll help you if I can.