Cornhole: Its History and Heritage

What Is Cornhole? 


A tailgate game of many names - some more family-friendly than others - cornhole is a simple, competitive, and addictive addition to any outdoor party. Depending on where you come from, some in the family might call it soft horseshoes, bean bag toss, or something ... else. In keeping with the trend of tailgate games where something small is lobbed at something big, cornhole is played by sending a series of soft beanbags towards a wooden target. Players aim to toss the bag through the hole on land them safely on the board to score points. A bag through the hole scores 3 points and a bag on the board scores 1 - watch out, though, your opponents points cancel yours out. The first team to 21 wins.

The History of Cornhole 


The origins of this high-stakes game are hotly contested. Some believe that the game that would become cornhole was first played in 14th-century Germany, eventually finding a revival in the Kentucky hills about 100 years ago. Others argue that Native Americans of the Midwest played a descendant game with dried bean-filled pigs' bladders. Still more attribute cornhole to the dubiously monikered Jebediah McGillicuddy of 19th-century Illinois. Naturally, a number of fraternity-filled colleges also lay claim to the generation of cornhole as a drinking game. Ohio University, Michigan State University, and the University of Illinois all have compelling stories claiming that they were the first to bring cornhole to the mainstream.

In the last decade, cornhole has liberated itself from the backwoods and frat houses and finds itself in the center of outdoor activities across the country. Its versatility, easy rules, and fast, competitive play make it the perfect addition to family reunions, birthday parties, tailgates, picnics, or simple Sunday gatherings. Many cornhole game sets are highly portable, so it's easy to set up a game whenever the moment's right.

Cornhole Today 


Today, there are leagues with rulebooks, organized tournaments, and literature on cornhole strategy and theory. This all may seem a bit much for casual players, but it represents the game's assimilation into the real mainstream. There are cornhole sets available from beginner to miniature to professional to officially licensed. Regulation-size cornhole targets are 4 feet long by 3 feet wide and sit with the holes 33 feet apart. Most boards are made of wood, but some weather-proof cornhole sets will feature plastic and metal construction. Cornhole bags are usually made with a rugged cloth like duck cloth or heavy-duty polyester, and filled with anything from traditional feed corn to polystyrene beads.