Planning a summer team social sounds straightforward at first, until the guest list starts getting into three figures.
With larger gatherings, the usual formula of food, drinks and music doesn’t always carry the whole event. Some people will naturally chat and mingle, but others can end up standing around unsure where to go next, especially when different departments, offices or clients are all there together.
Over the years, we’ve provided mini golf and outdoor games for staff parties, company celebrations and summer socials across Sussex, Surrey, London and the wider South East. One thing we’ve noticed is that the best events always give guests something to do, not just somewhere to stand.
When there’s a simple activity available, the whole atmosphere becomes more relaxed.
Large Groups Need Something That Gets People Talking Naturally
At smaller work gatherings, people tend to stick with the colleagues they already know. Once numbers get larger, that can make the event feel more divided than it should.
The most successful summer socials tend to have something informal that encourages people to interact without forcing it. Activities like mini golf or lawn games work well because guests can join in when they want to, watch for a bit, or play for a few minutes before moving on.
Mini golf in particular works because it needs no explanation. People already understand it, so they feel comfortable getting involved straight away. It gives guests a natural reason to start conversations with people they might not normally speak to during the working day.
It Needs to Suit Different Personalities, Not Just the Outgoing Ones
At most team socials you’ll have a mix of personalities.
Some people head straight for the bar.
Some are happy on the dancefloor later on.
Others prefer something low-key where they can talk without feeling like they’re part of an organised activity.
That’s why simple, familiar games work so well. They give people something to focus on without turning the day into a formal team-building session, and they suit a wide range of ages and roles without feeling childish.
At many of the larger staff parties we attend, the activity area ends up becoming the natural meeting point, simply because people drift over to see what’s happening.
With 100+ Guests, the Entertainment Has to Handle the Numbers
What works for 30 people doesn’t always work for 120.
With bigger groups, you need something that can run in the background without constant supervision, and that several people can use at the same time. Otherwise you end up with queues, or with only a handful of guests actually taking part.
This is one of the reasons mini golf works so well at summer staff events. Multiple groups can play at once, others can watch, and people can join in whenever they like. It keeps the event feeling active without feeling crowded.
We often set up alongside seating areas, marquees or food stalls, so guests can move around the space rather than staying in one spot all afternoon.
Real Examples From Past Summer Socials
We’ve supplied mini golf for a wide range of staff parties and company summer socials over the years, from relaxed afternoon gatherings to larger organised celebrations.
At one business park summer party with well over 100 guests, the course ran throughout the event and quickly became the main place people gathered between food and drinks. At another company anniversary celebration, the organiser later told us the golf helped bring different teams together who wouldn’t normally speak much at work.
Outdoor venues tend to work particularly well, especially when the activity sits slightly away from the bar or seating area. It gives guests a reason to move around, which keeps the atmosphere feeling more relaxed.
Layout Makes a Bigger Difference Than People Expect
For larger summer gatherings, the layout of the space can change the feel of the whole event.
If everything is in one place, guests tend to stay in small groups. When there are different areas to move between, seating, food, drinks and activities, the event feels more natural and less formal.
Interactive games work well because they create a focal point without taking over the whole space. People can wander over, have a go, and then head back to the main area.
We normally work with organisers or venues beforehand to make sure the course fits comfortably, whether the event is on a lawn, terrace, courtyard or inside a marquee.
Why Activities Make Large Work Socials More Memorable
The events people talk about afterwards are rarely the ones where everyone just stood around with a drink.
They’re the ones where there was something different going on.
Simple activities like mini golf give guests a shared experience, and that tends to stick in people’s memory far more than decorations or music. It helps people relax, gets conversations started, and makes the whole day feel less formal.
For larger team socials in particular, that can make a big difference.
Planning a summer team social or staff party?
We provide mini golf and outdoor games for company socials, staff parties and summer celebrations across Sussex, Surrey, London and the South East.
Our courses can be set up indoors or outdoors and adapted to suit different venues, from business parks to private grounds and marquee events.
