Like Karl Rohnke, from whom I first learned this game, I have had a LOT of fun with this throw and catch game over many years. It sits somewhere in my top 60 activities, ever.
You need to get your hands on a bunch of rubber (deck tennis) rings. Many PE and sports retailers sell them as do pet stores because they are sometimes used as dog toys. Anything more solid than rubber should be avoided because there may be risks involved (which will become apparent soon.)
Gather your group within a very large and wide playing space such as the local parkland, sports oval, woods or open bushland. A windswept plain won’t cut it because you need a variety of physical objects – such as trees, poles, trash cans, seats, etc to involve in the game.
Announce that you are going to introduce the rules of a very odd game of golf. And as with all golf games, there are a series of holes.
At this point, indicate to your group a nominal starting line (the tee) and then direct your group’s attention to a series of objects which will represent a succession of holes. Look for a conspicuous tree or anything that can be spied at least 50 to 100 metres away.
Identify at least 3 or 4 ‘holes’ and nominate each of them by a number. For example, the first hole could be that huge eucalypt over there (pointing), the second hole is the red letterbox over here on the right, etc. Because you’ll want everyone to return back to the start, choose an object close to where you are standing as the last hole.
You are now ready to explain the rules of play. First, you need to demonstrate the use of the rubber rings.
Typically, I will ask for a volunteer and ask them to run ahead of me 10 or 20 metres and then face towards me with one of their hands raised in front of them with fingers pointing up and thumb pressed against their palm.
Then, when ready, I toss a rubber ring towards them and instruct them NOT to catch it as such, rather allow the ring to encircle their hand and pass over their wrist and come to a halt somewhere on their forearm, ie a bit like quoits. Announce that this is considered a legal catch.
Explain that if the ring is successfully (legally) caught, they are then permitted to throw it to another member of their team, and so on. This brings you to your next task – ask your group to form teams of 2, 3 or 4 people. If you’d like to use a random method to achieve this task, take a look at Getting into Teams.
Now that everyone knows what’s involved, you can bet they all are itching to have a go. Distribute one ring to each team, ask them to spread out and practice the highly refined toss and catch skills of Dolphin Golf.
After a few minutes of practice, regather everyone and announce the Dolphin Golf Championship is about to begin.
Reiterate the sequence and identity of each golf hole and instruct each team to count every stroke (toss) they make in their pursuit of each hole. Importantly, explain that at any time a catch is missed, the ring must be returned to the person who just threw it to try again (and that toss is counted as a stroke.)
Ask one person from each team to start from behind the nominated first tee (line on the ground) and prepare to toss their ring towards one of their team members who is closer to the hole.
Oh, and someone is bound to ask – to complete a hole, it must be possible for a team member who just caught the ring to be able to touch the object (representing the hole) – holding the ring in one of their hands – pivoting off one foot (at most) if necessary.
For fun, lick your pointer finger, stab it in the air and predict that the par on this course – just like a professional – is, ummm, 24 or 32 or whatever. Just make it look like you know what you’re talking about.
And let ’em go.
Many minutes later – often quicker than you expect – the teams will return from whence they left.
Survey the scorecards of each team as they come back and announce a winner if that’s important.
As the activity will be spread far and wide, and you certainly cannot watch every team member every minute, there is clearly an honour system at work here. When they tell you that they caught every toss legally and/or they tallied X number of strokes, you have to believe them. But who cares? The point of this exercise is to enjoy a short burst of physical activity, work as a team and have fun.
For fun, encourage team players to regularly invoke golf vocabulary to befit the occasion such as “PLAYTHROUGH,” FOUUUURRRRR,” “BIRDIE,” “EAGLE,” “DOUBLE BOGEY,” “HOW MANY DO YOU LIE?” etc.
As Karl Rohnke tells me, the hidden agenda of Dolphin Golf is to offer a game that teaches by example “the rules, vocabulary and etiquette of actual golf combined with a format that is low key and enjoyable enough to invite 100% participation.” Well said.
For history buffs, this game was once known as Italian Golf. Can you see why? When you hold up your hands as if you are about to catch a rubber ring and wave it around as if you were gesticulating in conversation, you could be mistaken for a stereotypical Italian person. Of course, this depiction is not considered culturally sensitive these days, so it was changed to Dolphin Golf because, as we all know, dolphins catch rubber rings on their noses as part of various aquatic performances.
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Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?