DYI - Backyard Fun with Horseshoes

Now that summer is cooling off in Tulsa, OK, you can bring the family together for backyard fun with horseshoes.  Building your own horseshoe pit is a wonderful way for friends and family to enjoy an outdoor activity that is healthy and fun.  Therefore, we have some tips on how to build your own permanent horseshoe pit.  It’s an easy process and doesn’t require many supplies. 

 

 

 

Dimensions & Options – A regulation size pit is 6ft by 40ft with a platform for pitching at each end. If you’re building one for children, you can use the 6ft by 30ft dimensions or for even smaller children, 6ft by 15ft.  To mark your dimensions, use twine or a kite string and four wooden stakes.

 

Pitching platforms should be 6’ x 6’ each.

 

Materials List – You can easily find the needed lumber and materials at any lumberyard or home and garden center.  For easy transportation, ask the home center or lumber yard to cut your 12’ boards in half.

 

2–2x10 x 36" for the backboard
2–2x4 x 22" for the backboard braces
8–2x4 x 72" for the pitching platforms
10–2x4 x 15" for the pitching platforms
1–4x4x 72" bottom rail for backboard
6–2x6 x 72" deck boards
#8 x 3" deck screws, box of 100

 

Pitching Platforms – Create the platform boxes using two 72-inch 2x4s and15-inch 2x4s. Use the #8 deck screws to lock each corner together. Screw three additional 15-inch 2x4s to the sides equally spaced along the 72-inch length (use two # 8 deck screws at each joint). Next, attach the three 72-inch 2x4s to the top of the box to form the deck. Repeat this process for the second pitching platform.

 

The Backboards – To create the backboards you will need to position the two 2x10s for the backboard along their 36-inch edge and attach the two 2x4 x 22 along the short edge of the backboard, and attach each 2x4 brace with eight deck screws.

 

The Pit – If you will be using a sand pit, remove all grass and dig out 4 inches of dirt so you can allow for 4 inches of sand.  Add the horseshoe stakes at each end of the pit with 18” above ground. Smooth the sand in your pit and you’re ready to have unlimited outdoor fun.

 

More tips: You can buy horseshoe sets at any sporting goods store.

 

These backyard fun tips are brought to you by: Tom and Bev Herring – your real estate resource for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.