Support Us Button Widget

Madisonians, have you ever played kubb?

An obscure game is making headway in Wisconsin.

Three people by the lake are playing the game of kubb, throwing wooden sticks and wooden blocks.jpeg

The Madison Kubb League season begins at the end of May in Monona. | Photo via Madison Kubb League

“It’s a great activity to get out of the house, have a drink on the lake, and throw some wood at wood,” said Jerry Schuster, who runs the Madison Kubb League. That sounds good to us. But, for the uninitiated, what the heck is kubb?

The game

Kubb is a lawn game where the objective is to knock over wooden blocks by throwing wooden batons at them. Think: a cross between bowling and horseshoes.

It goes like this:

  • Blocks are placed at both ends of a pitch.
  • A “king,” a larger block, is placed in the middle of the pitch.
  • Players try to knock over the blocks by tossing batons at them.
  • Whomever knocks down “the king” first, wins.

The play

“We’re a great group of people,” Schuster said. “We welcome beginners, and everyone is very helpful. We play out back right on the lake by the tiki bar.”

  • When: Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. from May 29 through Aug. 14
  • Where: East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr.

There are local tournaments all the time culminating at the US National Kubb Championship in Eau Claire in mid-July.

Every tournament and league have no prerequisites for signing up and those there are eager to teach beginners.

More from 608today
We’ve made a concerted effort to orchestrate this roadmap, so you can focus on finding the artists you adore.
Check out these brunch restaurants, cafes, and diners in Madison, serving a variety of egg dishes, mimosas, bloody marys, and more.
Reach your local community with our help.
Dining in Madison is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Go bargain hunting with our Madison happy hour guide, which highlights drink specials and food discounts throughout the city.
Grab your reusable shopping bags, because we’ve rounded up 10 farmers markets around Madison.
Dig into Madison’s must-try pizza shops including fun flavors, fancy offerings, and frozen favorites.
We found the best kid-friendly activities in Madison, complete with art classes, animal encounters, and outdoor fun.
Ready for your lunch break? Check out these 15+ lunches from the east side to the west side.