If you’ve walked through any town in the midwest recently, you’ve probably noticed a lot of college aged kids playing a game that resembles the bean bag game you might have remembered as a kid. That game is known as Cornhole and has been sweeping the country for the last few years. The Ohioans lay claim to the popular game, but variations of it have been played as far back as the 18th century. Wherever and whoever invented it, it’s a lot of fun which is why it’s picked up so much steam in the past few years. It’s so popular these days that this summer there was a large tournament held at Soldiers Field in Chicago, a front page article in the Wall Street Journal, and a arcade game put out by the people that invented the popular Golden Tee video game.
So what’s the reason for the growth? It’s not like the game hasn’t been around for awhile or that it’s anything very unique. There are probably a lot of reasons that it is popular. For one, it doesn’t take much as far as equipment goes. Pretty much all you need is just a set of cornhole boards and bags and you’re ready to play. Throw em in the back of your car and you’re ready to go. Another reason is that it doesn’t exclude anyone, a old person can play with a young person and everyone will be happy. And, most importantly, it’s a game that everyone can watch and enjoy each others company. In a game of volleyball, there isn’t much interaction between the people playing the game and people that are not. With Cornhole, you can talk with people who are playing or you can hold a conversation with people that are just standing next to the boards. So it makes for a great party sport and great if you are planning an outdoor bbq or something.
So what do you need to play this game? Well, not much! The first thing you need is a set of cornhole boards. The regulation boards measure 4 feet by 2 feet or you can go with a tailgating style board which are 3 feet by 2 feet. Once you have your boards, you can get the bags. The cornhole bags are 6×6″ bags that weigh 14-16 ounces and are made out of duck canvas. Durability is key with bags so if you are going to make your own, you need to make sure that you are using the best quality material and thread. Otherwise, you’ll be sorry because the bags won’t take much wear and tear. You can also add in some other accessories like a scoretower or a light in case you wanted to play at night, but the cornhole bags and boards are the essential ones.
So there you have it! While it may be difficult to see why this game is so popular now, trust me, if you give it a shot you will understand in a heartbeat why this game is loved by so many. So next time you’re having people over, throw out the boards and see what kind of activity it generates. It can potentially make your party one to remember!
