Don Nistler has been building his do-it-yourself golf course in Golva, N.D. slowly and is now up to 10 holes. He’s converted an old granary into a clubhouse, as well, where he displays his golf ball collection and tells stories. In Evansville, Ill., Drew Lappe has also created a backyard course.

Club Nistler in Golva, N.D. is unlike any golf course you’ve ever seen before, KFYR reported. For Don Nistler, an 88-year-old man, it’s a labor of love.

When he’s not playing golf, he’s mowing the course, Nistler’s son Perry told KFYR.

“He’s the club pro,” Perry Said.

Because Club Nistler is just a few steps from Don’s home on his farm just outside Golva, KFYR reported. He started building it in 2010.

“I kind of like venturing into new things,” Don said. “I thought I’d try golfing. I had a set of golf clubs.”

“One hole led to another, led to another and he’s up to 10 holes now. He just keeps adding on,” said Perry.

He’s even added a clubhouse, KFYR reported. It’s an old granary converted into a space to tell golf stories and display his golf ball collection. Don estimates he’s collected about 1,500 golf balls. They’re for display only but he’s got other golf balls and clubs on hand for guests to use. But you only need one club to play this course.

“This is a pitching wedge course,” explained Perry.

There are no tee boxes, KFYR reported.

“Just don’t dig on the grass too deep if you don’t have to,” Don requested.

There aren’t any greens either, KFYR reported.

“There’s a little bare spot where the hole is,” said Don, pointing to the hole.

Don figures par for the 10-holes is 40, but no one ever really keeps score on this course, KFYR reported.

“There are no scorecards,” said Perry. “We play best ball and pick on everybody that’s here.”

“We never keep score. If you’re playing with somebody else, you might say, ‘Oh you won this hole because you got there before me,’” Don added.

But there is a whole lot of good-natured trash talk and plenty of laughs, KFYR reported.

“We always have fun,” Don said with a smile.

Don hosts his entire family every year for a family reunion and a few rounds of golf, KFYR reported.

Some of the more memorable moments at Club Nistler include hosting the Golva kindergarten class and the time his granddaughter got engaged on hole six, KFYR reported. The couple will marry next month.

Similarly, an Evansville, Ill. man took his love of golf to the next level and created his own golf course in his backyard, WFIE reported.

Drew Lappe is a weekly golfer with the Helfrich Hills Men’s Club and enjoys landscaping, WFIE reported. Over the course of five years, Lappe cleared his property and put in Astroturf to turn his land into a three-par golf course.

Lappe invites his friends and family to an annual tournament known as the Lappe Oaks Invitational, WFIE reported.

This year’s tournament winner got the lowest score of 100 through three rounds and won a large sum of money, WFIE reported. Lappe says having his own personal golf course allows him to practice while spending time with family.

“I think it’s a great entry form to golf,” said Lappe. “My son’s four and a half years old. He loves to come out here and chip around. It doesn’t make it so difficult or kind of uppity at some golf courses. It’s a great way for young kids to get introduced to the sport.”

Throughout the years of Lappe and his friends playing golf, they’ve only hit the house twice, only causing minor damage, WFIE reported.

In May 2019, Club + Resort Business reported on “Brough Creek National,” aka “Some Guy’s Backyard.” The seven-hole course is built upon three acres on the Missouri River Bluffs of Kansas City, Kan. To counter the “unapproachable and expensive” nature of golf, friends created the course and offer free rounds for anyone who signs up for tee times online.