PAR-TEE Time: Ideas for a Golf Themed Party

Inside: Plan the ultimate golf-themed party with creative golf party ideas, DIY golf decorations, golf party food, and drinks—perfect for a themed birthday party, milestone birthdays, golf lovers, retirement parties, and golf tournaments!

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Through no intentional choice, I’ve been around golf most of my adult life. And many of my friendships have evolved from a circle of my ex-husband’s golf friends. The downside is when you make friends this way that means hearing a blow-by-blow of every hole (eyes glaze over).

But golf friends have golf parties.

And that’s where I make my best contribution to the sport.

Golf-Themed Party Ideas for Adults.

These golf buddies are a truly great group of about 30-40 guys and have their own long-standing annual golf tournament at our country club dubbed the “Ryder Cup” after the famous major tournament. 

It is several days of doing a whole lot of their favorite “man/golf” stuff—playing, joking, trash-talking, drinking, and probably a little gambling too.

In 2019, we had a full out Caddyshack theme. I requested that the guests dress up with something related to golf or the movie, not expecting much participation. 

Boy, for people that hate to dress up, they were totally into it. They ditched the usual golf polo shirts and it made it so much fun!

Golf Party Decorations.

I changed this year’s celebration to a more general golf theme, which was a great way for me to reuse some of what I already had. So I’ve got that goin’ for me, which is nice (Caddyshack reference😉).

I set the stage for what was inside with a couple of Caddyshack signs on the front door.

There were nods to golf around all of the main party areas. Just like with any party, a lot of guests hung out in the kitchen, so most of my focus went there.

Golf Party Centerpieces.

A lot of my golf party “supplies” were simply gear from golf. I put three “vintage” golf clubs into a vase…my husband used these when he played on the golf team in high school and he got all nostalgic when I put them out (cue early 80’s music).

I added faux hydrangeas and real greenery and sat it on top of a piece of astroturf cut in the shape of golf greens.

I sprinkled some golf tees and balls around the turf runner. If there are party decorations I can shop my house for it’s definitely for a golf soiree!

I brought back my fun Caddyshack items. The required gopher. He popped out of the ground made up of oatmeal “dirt“.

Two of the best and most quotable golf movies of all time are Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore, so I spread quotes throughout where guests would hang out.

It was fun to get my husband’s opinion on the best ones and hard to narrow them down to just a few! (They can be a little raunchy, but this party’s audience is just fine with that.)

I gave them a preppy background with a “Mad for Plaid” pad of scrapbook paper.

Can’t leave out this infamous reference to the Caddyshack swimming pool scene:

Even the bathrooms got signs above the two toilets that guests would use:

The kitchen table served as the wine and Prosecco station. Three oversized martini glasses became tees for the paper lantern “golf balls”.

They sat on a grass runner with movie quotes, wood tees, and a couple of old golf trophies.

I made new plaques for the trophies on cardstock with inside jokes for this golf crew.

The family room is where the pairings were announced and some guests hung out. My DIY moss bowl became the perfect golf green for a few balls.

And I decorated the mantel with a vase filled with the extra greenery and more golf balls.

I dressed the vase up for the theme with a couple of tees and a ball marker hot glued to burlap and satin ribbon.

Golf-Themed Appetizers.

We had a mobile hamburger grill caterer come and set up in the backyard to serve burgers, potato salad, and baked beans for dinner.

And inside we had an appetizer spread ready for the hungry golfers and their plus ones as they hung out and visited.

We built this charcuterie offering with folded skewered meats, various cheeses, fruit, and some fig jam.

This was a hit and all but disappeared! I think skewering the meats into small sections of three pieces made it easier to eat.

We also offered this Greek tray:

This platter had Mediterranian noshes…hummus, naan dippers, olives, and cucumbers.

I thought this appetizer was perfect for a golf party in the South… a pecan-coated pimento cheese ball on a silver platter:

Very Masters-like.

See the recipe in “Southern Pimento Cheese Ball: Easy Masters Party Favorite“.

We had a few additional munchies with a couple more dips and several dipper options.

Golf Party Desserts.

For something sweet, we had two choices on the golf themed menu of desserts.

An assortment of golf ball cake pops (sans the sticks) in red velvet, lemon, and white chocolate, all coated in white to resemble golf balls. A little bit of coconut dyed with green food coloring became the underlying “grass” for the cake balls.

Buttery Boozy Birdie Shots were the other dessert option. Butterscotch and Bailey’s pudding shot mini desserts served in condiment cups, topped with Heath crumbles.

See how to make these Buttery Nipple flavored pudding shots, plus 29 other easy and scrumptious combinations in “30 Best Boozy Pudding Shot Dessert Recipe Ideas“. They make the ideal size dessert for an adult party and can be customized to any celebration!

Golf Party Cocktails.

I always have some big batch signature drinks available in drink dispensers and plan them around the party’s theme.

This gathering’s drinks were a pink cocktail made up of grapefruit and vodka with a splash of pomegranate juice, and a spiked Arnold Palmer.

And in keeping with the Caddyshack theme, the spiked Arnold Palmers ((usually called a John Daly). was renamed the Carl Spackler, and the pretty pink drink became the Lacy Underall!

If you’d like the recipe for another delicious golf cocktail, check out my post for the signature drink of the Augusta National Golf club, the Master’s Azalea Cocktail.

I hope this post inspires you to infuse a little extra fun into whatever kind of party you are having!

Go to your happy place, (“Happy Gilmore“)

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