There is a course in Nebraska City, Nebraska that is incredibly difficult for the amateur golfer. From the tips it measures 7222 yards and has a slope/index of 75.5/145. Due to the shear amount of balls my friend Jake and I lost on the first eight holes, when Jake hit his ninth tee shot way left we knew it was gone. He pulled a yellow ball out of his pocket, turned to me and said "I do not like the yellow ball of shame" and hit a rocket of a drive down the center of the fairway. Jake played with this same ball for four holes before switching back to his regular brand. Later that round I too adopted the Yellow Ball of Shame and did not lose that yellow ball.
From there we developed YBOS as a focus-based side game, with the penalty for losing being simply the drinks at the turn or at the end of the round.
Other than clubs, a course, and money to cover your tab, the only thing you need to play the Yellow Ball of Shame is a yellow ball. Luckly, most yellow colored balls come in packs of fifteen rather than the standard twelve, so you'll have plenty of Yellow Balls of Shame in case you lose one!
Because the Yellow Ball of Shame is your provisional ball, it is best to keep it in pocket to keep the pace of the round.
The variations of the Yellow Ball of Shame call for the carrying of an additional color for each ball. However, for the sake of simplicity you may wish to just keep score instead of switching the ball out.
• The Orange Ball of Anger is played similarly to the Yellow Ball of Shame, but is played as an optional stroke instead of a required stroke.
• When a player has determined the stroke they have just played is unfavorable and becomes angry with their shot, they have the option to play the Orange Ball of Anger.
• When played, the Orange Ball of Anger is played as a one-shot optional stroke.
• The Orange Ball of Anger requires an additional Yellow Ball of Shame tally but can be reduced to either zero or one strokes based on the outcome of the shot.
• Gameplay is similar to the Yellow Ball of Shame, but the Pink Ball of Hit It With Your Purse is played only on the green.
• The first player to leave a put short by more than the length of their putter is required to mark their ball and replace it with the Pink Ball of Hit It With Your Purse.
• The player with the Pink Ball of Hit It With Your Purse may play with their ball of choice from the tee box or fairway, but must switch to the Pink Ball of Hit It With Your Purse before putting from the green.
• The Pink Ball of Hit It With Your Purse is relinquished once (a) another player in the group has subsequently left their putt significantly short, (b) holed out with one putting stroke or less, OR (c) putted thier ball from on the green to off the green.
Have you played YBOS? Got any recommendations or variations? Let us know!