Horseshoes vs. cornhole

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Tossing oversized horseshoes made out of iron at a stake implanted in the ground about 40 feet away may not sound all that fun.

According to Wikipedia the most trusted (cough, cough) source of information, horseshoes began as a game more than 2,000 years ago.

And thanks to relentless efforts by the Flagler Palm Coast Horseshoe Club, 12 tournament-style horseshoe pits will begin construction Monday, Feb. 20, when the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners hosts a groundbreaking ceremony.

The ceremony will also feature world champion horseshoe pitcher Regina Hawes.

The project has been in the works for more than four years, said Tom Martone, a member of the club.

The horseshoe pits will be built under a canopy and constructed to the professional standards of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. Once the pits are finished, the Flagler Palm Coast Horseshoe Club will seek approval from the national association to conduct sanctioned tournaments. The estimated time for construction is three months.

Currently, there are 70 members of the Flagler County club.

“The benefit of having the sanctioned courts is to have tournaments,” Martone said. “There is a sanctioned tournament every weekend in Florida — about 45 to 50 tournaments a year.”

Play the game just once, and apparently you’ll be hooked. I’ve actually never played horseshoes. I have played cornhole, though, which is similar — a modern version of horseshoes.

In cornhole, there are two, two-person teams. Each team gets four bean bags, and tosses them at a board at least 45 feet apart, according to rules set by the American Cornhole Association. Teams get one point for landing the bag on the board, three points for sinking the bag in the circular cutout on the board. The goal is to be the first team to 21.

Games of cornhole can get pretty intense. A few months ago during a game, coworker Mike Cavaliere tossed a bag into my cup. I was drenched in beer.

Playing horseshoes is a lot like cornhole. It can be played between two people, or two teams of two people. The throwing target is a stake in the ground, and horseshoes about twice the size of real horseshoes are thrown.

If you’re going to play, though, keep an extra close eye on Mike Cavaliere. Horseshoes can hurt.

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