Game on – The new Town Square calls for more than concerts

The North Boulevard Town Square comes equipped with game board tabletops—just add checkers or chess pieces, and you’re good to go—but what about the green lawn and pebbled pitch branching off from the stage area? They are just begging for some lunch-hour or after-hours competition.

Before downtown businesses roll up their sleeves on an organized Wiffle Ball league, 225 endorses the games below for the new Town Lawn.

But first, the rules: “Pickup, spontaneous games are encouraged,” says Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District. “We would just ask that nothing be driven more than six inches into the ground. And because we do have some regularly scheduled events, it is important that people check the calendar (at downtownbatonrouge.org/playfestivals).”

Origin: Ancient Rome

The gist: From the Latin Vulgate bottia, meaning “boss,” bocce challenges players to toss their ball as close to the fixed target—a smaller ball called a pallino—as possible. Knocking an opponent’s ball out of the way? Totally boss.

Origin: Ohio, 2008

The gist: Don’t act like you’ve never thrown a disc to knock a cup off of a stick before. Unlike most lawn games, Flimsee allows for defense, so players can prevent opponents from scoring by catching their cups before they hit the grass. Keen defenders may want to put that drink down.

Origin: Sweden, 1920s—Though some claim the Vikings played a form of Kubb as early as the 11th century, and who wants to argue with a Viking?

The gist: A mixture of bowling and horseshoes, Kubb is an “under-handed” battle to toss sticks and knock over the opponent’s small posts, including the king kubb—which, like an eight-ball, is saved for last.

Origin: Homemade versions of “hillbilly golf” have existed for years, but one of the earliest officially recorded references comes from LSU tailgaters outside Rosenblatt Stadium for the College World Series in 2008. Of course, NBC’s Omaha affiliate reported the Tiger fans also playing something called “beer ball.”

The gist: Golf balls are put to good use. Two are connected by a thin rope and tossed at a ladder, with three rungs worth various points.