Cornhole Challenge

The Cornhole Challenge is in its 2nd year and this event is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2013, at the the Exhibit Hall at the James Brown Arena. The Exhibit Hall is in the lower level of the James Brown Arena. Two person teams will battle for a first place prize of $500. The fee to register is $110 per team, including food and limited drinks. Second place pays $250 and third place $100. The event will begin at 2 p.m.

Additional income will be generated by the $10 admission charge for spectators and sponsorships for logos on the cornhole boards. Sponsors who contribute $250 will get their logo on one cornhole board, be allowed to enter one team. Those who donate $500 will get their logos on two boards, get spots for one team to play and will receive two boards to take home. All logo sponsorships will include food and drinks.

Limited spots and sponsorships are available, so those interested should call 706-738-1358 as soon as possible.

And just what is cornhole? Also known as bean bag toss, baggo or bags, it is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing bean bags at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A corn bag in the hole scores three points, while one on the platform scores one point. Play continues until a player reaches the score of 21.

The history of the game is mostly unknown, though stories abound. One story claims that the game was first played during the 14th century in Germany, then rediscovered in the hills of Kentucky, or somewhere in Ohio, about 100 years ago. Many American scholars confirm that a game of very similar nature was played by Native Americans in Midwest America (notably, the Blackhawk tribe in Illinois) who filled pig bladders with dried beans and competitively tossed them for entertainment. The truth is, no one really knows, but the game is great fun for all ages and can be played anywhere!

The popularity of the game began to increase in the late 1990s at northern colleges, particularly Ohio State University and Michigan State University, where cornhole became a mainstay at parties and as a casual drinking game.

Inevitably, some of those Cornhole tossing yankees made their way South and the game spread to Southern colleges and universities and eventually gained a foothold right here in Augusta.

Cornhole or Corn Toss is similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole platforms and corn bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes. Contestants take turns pitching their corn bags at the cornhole platform until a contestant reaches the score of 21 points. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point.

Scoring can be swift and the lead may change hands several times in a match before the winner is decided.

The game is generally played tournament style with an individual or team being named the champion at the end of the tournament.

The draw of cornhole is not only the fact that it can be played by children and adults alike, but that it can be played anywhere-indoors, outdoors, at the beach, in the driveway. The simple game-play instructions makes it an easy game for anyone to catch onto and learn, and creates a perfect party game for any family outing or friendly get-together.