Ways to Class up Backyard Entertainment
Words by Jessi Devenyns
Austin in the summertime is a mecca for outdoor adventures and patio dining, and few activities are as perfectly positioned to redefine those pastimes as lawn games. Watch the hours fly by with a beverage in one hand and a racquet in the other. From classic to modern, there are so many choices when it comes to backyard entertainment.
Badminton
Take advantage of one of the rare sports that fits into the confines of a backyard. Play doubles or singles and enjoy the challenge of sending the birdie sailing over the net to the other team. Although the game seems relaxing, once players get the hang of the birdie’s aerodynamics, it won’t be long before teams begin a fierce battle for points.
Croquet
Despite its associations with stiff upper lips and generations past, croquet is actually an elegant game that is ideal for all generations. Whether playing the nine-wicket backyard version with house rules or the six-wicket, strategy-heavy professional version, this game from the British Isles should have prime placement at barbecues this summer. Alternatively, take a set over to Palm Park. This 4-acre public space originally featured two croquet courts, and although those courts are long gone, the park retains a flat pitch on which to play a rousing game.
Palm Park | 200 N IH 35 (southbound service road)
Horseshoes
Very little equipment is required to play horseshoes: just two poles, four horseshoes, and good aim. Play on teams or pit individuals against one another for a grand prize. However it is played, this classic game will put hand-eye coordination to the test and can also serve as a barometer for guests’ indulgence of beverages.
Pétanque
For those who have heard of bocce ball, pétanque is the game’s French cousin where players toss three fist-sized metal balls and coax them as close to the target marker as possible. If there is no equipment or know-how readily available, the Heart of Texas Pétanque Club will provide. The club meets Friday nights at the Mueller Brown Hangar from 5-11pm, and then at Mueller’s Paggi Square on Saturdays from 10am to noon where their pétanque courts are groomed and available to anyone who is interested in learning the nuances of this French community sport.
Heart of Texas Pétanque Club | Paggi Square Park at 2101 Robert Browning St.
Limbo
Give classic games a reboot and add limbo to the list of backyard activities. Use a tree branch, a custom-painted wooden dowel, or a broomstick, and invite friends to join in the fun as bodies tip backward and slide under an ever-descending barrier. Make sure to keep things even and play with people of similar heights – that means kids versus kids and adults versus adults.
Corn Hole
Texans have a love affair with the backyard sport of corn hole. Simple to play and widely available, this game is a summertime must. Batch has a particularly nice set up with a gravel garden arranged competition-style to allow multiple teams to play simultaneously while enjoying a locally-brewed beer and a delectable kolache.
Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches | 3220 Manor Rd.
