Stick Mini Golf: Three Slow Holes

A three-hole course where the ball goes into a hoop in as few soft strokes as possible. Heart rates come down while students fine-tune how hard they pass.

How to play

1. The teacher sets three holes: a hoop as the hole, cones as the tee, and a bench on its side as an obstacle on two of them. Groups of four, one group per hole (1 min).
2. First hole: each student plays their ball with soft push passes until it stops inside the hoop and counts the strokes (2 min).
3. Second and third holes: groups rotate once everyone is done and try to beat their stroke count from the previous hole (3 min).
4. Each group shares one tip about power or angle that worked for them while they pick up the cones (2 min).

Rules

• Push passes only: the ball rolls, it's never slapped.
• Wait for your teammate to finish before you play.
• Everyone counts their own strokes honestly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: play with a short stick, and obstacles are moved out of their path.
• Blind or low-vision students: a partner claps from the hoop to guide them.
• Students who get frustrated: play in pairs, adding strokes with a partner.

Learning goals

• Calm down after exertion.
• Control the strength of a pass.
• Wait your turn and keep an honest count.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• floorball balls: 30
• hula hoops: 3
• cones: 6
• gym benches: 2

Teacher tip

Set the holes while the group finishes the main activity, or ask two injured students to help. Insist on slow passes: if the ball bangs hard off the bench, they are slapping it.

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