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Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game- Build The Ladder!

October 16, 2007 by  
Filed under Made From PVC, Toys

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***Update- There is  now a video version of the ladder golf build click here to view -> https://justbuildstuff.com/?p=448***

Yesterday we introduced the ladder golf ball game and today we are going to go over how to build the ladder structure. The ladder structures are built out of 3/4″ PVC pipe (note that 3/4″ PVC pipe has a 3/4″ inside diameter and approximately a 1 inch outside diameter). To build Two of the ladder structures you need to buy the following items from you local home center.

  • 5- 10 foot long sticks of 3/4″ PVC pipe
  • 12- 3/4″ PVC “T” fittings
  • 12- 3/4″ PVC 90 degree fittings

The next step is to cut the PVC pipe. For each ladder structure you will need the following.

  • 9- 2 foot long pieces
  • 6- 1 foot long pieces

To build one ladder assembly you should have everything in the photo below. Double the quantities to build two structures.

LADDER GOLF PARTS

Now comes the fun part. Put the pipes together into the ladder assembly. You can use the photo below as a guide if you need to. I did not glue my structure together, because I would like to have the ability to disassemble it for storage and it seems more than strong enough without glued joints.

Assembly of Ladder Ball

In the next posting we will drill some holes in golf balls and make the bolas to throw at the ladder.

If you are interested in other PVC projects check out our PVC Flagpole project.

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32 Comments on "Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game- Build The Ladder!"

  1. justbuildstuff.com » Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game! on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 12:24 pm 

    […] incredibly easy to work with and inexpensive to purchase. The project is split into two parts; in the first part, we will build the ladder structure and in the second part, we will make the balls, or bola that are thrown at the ladder […]

  2. justbuildstuff.com » Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game- Make the Bolas! on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 3:08 am 

    […] the previous post we built the ladder portion of the game, now it is time to make the bolas. A bola consists of two golf balls, one on each end of a string. […]

  3. Angela on Sun, 31st May 2009 12:52 am 

    Love these directions and the pictures. I have not made this yet but heading to Home Depot right now to get the parts. Being a mom with 3 kids I can’t wait for us to build this together without waiting on dad to do it!

  4. Brett on Tue, 2nd Jun 2009 4:07 am 

    I am putting mine together Thur. Just another piece of advice – I bought 2 – ¾” PVC solvent Unions to put at the bottom of the structure so I can unscrew it and make it collapsible for easy storage! – Brett (isubrett1161@yahoo.com)

    p.s. I think they only make schedule 80 unions so they are about $5/each at Menards.. online they’re about $2.50 each. Adds a few bucks to the cost but I can now just put it in the trunk

  5. Allison on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 6:29 am 

    Really easy to make… I found out that the pvc pipe is cheaper at Menards.. it cost me roughly $20 for everything… very good pics and directions

  6. Brett on Fri, 3rd Jul 2009 4:54 am 

    p.p.s. I did find sch 40 unions – they were just out of stock at the time

  7. rhonda on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 6:15 am 

    is this cheaper than buying the game it’s self.
    Just wondering. I know it will be much more respected and played if built. Cause it’s something you can be proud of.

  8. build on Thu, 9th Jul 2009 9:56 am 

    I think it is cheaper than the higher quality ladder golf sets. If you shop around you should be able to find some good deals on pvc and golf balls (you may even be able to find enough scrap parts for free if you ask around). The real cost is your time, if you enjoy building things yourself and like a challenge it’s worth the time. I had just as much fun building the ladder golf set as I do playing it.

  9. Robert on Sun, 6th Sep 2009 1:03 am 

    Am putting mine together now. What are the rules?

  10. Brandon on Sat, 23rd Apr 2011 6:23 am 

    This is great!!!! Thanks. It went up with ease. GREAT DRINKING GAME!!!!!!

  11. Alice on Sat, 18th Jun 2011 11:44 pm 

    I need to know how to make the bola balls as I have all the parts for the rest. How do you make it collapsable?

  12. build07 on Mon, 20th Jun 2011 7:31 pm 

    Bola instructions found here
    Ladder Golf doesn’t collapse as much as unassemble. Just don’t glue the joints and you will be able to take it apart.

  13. Lcarter on Thu, 21st Jul 2011 4:28 am 

    Dint remember is I posted this before. But i used your tutorial to make the ladder gold game.. Very easy to do! I add the universal someone mentioned to make storage a breeze; much better than just pulling the frame apart when storing! Spend the extra money and add the universal joint!

    Thanks

  14. Karla on Tue, 2nd Aug 2011 3:13 am 

    I bought everything at menards for about $14. (They had a cheap plastic set there for $20) I also bought the “official” bola balls for another $9 because I think that would be less expensive than buying golf balls. I am assembling it tonight for my husband’s birthday present. Thanks!!!

  15. Karla on Tue, 2nd Aug 2011 5:02 am 

    I just finished and they turned out great!

  16. One Great Tailgate | The College Juice on Tue, 9th Aug 2011 3:40 am 

    […] Ball is another popular tailgate game. JustBuildStuff.com shares instructions for constructing the ladder portion of the game out of PVC pipes. You can pick […]

  17. Chacco on Tue, 16th Aug 2011 7:47 am 

    I am from Canada. I checked this out and found my cost was $28.33 just for the parts for one ladder.

    I can buy the whole set with balls and all from our local Candian Tire store for $29.99.

    http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/1/BackyardFun/BackyardGames/PRD~0842102P/Ladder%252BBall.jsp?locale=en

    I am going to make my ladders out of wood, just shopen one end and stick them in the ground, that way it stores really easy.

    Thank you for the plans though.

  18. Gini Zook on Sat, 3rd Sep 2011 12:31 am 

    The staff at the store cut the pvc pipe to the specs listed in your directions. The store did not charge for cutting the pipe! So this set is quite inexpensive…. Anyway, my 6 year-old-grandson put the ladder, T’s and elbows together. The only thing I had to do was to put some weight in the right places/positions to secure the base pieces together and the upright pieces together.

    I had bought a couple of sets at end of season for 11.88 each; they were junk but the bola balls that came with them are great. So we will keep those ball with the ladders we made. Now we have a great set that will last!!!!!
    Thank you so much!

  19. Deb on Thu, 5th Jan 2012 12:55 am 

    Correction: Need 7 – 2′ pieces

  20. jenn on Thu, 31st May 2012 11:07 am 

    Re: Deb

    No, you do need 9 2′ pieces for each ladder, as the pic shows above.

  21. marc on Mon, 9th Jul 2012 7:29 am 

    So easy to do! took about 45 minutes to measure and cut all the pieces. Went to Lowe’s and bought all the PVCs and attachments. Cost me 16.22

  22. Chris on Wed, 19th Dec 2012 10:32 am 

    Hey…thanks a lot for this! We also bought one of those overpriced pieces of junk that was destroyed the first day we used it. I always knew I could make a better one myself. Your dimensions and photo here made it a lot easier. Now I’ve got a great Christmas gift for my brother.

    BTW…I used colored electrical tape for the “scoring” cross members. It adds some to the price, but it wont chip or scratch like paint, and I’ll give him the leftover pain in case the tape ever gets damaged…quick easy immediate fix right out in the field!

  23. david balts on Wed, 12th Jun 2013 4:56 am 

    Very easy GREAT design. We used colored magic markers on the golf balls to make 2 sets.
    Cost around $20
    THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

  24. Mike McLaughlin on Thu, 25th Jul 2013 3:16 am 

    I’m thinking the bottom 24″ x 24″ filled with play sand, prior to gluing, would keep
    The framework steadier.

  25. Joshua Winchester on Fri, 9th May 2014 4:47 pm 

    Great project for the family. I did not glue the bottom pieces into the last T intersection. The reason is for traveling and packing away. Way better quality then those commercial kits available in stores for nearly $40.00

  26. Thos Myers on Wed, 25th Jun 2014 8:22 pm 

    I chanced making the ladders from broom handles. A little watching out and seeing brooms tossed because the broom is worn out but the handle is in excellent shape. Cut to correct lengths, drill pilot holes for screws and for extra support bailing wire.
    Save for the cost of screws and bailing wire, free ladders.
    Hit up golfers for golf balls, drill holes, add cord – done.
    Ladder ball for under $5.00

  27. DORTHA RANDOLPH on Fri, 7th Nov 2014 9:09 am 

    I PLAYED THIS GAME IN SHULA VISTA CALIFORNIA.WITH CAMPERS .WHEN I VISITED MY DAUGHTER AND SON EN LAW GREG ON THEIR SAIL BOAT.WHAT FUN

  28. DORTHA RANDOLPH on Fri, 7th Nov 2014 9:11 am 

    THIS IS A GOOD GAME

  29. 3 Ways to Make a Ladder Golf Game on Tue, 14th Apr 2015 4:01 am 

    […] common than golf ball. It is also well known as bolo ball, blongoball, and Polish horseshoes.See http://justbuildstuff.com/?p=60 that how to build the golf field. This closely involves aiming and throwing of the ball over rungs. […]

  30. Nicholas on Wed, 10th Jun 2015 10:38 pm 

    On the base of the ladder you can just use 1′ pvc pipe on one on of the sides. All 2′ makes it symmetric but you could save 2′ of PVC

  31. Kurtis on Thu, 11th Jun 2015 7:50 am 

    That would save some material, but it might also sacrifice some stability. If you build a set this way let us know how it works.

  32. How Much Does It Cost To Build A Game | Romero Online on Tue, 19th Jan 2016 7:28 am 

    […] Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game- Build The Ladder … – Video embedded  · I am from Canada. I checked this out and found my cost was $28.33 just for the parts for one ladder. I can buy the whole set with balls and all from our … […]

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