Description of Gym Ball Golf
Last updated: 10 Jan 2017
The object of the game gym ball golf is to traverse a series of courses from beginning to end kicking a ball as few times as possible. The competitor who plays the specified courses in the fewest kicks minus benefit points is the winner. Gym ball golf courses do not exist as such – players rather hike in wooded areas and plan courses each in turn. Play on each course begins from a hole on the terrain and ends to a goal, such as a big stone or a tree. A course should be planned so that a skilled player is able to carry it out with 2 to 4 kicks. A competitor responsible for planning the course kicks first. Each player kicks his or her gym ball until all balls are spread in the field. The next round starts in the same order. In case a player kicks making contact with another ball, he or she gets a half benefit point (0.5) that will be deducted from the number of kicks. However, during one course, each pair of gym balls can undergo only one benefit-touch (one half benefit points). That means one cannot benefit twice from the same ball during one course. Neither can another competitor benefit from you, if you have already touched his or her ball. When a gym ball hits the goal, it is removed from the field. One player keeps score writing down the number of kicks and deducting possible benefit points of each player after the course. In case a player doesn't reach the goal by 10 kicks, the scorekeeper writes down 12 kicks. The second player of the course will plan and start the next course. Once all the players have planned one course, the game is over. In a game of three players only each player can plan two courses. When there are more players than balls, competitors can form teams.
A course well-planned usually contains some natural obstacles to increase the difficulty. However, when a gym ball gets into a challenging place, the player is allowed to move the ball 0–5 meters backwards before the next kick. It is advisable for men to play using balls whose diameter is at least 55 cm. For women, 45 cm is the minimum size.