April Fools Jokes to Play on Golfers

            Planning on playing a round this Saturday? Well, take this as a fair warning that this Saturday happens to be April 1, which is none other than April Fools Day! Recently, our blogs have surrounded technical topics such as golf club reviews and advice. This week's blog will be a little more light-hearted, such that we will be using this blog to give some April Fools inspiration to our readers. In other words, this blog will list some potential practical jokes our readers can play on their fellow golfers during an upcoming match this April Fool's Day. 

Heads Up

            Before we dive into the April Fools Jokes, I want to point out that before choosing to play one of these pranks on a fellow golfer, it is worth verifying that they will not respond in a manner that could consequently make this round unenjoyable. The purpose of these pranks is to add a bit of humor to the day, so if you think that there is a chance that the person who will be on the receiving end of the prank may take this more negatively, I would advise you to reconsider going through with the joke.

Fake Snake Prank

            This is one of my favorite pranks on April Fools Day because it requires little preparation and will almost always get a reaction.

            Hence the name of the prank, all that this prank consists of is purchasing a fake snake and lying it out for someone to see. Place the snake in a spot they might see on their way back to the golf cart so that it wouldn't interfere with any of their shots. While they are teeing off, you could put the fake snake somewhere between them and the golf cart.

At A Glance:

• Needed Materials:
  • Fake/Toy Snake
• Ideal For:
  • A group of 3+ players

Fake Golf Ball Prank

            Another tremendous practical joke is known as the fake golf ball prank. To do this, you'll need a bag of jumbo marshmallows. This is best done with two people who are in on the joke. First, you will need one person to distract the other players while the other person involved in the prank can go to an area of the golf course ahead. Scatter the jumbo marshmallows. Then, go back towards your group and await your shot. As you swing the club, aim for the area where you placed the marshmallows and pretend you cannot locate your ball. Ask the players not in on the prank to help you retrieve the golf balls and inform them that you think it went over towards the area where the marshmallows are placed. As they approach the grassy area where the marshmallows are set up, hopefully, they will spot the marshmallows thinking that they hit the jackpot and found several golf balls!

I think this prank works best in an area with taller grass, so while searching for a place to set up the joke, try to locate a site that meets this description.

At A Glance:

• Materials:
  • A Bag of Jumbo Marshmallows
• Ideal For:
  • A group of 3+ players

Hole in One Prank

            Known as the "Hole in One" prank, this April Fool's joke also doesn't require much preparation other than distracting the individual being pranked. 

            I think this prank is the most "last minute" prank because you will likely have the materials in your golf bag. This can also be pulled off while playing in a pair, but it works best in a group of 3. To begin, the two who are carrying out the prank are going to need to designate the following two roles: (1) the player who hits the "hole in one" and (2) the player who is distracting the person who is being pranked. If you are carrying this out in a pair, it is not required to have a "distractor," but it will be more difficult to successfully complete the joke. After you tee off, react so you cannot tell where your ball went. Ultimately, part of the joke requires that you substitute in a "lost ball" as a result. However, while the person unbeknownst to the joke is not looking, slip an extra ball into the cup on the green. When you get to the green, the trick will be that you "hit a hole in one." You can fool a fellow golfer into thinking you had a hole-in-one.

            I recommend doing this on a par 3 or a short par 4 to make it more believable.

At A Glance:

• Materials:
  • Additional Golf Ball
• Ideal For:
  • A group of 2+ players

Fake Scratch off Prank

            While this also requires some pre-planning, this prank typically yields hilarious reactions that add fun to any April Fool's round. This April Fool's joke requires you to bring a fake scratch-off lottery ticket on the course. Before teeing off or between holes, casually mention that you have a lottery ticket. This is when you scratch off the fake lottery ticket. Then, after scratching it off, your group will see that you have just "won" thousands or even millions of dollars which generally makes for some pretty priceless reactions.

            You could do this prank just about anywhere, but it is amusing while on the golf course.

At A Glance:

• Materials:
  • Fake scratch-off lottery ticket
• Ideal For:
  • A group of 2-5 players

Exploding Golf Ball Prank

            This is one of those classic golf pranks, so consider this a fair warning that some of your golf colleagues may see this one coming.

            This prank consists of replacing someone's standard golf ball with an exploding one which can be found online and at other various golf stores. The exploding golf ball prank also requires some additional planning, but it is well worth it.

            To carry out this prank, I recommend having someone distract the person being pranked while someone replaces their golf ball with the exploding one. As they make contact with the ball, it will explode.

At A Glance:

• Materials Needed:
  • Exploding Golf Ball
• Ideal For:
  • A Group of 3+ people 

Happy April Fools Day

            Overall, I wish all of you the best of luck while playing this April Fool's Day and advise you to be wary of any April Fools jokes and pranks you may fall victim to. Best of luck carrying out these jokes if you choose to do so!