When Hobbies Become Sports: The Cornhole Game

The Cornhole game is typically played more in the northeast and in the west than it is in the south, but there are pockets of Cornhole players everywhere. The game is gaining in popularity, and more people are taking an interest in how it is played. They even organize tournaments in some places where Cornhole players can get together and enjoy a day of playing the game together. They can win cash and prizes, and they can also simply have a great time with their friends and with fellow Cornhole players. Not everyone knows, though, how the game came about. Some think it started in Europe, and others think that it started in the United States. Those who believe it came about in America also cannot agree on which city and state was the first home of the game. Some believe that it was Chicago, Illinois, and others believe that it was Cleveland, Ohio. The two cities have quite a rivalry taking place about it, and there are good-natured arguments from both sides regarding it.

The people in Cleveland, Ohio often call it the Cornhole game, and the people in Chicago, Illinois generally call it the bean bag toss. Either way, it is argued that it is the same game. Overall, it is, but there is a difference that not everyone is aware of. The official board for the bean bag toss or the bean bag game is two feet by three feet, and the official board for the Cornhole game is two feet by four feet. Some people, however, play what they still call the Cornhole game with the smaller board, and they do this because the board is easier to maneuver. It can be carried around in the bed of a pickup truck and also in the trunk of a medium-sized or larger car. This means that it is easy to take to parties, tailgating get-togethers, and other events, making it more enjoyable more often for a larger group of people. From such a small beginning in a northern town, it has become a sensation in many parts of the country where it was previously unheard of.

The game got its name because people used cloth bags filled with corn, and they tried to throw them through a hole in a wooden board. Getting the bag through the hole scored points, as did getting the bag to sit on the board and not fall off, although these were not worth as much. In time, the game changed somewhat. The bags were made of different types of cloth and sewn on machines, the boards were made of plastic sometimes, although they can still be made of wood as well. People also started filling the bags with plastic pellets or small, round plastic beads, because these could get wet and not become damaged. Corn or dried beans do not do well when they have gotten wet, and this can make the Cornhole bags unusable. The game, however, continues to remain basically the same and continues to have many followers.