DIY ladder golf is one of those weekend projects that pays for itself the first afternoon somebody breaks out a cooler. We built our first PVC set back in 2008, wrote up the plans, and have watched a dozen backyards copy the same 41 inch ladder ever since. The math is not fancy. Two ladders, six bolas, one 15 foot toss line, and roughly $40 in pipe and fittings from a hardware store. This is the updated build, the cut list that actually adds up, the mistakes we made the first time, and the store-bought sets worth buying instead if you would rather skip the saw work.
What Do You Need to Build a Ladder Golf Set?
Here is the shopping list for two ladders and six bolas, which is a full regulation game.
Pipe and fittings (per ladder, so double everything):
- 48 feet of 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe, total across both ladders
- 12 PVC tee fittings (3/4 inch)
- 12 PVC 90 degree elbow fittings (3/4 inch)
- Small can of PVC primer and cement (optional but recommended for outdoor use)
- Spray paint in two colors so the ladders read at a distance
Bolas (six total, three per player or team):
- 12 golf balls (thrift store buckets work fine)
- 12 feet of 1/4 inch nylon rope
- A drill and a 1/4 inch bit
Total cost at a big-box hardware store runs about $40 for the pipe and fittings, plus roughly $15 if you want to spray paint them, per the YellaWood build breakdown. A pre-built name-brand set runs $60 to $120, so the DIY version genuinely saves money, but only if you already own a saw and a drill. If you have to buy tools too, just buy the set.
What Are the Official Ladder Golf Dimensions?
The specs are boring but they matter, because a ladder that is 6 inches too tall makes the top rung nearly impossible.
A regulation ladder stands 41 inches tall with three rungs spaced 13 inches apart. The footprint is roughly 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep, per MeasuringKnowHow’s ladder golf reference. The official toss line sits 15 feet from the front of the ladder. Bolas are two golf balls joined by a rope, with the whole assembly measuring about 13 inches from ball to ball (some plans stretch this to 20 inches; both play fine).
Here is the cut list per ladder:
- 6 pieces of 3/4 inch PVC cut to 13 inches (the uprights between rungs)
- 3 pieces cut to 24 inches (the horizontal rungs themselves)
- 4 pieces cut to 12 inches (the base footprint)
Double all of that for the second ladder.
How Do You Assemble the PVC Ladder?
Dry-fit everything before you glue anything. This is the mistake we made in 2008, and we ended up with one crooked ladder that looked like it had been at a party.
- Build the two vertical rails first. Each rail is three 13 inch pipes connected by two tee fittings, capped with an elbow at the top.
- Rotate the tee openings so they face inward toward each other. This is where the rungs will connect.
- Join the two rails with the three 24 inch rungs. Slide them into the tees.
- Build the base by connecting the bottom elbows to a rectangle of four 12 inch pipes with four more tees at the corners.
- Stand the whole thing up and check that it is square. Wiggle it flat if it is not.
- Only after it looks right, pull each joint apart, add a swipe of PVC cement, and reassemble.
The whole build takes about an hour per ladder once you have the pipes cut, per the Formufit PVC ladder golf plan. Add another hour if you paint them.
How Do You Make the Bolas?
Each bola is two golf balls tied to the ends of a 13 inch length of nylon rope. Drill a 1/4 inch hole most of the way through each golf ball, feed the rope in, and either tie a fat knot behind the ball or dab a drop of hot glue to lock it in place. Make three bolas in one color and three in another so you can tell whose is whose at 15 feet.
If drilling golf balls sounds tedious, and it is, you can buy replacement bola sets on their own. The Franklin Sports replacement bola pack includes six pre-tied bolas for the cost of about ten minutes of your afternoon.
Do You Want to Buy One Instead?
If the DIY route sounds like too much sawdust, three brands dominate the pre-built ladder golf market. Here is how the popular sets compare.
| Set | Frame | Portable | Approx price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY PVC (this guide) | PVC pipe | Only if unglued | $40 to $55 | Anyone with basic tools |
| Franklin Sports Family Ladderball Check price | Steel, tournament spec | Yes, folds flat | $55 to $70 | Backyards and cookouts |
| Champion Sports Pro Ladder Golf Check price | Heavier steel | Yes, with carrying case | $70 to $90 | Regular tournament players |
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How Do You Play Once It Is Built?
Two ladders, 15 feet apart. Each player or team throws three bolas in a round. Top rung is 3 points, middle is 2, bottom is 1. First to exactly 21 wins, and going over means the round’s points do not count. We cover the full ruleset, house variations, and the tournament format in our ladder golf rules guide, including the cancellation scoring most backyards default to.
If lawn games are becoming a whole afternoon at your place, the same weekend build energy also works for horseshoe pits and cornhole boards. We tend to set up all three across the lawn and let people rotate.
Responsible Drinking Note
Ladder golf is a lawn game first. If drinks come along, keep them on a side table, not in the throwing hand, and put a pitcher of water next to the cooler so everyone stays hydrated in the sun. All content on this site assumes readers of legal drinking age. Play the game, not the buzz.
Quick Answers
How tall is a regulation ladder golf ladder? 41 inches, with three rungs spaced 13 inches apart.
How far apart do ladder golf ladders go? 15 feet from front of ladder to toss line, per official rules. Most casual games use “five paces.”
What is a ladder golf bola? Two golf balls joined by a 13 inch length of nylon rope, tossed as a single unit.
How much does it cost to build a DIY ladder golf set? About $40 for pipe and fittings, plus $15 if you paint them. Store-bought sets start around $55.
What PVC size is best for ladder golf? 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC. 1/2 inch cracks, 1 inch is overkill.
How long does the build take? About one hour per ladder once the pipes are cut, plus dry time if you glue the joints.
The Short Version
If you own a hacksaw, a drill, and a Saturday, a DIY ladder golf set costs about $40 in PVC and will outlast most store-bought sets we have owned. If you would rather spend the hour drinking iced tea, the Franklin steel set is the safe buy. Either way, keep the toss line at 15 feet, keep the bolas at 13 inches, and keep the water pitcher next to the cooler. Then argue about scoring for the rest of the summer.