Nina Caldwell
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed eccentrically within a circle of 12 tee positions. The game has often been offered to hotel guests as entertainment. For example, in 1909, The New York Times reported that 30 guests took part in a clock golf tournament at the Pocono Mountain House hotel at Mount Pocono. As of 2025, a supplier of golf equipment offered a Clock Golf Set (3/4) which included a hole cup and putting pin with nine putting arrows.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game Type | Lawn game |
| Gameplay | Played and scored like golf but confined to putting |
| Equipment | Single cup, 12 tee positions or markers |
| Equipment (as per Jaques of London) | Set of 12 markers numbered I to XII, balls, a pre-formed hole with a flag |
| Equipment (as per supplier in 2025) | Hole cup, putting pin, nine putting arrows |
| Equipment (as per supplier in 2025, "Home Golf Set") | One hole, pin, twelve arrows |
| Playing Surface | Lawn |
| Playing Surface (as per Danish firm in 2019) | Artificial grass with a granite border |
| Playing Surface (as per North Pole Marathon in 2025) | Snow |
| Playing Surface (as per Library of Congress print from 1905) | Hotel grounds |
Explore related products
Rules and Gameplay
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed eccentrically within a circle of 12 tee positions, which are numbered I to XII. The aim is to get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible, just like golf. The game is sometimes offered to hotel guests as entertainment and can be played on snow.
To set up the game, you will need a large circular area on a lawn. The single cup or hole is placed in the centre of the circle, and the 12 tee positions are marked evenly around the circumference of the circle. The game can be played with any number of players, and each player will need their own ball.
Each player starts at a different tee position and takes it in turns to putt their ball towards the hole. After each player has putted, the player whose ball is furthest from the hole goes next, and play continues in this way until all the balls have been holed.
The scoring is the same as in golf, with the lowest score being the best. So, for example, if a player holes their ball in 6 shots, their score for that hole is 6. The game can be played over any number of holes, but a standard round of clock golf is typically played over 9 or 18 holes.
Golf Gear and the May River: A Perfect Match
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Popularity and Cultural References
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed within a circle of 12 tee positions, which are numbered and arranged in a clock face pattern. The game was originated in the mid-19th century by Jaques of London, who marketed it as a "popular amusement at garden parties".
Clock golf has been referenced in several notable works of literature. For example, British novelist P. G. Wodehouse refers to country house lodgers playing clock golf in his 1937 novel "Summer Moonshine". Similarly, in Wodehouse's novel "Something Fresh", the guests of Lord Emsworth are depicted playing the game. Agatha Christie's novel "4:50 from Paddington" (1957) also features a clock golf game, and Christie herself played it at her Greenway home in Devon.
The game has also been offered as entertainment for hotel guests. For instance, a 1905 print held by the Library of Congress depicts "Clock golf at the Royal Palm [Hotel], Miami, Fla", and a 1909 issue of The New York Times reported that 30 guests participated in a clock golf tournament at the Pocono Mountain House hotel in Mount Pocono.
Clock golf has maintained its popularity over the years, with companies still selling equipment for the game as recently as 2021. In 2019, a Danish firm offered to install a prefabricated clock golf playing area with artificial grass, and a supplier of golf equipment offered a "Clock Golf Set (3/4)" which included a hole cup, a putting pin, and nine putting arrows. The game has even reached remote locations, with 19 contestants in the 2025 North Pole Marathon participating in the inaugural North Pole Clock Golf Championship, playing on snow.
Golfing Basics: Perfecting Your Swing and Beyond
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Equipment
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed within a circle of 12 tee positions.
To set up a game of clock golf, you will need a set of 12 markers numbered I to XII with spikes on the back for insertion into the lawn, a ball, and a pre-formed hole with a flag. You can also use a golf hole cup and a putting pin with nine putting arrows. If you want to get creative, you can make balls out of pellets of bread and play with a spoon!
In 2019, a Danish firm offered to install a prefabricated clock golf playing area with artificial grass surrounded by a granite border. This could be an option if you want to avoid the hassle of setting up the equipment yourself.
Alternatively, you can purchase a "Home Golf Set" with one hole, a pin, and twelve arrows, though this may not be explicitly marketed as a "clock golf" set.
Clock golf is typically played on a lawn, so you will need access to a suitable outdoor space.
Golfing in California: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Variations
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed within a circle of 12 tee positions, which are numbered I to XII. The game is often played at hotels and country houses.
Some variations of the game include:
- The Clock Method: This method is used by golfers to improve their pitch shots with multiple wedges. The player imagines a clock face when they are set up to hit the ball. The ball is at 6 o'clock, and the length of the backswing gives the time. For example, if the player's left hand is parallel to the ground, that is a 9 o'clock swing. This method helps golfers master distances with different clubs.
- The North Pole Clock Golf Championship: Played on snow, this variation uses a hole cup and putting pin with nine putting arrows.
- Clock Golf Set (3/4): This variation is offered by a golf equipment supplier and includes a hole cup and putting pin with nine putting arrows.
- Home Golf Set: Another variation offered by the same supplier as the Clock Golf Set (3/4), this set includes one hole and pin and twelve arrows, but does not use the name "clock golf" in its description.
Millennials: Why Golf Is in Danger
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Suppliers
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed within a circle of 12 tee positions. The game has often been offered as entertainment to hotel guests.
As of 2025, there are a few suppliers of clock golf equipment:
Jaques of London
Jaques of London sold equipment for the game in 2021. Their set included 12 markers numbered I to XII (with spikes on the back for insertion into the lawn), balls, and a pre-formed hole with a flag. As of 2025, the clock golf set is not listed on their website.
Danish Firm
In 2019, a Danish firm offered to install a prefabricated clock golf playing area with artificial grass surrounded by a granite border.
Golf Equipment Supplier
A supplier of golf equipment offered a "Clock Golf Set (3/4)" in 2025, which included a hole cup and putting pin with nine putting arrows. The same supplier also offered a "Home Golf Set" with one hole and pin and twelve arrows, but this set was not specifically named as a clock golf set.
In addition to these suppliers of clock golf equipment, there are also companies that provide clocks for golf courses and clubs, such as The Verdin Company and Tower Clocks USA. These companies offer custom tower clocks, street clocks, and post clocks that serve as focal points and gathering places for golf courses and clubs.
Stop Breaking Tees: Master Your Golf Swing
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Clock golf is a lawn game that is played and scored like golf but is confined to putting. It uses a single cup placed within a circle of 12 tee positions.
A clock golf set typically includes a hole cup, a putting pin, and nine putting arrows. Some suppliers also offer a "Home Golf Set" with one hole, a pin, and twelve arrows.
Clock golf can be played with any number of players, as it is a putting game and does not require a large area.
Clock golf is typically played on a lawn or garden, but it can also be played on artificial grass or even snow, as seen in the North Pole Clock Golf Championship.
No, clock golf has been around for a while. It has been referenced in novels as early as 1937 and was offered to hotel guests as entertainment in the early 1900s.
