For most people, practicing golf is nowhere near as fun as actually playing the game. However, if you can get creative with your practice regimen you can boost the level on the 'enjoyment-ometer' significantly. I do think it's important to find a partner to practice with whenever possible. Playing by yourself is much more enjoyable than practicing by yourself in my opinion. When you're playing by yourself you can at least play against old man par (or old man double-bogey depending on your level/ goals). So, find a friend with similar golf ability and try the following games.
H-O-R-S-E
Works best on a putting green, and can be played with two or a handful of people. Just like the basketball version, if you make a shot, your partner has to make the same shot or they get a letter. First one to spell HORSE is out of the game. This one is fun to play in a park as well, trying to get balls to hit trunks of trees or land in certain grassy areas.
Play nine on the practice hole
Many practice holes at public golf courses will have miniature flags on the green that are numbered one through nine. So, get your buddy and grab a scorecard, and play nine holes on the putting green. This can be done by starting each 'hole' on the green with a putt or off the green with a chip or pitch shot. Score the game just as you would score an ordinary round of golf. Eighteen holes can be played in less than a half-hour! The pair can also elect to play skins or match play rather than stroke play.
Target shooting on the range
Pick a target on the driving range and try to hit it, then have your partner try to hit it. I like a game where each player has 10 balls and tries to hit each to a specific target, noting 'how many out of ten' hit the target. Obviously this only works if the driving range has target greens to hit or if the 'ball-pickup cart' is parked on the range (even better if someone is driving it around.. moving targets are the best).
Chipping contests
See who can chip or pitch shots closest to a hole, scoring points for each hole (first one to ten wins or something thereabouts). The game can be also played by having to putt out in order to validate the shot (if the player misses the putt, the hole is a push). Additionally, there is a game where tees are placed in a circle around the hole (about eight inches apart) and the players try to putt or chip balls so that the ball stops within the circle. Each time a ball stops in the circle the player gets to remove a tee from the circle and put it in their pocket. Whichever player has the most tees after ten shots wins.
These games can be even better with an adult beverage close at hand. So, get creative with the practice and keep it fun!
