Fun basement and backyard entertainment

[chisness]

golf simulator (over budget) and space can be a problem

[Rick Diesel]

beer pong
darts

[darnold305]

Outdoor ice rink, if you get 3 days in a row of under 32 degree weather, you have a fully functional ice skating rink in your backyard. Cost - 300ish

[Waterfall]

A horse-shoe pit is a great addition to a backyard if you host parties. Any game you can play with a beer in your hand is a good idea. I built a pit in my backyard and it was cheap and easy.

Bocce is another good backyard game. Its easy to play and you can play right on the lawn. If you get a Bocce set spend the extra money and get a nice one.

I would definitely go for a fire-pit if you have the space for one. You can buy decent pre-made ones at Home Depot or easily build one yourself.

My ideal basement setup would include:
-a bar
-poker table (preferably one of those octagon ones that have a cover so it can be used as an actual table as well)
-dartboard
-an arcade game (golden-tee would probably be popular with guests)
-pool table (bumper pool sucks)

[Slow Play Ray]

[ QUOTE ]
A horse-shoe pit is a great addition to a backyard if you host parties. Any game you can play with a beer in your hand is a good idea. I built a pit in my backyard and it was cheap and easy.

[/ QUOTE ]

try cornhole - you will be a convert.

[Josem]

Cricket

Played in backyards throughout the Commonwealth (English one - Australia, England, New Zealand, India, West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc) this would be perfect.

Assuming you're in the US, this has the advantage of:
a) no one knowing the game (and hence, no one being awesome at it)
b) an interesting experience
c) a game that you can play while holding a beer
d) not too fast
e) not contact/physical
f) in backyards across Australia/India/etc. you can typically get the equipment for around $10-$30 or so - a tennis ball, something rectangular for wickets, and a bat.

[youtalkfunny]

Croquet, anyone?

[codewarrior]

For the basement, I recommend shuffleboard. Not the game you play on the deck of a cruise ship, but this here:

Linky

When we got tired of playing pool at the Green Room in Durham, NC, we played this. It was built in between two support columns where they couldn't fit another table in. The pucks ride on a layer of fine sand or glass bead. Good times.

[PorkPieHat]

Depending on the size of your yard you can get a cheap frisbee golf basket on a portable base and a few putters for a ton of fun. If you have the right shaped yard and a couple of natural obstacles (like, um, houses or trees) you are good to go.
Avoid the crappy foldable ones (like this: http://www.discgolfassoc.com/phmachlite.html)
and go with an M-14 ( http://www.discgolfassoc.com/phm14.html )

For discs you can just grab a bunch of Aviar putters ( http://www.dtworld.com/Aviar_Putter_p/g42-dxp.htm ). Get some of the lightweight ones for kids and a few heavier for adults.

[gimmetheloot]

Any1 want to MSPaint a cornhole setup? ie the 'court' and where you shoot from etc.