zakadoo•com - Monkey Bar Golf

Supplies needed to build one Monkey Bar Ladder and 3 Monkey Tails
	2 each — 3/4" x 10-foot Schedule 40 PVC pipes *
	6 each — 3/4" x 3/4" x 3/4" PVC T-Joints (unthreaded)
	6 each — 3/4" x 3/4" PVC 90° Elbows (unthreaded)
	6 each — Golf Balls (optionally, 12 balls are needed to make 2 sets of monkey tails; use 6 golf balls in one color and 6 golf balls in another color) **
	6 feet — 3/16" Nylon Braided Rope (optionally, 12 feet of rope is needed to make 2 sets of monkey tails)
	PVC Cement (clear)
	Optional Carrying Bag — The bag from an old folding camp chair works perfectly as a storage and carrying bag for the Monkey Bar Golf game.
* PVC pipe is not sold in exact lengths. Some pipes may be an inch or two longer than 10 feet while others may be an inch or two shorter than 10 feet. Make sure the pipe is at least 10 feet long. ** Use golf balls with a solid core; do not use balls with a liquid core or "DT Wound" rubber band cores. For some of the scoring variations, the golf balls need to be numbered. Either select balls in pairs with the numbers 1, 2, and 3 already printed on the balls, or use a permanent marker to number the balls. If making two sets of monkey tails, each color should have a pair of number 1 balls, a pair of number 2 balls, and a pair of number 3 balls.

Tools Needed
• Hack Saw	• Electric Drill	• 1/4" drill bit
• Sand Paper (medium grade)	• Sharp Knife or Box Cutter	• Butane Lighter or Matches

Making the Monkey Bars
Step 1 — Cut 2-foot Pipes x 5 Measure one of the 10-foot PVC pipes marking it at 2-foot intervals. If the pipe is longer than 10 feet there will be a short piece of excess pipe. Using a hack saw, cut the pipe into five 2-foot pieces. Use a knife, box cutter, and/or sand paper to remove any uneven material from the ends of the pipes.
Step 2 — Cut 1-foot Pipes x 10 Measure the other 10-foot PVC pipe marking it at 1-foot intervals. If the pipe is longer than 10 feet there will be a short piece of excess pipe. Using a hack saw, cut the pipe into ten 1-foot pieces. Use a knife, box cutter, and/or sand paper to remove any uneven material from the ends of the pipes.
Step 3 — Create Base Bars x 2 Take one T-joint and two 1-foot pipes. Apply PVC cement inside the straight-through openings of the T-joint and insert a 1-foot pipe into each side. Repeat to make a second base bar.
Step 4 — Create End Bars x 3 Take two 90° elbows and one 2-foot pipe. Apply PVC cement inside one opening of a 90° elbow and insert a 2-foot pipe into the opening. Place on a flat surface. Apply PVC cement to one opening of another 90° elbow. Place the elbow on the flat surface. Insert the other end of the pipe into the second elbow making sure that both elbows are flat on the surface and that the unglued openings are both pointing in the same direction. Repeat two more times for a total of three end bars.
Step 5 — Create Cross Bar x 2 Take two T-joints and one 2-foot pipe. Apply PVC cement inside the center opening of a T-joint and insert a 2-foot pipe into the opening. Place on a flat surface. Apply PVC cement to the center opening of another T-joint. Place the T-joint on the flat surface. Insert the other end of the pipe into the second T-joint making sure that both T-joints are flat on the surface. Repeat to make a second cross bar.

Making the Monkey Tails
Step 1 — Cut the Rope Cut the nylon rope into 2-foot pieces. After making each cut, use a butane lighter or matches to melt the ends of the rope so that it will not fray. Before the melted portion cools completely, roll it on a smooth surface so that it is not significantly wider than the rope; otherwise, it will not fit through the hole in the golf balls.
Step 2 — Drill Holes in Golf Balls Using a 1/4" drill bit, make a hole through the center of each golf ball. Use the knife or box cutter to clean any uneven material away from the openings. It may be helpful to place the ball in the cap from a 2-liter soda bottle while drilling.
Step 3 — Tie Golf Balls to Rope Tie a simple overhand knot close to one end of a 2-foot piece of rope. Thread the rope through two golf balls that are the same color. If using numbered golf balls, be sure that both golf balls share the same number as well. Tie another overhand knot at the other end of the rope. Push a ball snug against the knot. Tie another overhand knot next to the golf ball, tightening it snuggly against the inside edge. Repeat with the other golf ball at the opposite end of the rope. (Knots are placed at the red arrows in the picture above.)

Assembly Instructions
The various unassembled pipe segments and monkey tails can be stored and transported using a bag from an old folding camp chair.
	Assemble Upright Ladder
	Step 1 — Take one of the end bars and insert 1-foot pipes into each end.
	Step 2 — Insert the other ends of the 1-foot pipes into a cross bar.
	Step 3 — Take two more 1-foot pipes and insert them into the remaining openings of cross bar.
	Step 4 — Attach another cross bar to the ends of the 1-foot pipes.
	Step 5 — Take two more 1-foot pipes and insert them into the remaining openings of the second cross bar.

	Assemble Base
	Step 1 — Take one of the end bars and insert side base bars into each end.
	Step 2 — Attach the remaining end bar to the opposite ends of side base bars.
	Step 3 — Lay the assembled base flat on the ground. Insert the upright ladder into the base.

Rules & Scoring

Monkey Bar Golf can be played with 2 or 4 players. Two players can comfortably play using a single monkey bar ladder; however, two monkey bar ladders work better when four people are playing. Ideally, each person or team can play with their own set of three monkey tails. Otherwise, players or teams must alternate tossing the same set of monkey tails.

1) Place the monkey bar targets about 30 feet apart. If playing with a single target, mark a throwing line approximately 30 feet from the target.

2) Alternating turns, two players toss their monkey tails one at a time at a target using an underhand throwing motion, trying to get the monkey tail to wrap around one of the horizontal monkey bars.

3) After all the monkey tails are thrown, the players determine their scores from the monkey tails still on the ladder. Any monkey tails that fall off during the course of play do not score any points. Each player or team adds the score for the round to their total.

4) If four people are playing, the other two players take alternating turns tossing the monkey tails back at the opposite target. If only two people are playing, they retrieve the monkey tails and again throw them at a target. The player or team with the higher score in the previous round tosses first.

5) Play continues in this manner until one player or team has earned the required points to win.

There are several variation for scoring, so players must determine which method will be used for their game.

Option 1: The top monkey bar is worth 3 points, the middle bar is worth 2 points, and the bottom bar is worth one point. Any monkey tail hanging to a bar at the end of a round scores the points for the bar that it is hanging on. The first player or team to 21 points wins.

Option 2: This option requires monkey tails made using pairs of numbered golf balls where each set contains a monkey tail with a pair of number one balls, a tail with a pair of number 2 balls, and a tail with a pair of number 3 balls. The top monkey bar is worth 30 points, the middle bar is worth 20 points, and the bottom bar is worth 10 points. The score is determined by multiplying the points from the bar by the number on the monkey tail balls. For example, a monkey tail with a pair of number 2 balls on the middle bar scores 40 points (20 times 2), and a monkey tail with a pair of number 3 balls on the bottom bar scores 30 points (10 times 3). The first player or team to 500 points wins.

Option 3: Rather than playing as teams, three or more people can play with each of the players keeping their own score. A round is not complete until all of the players have been able to toss the monkey tails.