Where we threw
Kneble’s Auto Service Lot
5473 Somers Point Road
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
The boards went up under the lights in the Kneble’s lot, with Freddy J’s across the way. Most people started at the bar, or ended up there after they threw.
How we played
Four bags, cancellation scoring, and a race to 21. That was the whole of it.
The Scoring
- Play to 21 (no need to land exactly).
- Each round: cancel equal points, then the higher team scores the net.
- Bag bounced off ground = 0 points, remove it.
The rules
The official basics, plus the house rules that kept league night fair and tied to Freddy J’s.
Cornhole rules
- Boards are placed 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge.
- Team members stand at opposite cornhole boards.
- Each team has four bean bags of the same color.
- The home team starts by throwing the first bag.
- Players alternate throws until all bags are thrown for that round.
- The most recent team to score begins the next round.
- Throw from anywhere behind the front edge of the board.
- Bags must be thrown underhanded.
- Remove bags from the board before the next round.
- Play continues until a team reaches 21 points.
House rules
- One original teammate had to play each week.
- Substitutes were allowed in the regular season, not in playoffs or championships.
- No outside food or alcohol. Freddy J's was part of league night.
Questions people asked
Could you bring outside food or drinks?
No outside food or alcohol. Freddy J's ran Thursday-night food and drink specials all evening, so people got what they needed there.
Were substitutes allowed?
Yes, during the regular season. One original teammate had to play each week. Substitutes were not allowed in playoffs or championships.
What happened if a team could not make a week?
Regular-season subs covered it as long as one original teammate played. If nobody could make it, that week was marked absent and the standings reflected it.
How many games were there per night?
Four official matches per team. After the official matches wrapped, people stuck around for free play and the Freddy J's specials.
What did the winners get?
A trophy, custom championship sweatshirts, and a pile of prizes from the sponsors. Over the seasons that included coolers, shirts, glassware, beach chairs, cornhole boards, wagons, firepits, and one oversized bobblehead. Names went on the plaques at Freddy J's.
What was the skill level like?
Fun first, competition second. It ran from people learning the underhand toss to seasoned bag throwers, and everyone got four matches a night regardless of where they sat in the standings.
What happened if it rained?
There was no cover out there, so the weather made the call. A light drizzle and we played. Anything heavier and we cancelled for the night. A missed week got split across the next two at six games each, or occasionally run as a double-header.