Beer Pong Golf Rules: How to Play on a Putting Mat

Beer pong golf is exactly what it sounds like: the triangle, the pressure, and the bragging rights of beer pong, played with a putter instead of a ping pong ball. If you're looking for beer pong golf rules that work on a putting mat, here is the version we play — simple to learn in two minutes, hard to walk away from after your first loss.

What you need

A putting mat with printed game targets — ours is the Battle Golf putting mat, which has beer pong triangles printed at both ends — plus a putter and a couple of golf balls. That's it. The targets on a Battle Golf mat are flat, not cups. That is the whole challenge: a cup forgives a putt that's slightly off line. A flat target doesn't. Your drinks live in cups on the side table, safely away from the putting surface.

Setup

Two players, or two teams of two. Each side defends the triangle of six targets at their end of the mat and putts toward the triangle at the far end. Decide your putting distance — on the Battle Golf mat, you putt from behind your own triangle, the length of the rug. Flip a coin or putt-off for first turn.

Beer pong golf rules: the basic game

Turns. Players alternate putts, one ball per turn (teams alternate shooters). No practice putts once the game starts.

Scoring a target. A target counts when your ball comes to rest fully inside one of the six printed target zones at the far end. Call your target before you putt for double-or-nothing bragging rights — optional, but highly encouraged.

Removing targets. When you sink a putt, that target is dead for the rest of the game. The defending player marks it — a coin or a bottle cap on the spot works. Six dead targets wins the game.

The lip-out rule. If your ball touches a target zone but rolls through or stops on the line, it doesn't count. Flat targets are honest targets: in is in, on the line is out. House rules can soften this for beginners — agree before the first putt, not after the argument.

Re-racks. When a side gets down to three remaining targets, they may call one re-rack per game: the surviving targets regroup into a tighter triangle (three in a row, or a 2-1 split). Call it before your opponent's putt, never during.

Redemption. When the last target dies, the losing side gets redemption putts: each player putts until they miss. Sink one and the game continues with the targets you revive (one per made putt). Miss, and it's over — handshakes, excuses, rematch.

Variations worth trying

Tic-tac-toe warm-up. The Battle Golf mats also carry a tic-tac-toe grid. Alternate putts claiming squares — first to three in a row. It takes four minutes and loosens everyone up before the main event.

Around the world. Solo or group: sink a putt from each of five distances in a row, no misses. Miss and start over. Simple, cruel, addictive.

Loser's choice. The losing team picks the next game's format — redemption through variety.

Why it works on a putting mat

Real beer pong is a throwing game. Beer pong golf is a touch game, which means the quiet friend who "doesn't play games" and putts twice a year can beat the house athlete — and will remind everyone for a month. The mat stays out in the room like the rest of the Battle Golf lineup (five colorways, $89.99, free shipping), so game night doesn't need a setup ritual: roll up to it, putt, argue, repeat. If your space is small, our guide to building an indoor mini-golf setup in an apartment has more ideas for tight rooms.

One last house rule, the most important one: the loser racks the next game. Some traditions are bigger than sport.