Paper Golf

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Practice sensory estimation and fine-motor control under visual constraints during a low-stakes break.

Use it when: Use as a tactile energizer between presentation segments or during a mid-workshop shift.

Skip it when: Skip when participants experience fine-motor tremors or when the group needs analytical alignment instead of a playful activity.

Group arrangement: Pairs. With an odd participant count, one trio forms where each member sketches a hole and passes their sheet clockwise each round.

Timing: UWT suggested 15-minute duration to allow drawing, reciprocal play, and debrief.

Materials and tools

• 1 sheet of blank paper per participant
• 1 pen or pencil per participant (contrasting ink colors per group are helpful)
• Index cards (optional, for participants who prefer blocking line of sight instead of closing eyes)
• Webcam and internet connection (for remote or hybrid participants)
• Access to a shared digital whiteboard (optional, for remote pairs)
• 1 timer for the facilitator

Before participants arrive

1. Provide flat tables or hard writing surfaces for everyone.
2. Distribute blank paper, pens, and optional index cards to all seats.

Say this to open

We are playing Paper Golf. You will sketch an imaginary golf hole with a tee, a cup, and hazards. Then you will swap papers with your partner. If you are in a trio, pass your paper clockwise to your neighbor. To take a stroke, place your pen on the tee, close your eyes, and drag your line toward the cup. Try to sink your ball in as few strokes as possible.

How to run it

1. Sketch the golf hole 4 minutes

   Deliver the opening script. Direct each person to take a blank sheet of paper and draw one complete golf hole. Have them mark a starting Tee at one end and a circular Cup at the other end. Tell them to sketch at least one hazard, like a water pond or sand bunker, while ensuring an open lane leads to the cup.

2. Play Round 1 4 minutes

   Have partners swap sheets. In a trio, each person passes their sheet clockwise. Player 1 starts on the tee, checks the line to the cup, closes their eyes, and draws a single mark, stopping when ready. That mark is one stroke. They open their eyes. The next stroke starts from that line's endpoint. Add one penalty stroke if a line touches a hazard. Repeat until the mark enters the cup. The course owner tallies strokes. Trios play concurrently on their received sheets.

3. Swap roles for Round 2 4 minutes

   Pairs swap roles. Player 2 now navigates Player 1's course with closed eyes. In a trio, each person passes the sheet they just played clockwise to the next person, so everyone navigates a second unique course. The course designer counts and logs strokes until the line reaches the cup.

4. Debrief and compare scores 3 minutes

   Call the room back together. Ask the debrief questions to the whole room. Take two or three quick volunteer answers about estimating distance blindly and reacting to hazards.

Debrief questions

• How did your stroke length change after you saw where your first blind line landed?
• What was harder to judge without sight: the distance or the angle around hazards?

Finished output: Completed paper golf courses showing drawn stroke paths and final stroke counts.

Remote

Form breakout pairs. Option A: Each player sketches a course on physical paper. In Round 1, Player 1 navigates their own course with closed eyes while holding the paper up to the webcam, and Player 2 calls penalties and logs strokes. In Round 2, they swap roles so Player 2 navigates their own course while Player 1 scores. Option B: Pairs open a shared digital whiteboard, sketch courses for each other, close eyes, and take turns drawing strokes across the screen.

Hybrid

Pair in-person participants with each other and pair remote participants in breakout rooms. If a cross-location pair is required, the in-person player and remote player draw on a shared digital whiteboard using pen tools.

Access and participation choices

• Participants uncomfortable closing their eyes can look up at the ceiling or hold an index card above their drawing hand to block line of sight.
• Anyone who prefers not to draw can act as official scorekeeper and hazard referee without disclosure.

If the session gets stuck

Players open their eyes while drawing their line.

Remind participants this is a blind estimation challenge. Offer an index card held above the hand if keeping eyes shut feels awkward.

A participant draws hazards that completely block the path to the cup.

Check sheets during Step 1 and remind everyone that every hole must have at least one open, hazard-free corridor.

Terms used here

• Tee: The marked starting point for a golf hole.
• Cup: The circular target destination for the golf ball.
• Hazard: A marked obstacle like water or sand that adds one penalty stroke if a line crosses it.