North Fork Cornhole: One Man's Mission To Bring The Sport Home

GREENPORT, NY — Cornhole, anyone?

The hottest sport in the nation is set to hit the North Fork, with Open Play Cornhole offered at the Greenport American Legion, located at 121 3rd St., on Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., beginning on Jan. 10 —and it's the fruition of one ardent fan's vision.

For adults 21 and over, the event costs $10; all equipment is provided; no experience or teams needed. Full bar service and food are available for purchase; the fun includes weekly giveaways, $5 airmail box, and $5 random partner tournaments.

According to the American Cornhole Association, the game is also called corn hole and bean bag toss, and involves a court consisting of two cornhole boards, designated pitchers' boxes, and foul lines. Bags are tossed at a raised platform, with specific dimensions, that has a hole at one end, with players competing until an individual or team reaches the score of 21.

In Greenport, the idea for Open Cornhole was one East Marion resident Greg Cocheo has been envisioning for some time.

"I've been trying to do this for so long," he said.

Cocheo, who owns the 7-Elevens in Mattituck and Southold, said he's been playing cornhole for about seven years, traveling to tournaments in New Jersey and in western Long Island. He helmed a league at Sophie's in Southold during the summer and has been trying to build up the sport on the North Fork "so I don't have to travel so much," he laughed.

Cornhole as a sport has become a huge hit on TV — and a moneymaker, according to CNBC.com, which reported that Cody Henderson, the top-ranked player out of the 20,000 pros in the American Cornhole League, has said he earned between $20,000 and $25,000 in prize money in 2017.

Cornhole is a huge draw on ESPN now, Cocheo said. "I love everything about it," he said. "It's competitive, and you meet so many new people."

Cocheo plays in national tournaments, including an upcoming match in Fort Lauderdale, FL, at the end of the month; he's ranked 17th in the northeast region, which runs from Delaware to Maine.

But he began playing in his own backyard, at birthday cornhole barbecues that grew in popularity over the past eight years, getting "bigger and bigger."

It's a sport that appeals to all ages, Cocheo, 45, said, from kids to twentysomethings and their parents; even his own dad, 72, loves cornhole.

"It's a great, fun, social game that anybody can win, at any time — and that's what's fun about it," he said.

Cocheo, who grew up in Nassau County and moved to the North Fork 14 years ago, remembers his first cornhole game vividly: "This guy invited me over to watch a football game and at halftime, he said, 'We're going to the backyard to play a game' — and it was cornhole. I went home and told my wife, 'Honey, I am hooked. I'm obsessed.'"

Since then, Cocheo has begun to construct and perfect his own cornhole boards.

Bringing cornhole to Greenport seemed like a win-win, he said. "Everyone needs, especially in the winter, a place to go, to interact, to socialize. I've met so many people through cornhole and now most of them are good friends of mine."

One man, with whom he's played a lot of tournaments, is now as close as a brother, Cocheo said.

And the game even gives back, with many tournaments organized to benefit causes, such as homeless veterans, Cocheo said.

The Thursday night events in Greenport will feature "blind draws," where players are matched up with partners they may not know, at all levels of experience.

"I wanted to do this because some people don't have a partner, or someone to play with, and now they will," Cocheo said.

Ready to welcome cornhole enthusiasts Thursday night, Cocheo said he was thrilled to see his dream become reality. When deciding to plan the event, he vowed, "I'm going to do this and see what happens. And so far, it's generated a huge buzz."

Patch photos courtesy Greg Cocheo.