Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOLF GAME
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This invention relates to a game, particularly a
game of simulated golf played on a gameboard.
In the prior art a variety of golf games have been
disclosed. A search of reyistered patents has located
Canadian Letter Patent 897199 entitled "Golf Game" which
issued to L. Boileau on April 4, 1972; C.P. 1,638,365
entitled "Golf Simulating Game" which issued August 9, 1967
to T.C. Ryan; C.P. 726,055 entitled "Apparatus For Use in
Playing Games" which issued to Edward Byers on January 18,
1966; C.P. 946,435 entitled "Masque Pour Carte de Bingo"
which issued to A. Bourassa April 30, 1974; Industrial
Design 52,062 which issued to J. Heynard for a "Planche De
Jeu Pour Jeu De Golf" and Industrial Design 47175 which
issued to Larkrise Production Limited for a "Golf Gameboard
Set".
Most of these patents describe games which are quite
different than that presently disclosed. The most pertinent
of the prior art references is C.P. 897,199. ~oth this
patent and the present invention strive to simulate play of
the real game of golf. However, the present invention
provides a different board structure, different advancement
means and rules of play which permit the golf holes to be
changed readily, permit great~r flexibility of play and ~ore
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closely simulate the play of golf so as to provide greater
enjoyment to the players. Particularly distinctive in the
present invention is the structure disclosed herein
permitting the golf holes to be changed without limit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
game simulating the game of golf in which the gameboard is
structured to permit the golf holes to be changed without
limit so that any real or fictional course design may be
played on the gameboard.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
golf game for a gameboard that allows the players to select
clubs, tee-off locations, and to play hook, slice, straight
or other action on their shots.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
real obstacles to the advancement of the players' golf balls
which affect the resultant position of the balls and the
score of the players.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
golf game which incorporates elements of knowledge of the
course, skill of play and chance in a manner closely
resembling that of a real golf game.
In this specification the term "golf hole" is used to
describe one of the eighteen "holes" of a golf course and
includes the tee, the fairway, the hazards, the rough, the
green and the cup and such further and other things
ordinarily associated with same.
The present invention is a game comprising in
combination;
- one or more display means being adapted to depict
golf holes,
- one or more markers being adapted to indicate the
position of a player's golf ball during play of
the game,
- a transparent playing board means being adapted to
overlay said display means and to provide a
playing surface on which players can play the golf
holes depicted on said display means and being
further adapted to permit the display means to be
changed from time to time,
- yardage indicator means being adapted to indicate
distances between predetermined points along said
playing board,
- one or more club means being adapted to select by
chance an amount of advancement of a player's
marker, said amount of advancement being between
upper and lower limits predetermined for each said
club,
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wherein a player's marker is advanced over the playing board
by means of play of said club means.
The structure of the game of the present invention
enables players to preselect any golf hole for the purposes
of play. For example9 the display means may be formatted to
display the golf holes of famous golf courses~ to display the
golf holes of a local golf course or to display imaginary
golf courses. This feature permits a vendor of the game to
have an "after sale" market for a variety of display means.
This feature also enabies purchasers of the game to try other
golf holes and to refresh the novelty and interest in the
game. A golf enthusiast may wish to purchase display means
depicting golf holes or golf courses that he intends to play
for the first time in real life. By playing the game with
those golf holes depicted beneath the playing board he may
familiarize himself with the golf course he intends to
play so that he can develop a sense of familiarity and
strategy to use when actually on the real course for the
first time. This feature also enables players to have more
animated ~st mortem discussions in the clubhouse after a
real golf game is played.
In particular embodiments of this invention the
display means comprises sheets which may be fabricated of
paper, cardboard, plastic or other suitable materials.
.,
It will be apparent that each display means may
depict one or more golf holes or a complete golf course,
however, it is preferred that each display means depict a
single golf hole.
The display means are conveniently kept in an open
box-like container which is covered by the transparent
playing board. The playing board may be simply lifted out
and the display sheets changed as desired.
The playing board may be constructed in a variety of
ways. Essentially, the playing board is a surface which is
transparent to permit the display means to show through to
the playing surface. It is preferred that it be clear,
although it might be shaded green or some other appropriate
colours. The clear board is preferred so that the colours of
the display sheets will show through vividly.
The yardage indicators may appear on either the
display sheets or the playing board but the latter is
preferred. Yardage indicators may be shown along radial axis
from the tee-off area or in relationship to the length of
the centerline of the fairway of the golf hole. The latter
is more appropriate when the yardage indicators appear on the
display sheets~ It is preferred that the yardage indicators
be provided along the length of the playing board. The
display sheets may then be designed so that the tee-off area
is at or near the O yardage indicator. There may be
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accomodation for tournament, mens' and ladies' tee-off
locations on the display sheets. It is not necessary that
the yardage indicators show numerical indications of
distance. It is preferred that the yardage indicators pro-
vide perceptible units of measurement to which the course may
be scaled and by which the advancement of players' golf balls
may be determined in relation to -the displayed golf hole.
The yardage indicators may consist of a matrix or grid of
rows and columns equidistantly spaced intersecting across the
surface of the playing board. This matrix enables the for-
ward and lateral position of a player's golf ball to be
located on the playing surface as one would locate an object
using Cartesian coordinates. In this description a row is a
series of positions in a line generally traversing the
fairway while a column is a series of positions in a line
generally in the direction of the length of a fairway. In
the preferred embodiment rows are parallel to one another,
columns are parallel to one another and rows are perpendicu-
lar to columns. Also in the preferred embodiment, the rows
and columns are comprised of a plurality of perforations in
the playing board at the intersections of each row and
column.
The club mears are one or more devices by which a
player can by skill of selection and by chance of play obtain
an advancement of his golf ball along the golf hole within a
predetermined range depending on the club means selected.
For example, there may be provided a wood club means~ a long
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iron club means, a short iron club means, a chipping club
means and a putter club means. Each such club means would
have a range of possible advancement between an appropriate
minimum and maximum yardage. For example, a wood club means
might permit advancement between 1~iO and 275 yards while a
short iron club means might permit advancement between
50 - 125 yards. The selection of the range for any particu-
lar club means may depend upon whether the player is a man,
woman or child, duffer or pro and the like. Different club
means may be provided for any particular player classific-
ation and skill. The player's advancement with a particular
club means may be determined by chance. Any means of obtain-
ing a chance selection over the available range will do,
including spinning wheels, random number generators, etc. It
is preferred that the selection be made with the roll of a
die having numbers on its faces between the upper and lower
limits of the available range. DifFerent dice represent
different clubs, each having faces appropriately numbered.
The number of faces on each die is a matter of preference.
The more faces that are used the greater the possibility for
increasing the odds that a particular yardage will turn up
while preserving the possibility that any yardage of the
range might turn up. Thus an average "hit" for a particular
club means may be most likely while a good "hit" or a bad
"hit" remains a possibility just as in the real game. The
club means may be designed to be pred,sposed to good "hits"
for good players and less so predisposed for players of
lesser ability, thereby allowing every player to play
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similarly to his or her actual play, if that is desired.
Predisposition of the dice may be obtained by having more
faces designate a particular yardage than others. Similarly
predisposition can be obtained by having slightly "loaded"
dice or "shaved" dice or the like which tend to a particular
yardage but which do not always turn it up. Thereby the
element of chance is preserved while accomodating a bias if
that is considered desirable. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that an appropriate bias may be built into
other means than dice, if such other means is selected as the
club means of this invention.
In addition to the club means providing for the
length of the "hit", additional club means may be provided to
determine "action" on the ball. The club means which selects
action may allow forward roll, backward roll, slice or hook
or any one or more oF the same. Action club means may be
played concurrently with the distance club means so that on
any play both distance and action might be ascertained. The
selection of what action characteristics are desirable and
the range of each possible action is a matter of design in a
particular embodiment ofthis invention. It is preferred that
at least wood and long iron club means are played concurrent-
ly with a hook and slice action club means. It may be desir-
able to play a forward or backward roll action means on short
iron and chipping club means and to play putter club without
action club means. It is preferred that putting club means
be played after a player calls a left break, a ri~ht break or
a straight shot so that the play of the golf ball
follows the predicted path to the cup or short or long of the
cup .
The selection of the range on the action club means
and the possibility of predisposition may be dependent on a
particular player's ability and accomplished by means similar
to that described above for the distance club means. In any
game a variety of action means having various ranges and
predisposition or lacking predisposition might be provided to
enable selection by players of whatever club means will pro-
vide the most fun.
The players' markers to mark the position of their
golf ball on the golf course may be of any shape. It is
preferred that they be small balls, of colours common to
golf balls, having a short pin which may be inserted in a
perforation on the playing board to locate them after each
turn.
The perforations in the playing surface may also be
adapted to receive models of trees, bushes, rocks or other
obstacles common to golf courses. Thus any display sheet may
indicate positions for trees, shruhs and rocks etc., which
may be erected on the playing surface to add realism to the
course. Further, the rules of play may allow players to play
over short trees and shrubs, while not permitting play over
taller trees and obstacles. Similarly, a player may be
penalized by a stroke when he lands where a tree or other
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obstacle is located or when he is unable to hit towards the
cup because of an insurmountable obstacle. Particular rules
dealing with such obstacles are a matter of design selection.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention a group of
cards is provided for various obstacles, which must be drawn
from by a player who lands in a position under the influence
of an obstacle and which provide terms to condition the play
of his next shot.
Sand traps, water hazards and rough would ordinarily
be displayed on the display sheets and not be further
exhibited by topographical features. Again the disposition
of a player's "hit" from such obstacles may be determined
partly by the ordinary rules of golf and partly by the draw
by the player from a random assortment of cards dealing with
that kind of hazard.
The tee-off positions, the fairway, the green and the
like would all be shown on the display means. The flag may
be inserted in a selected perforation over the area designa-
ted as the "green" on the playing board.
In operation, players select their markers, their
distance clubs and action club meansO Each player in
succession would play a selected distance club means and
action club means ~where the latter is appropriate) to deter-
mine the advance of his or her marker or golf ball along the
golf hole. The marker would then be advanced and placed
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in the nearest appropriate perforation on the playing board.
Successive turns would be taken with selected clubs until the
ball is "sunk" in the cup. When all players have comple~ed a
golf hole the display sheet may be removed From under the
playing board and replaced with a different one. Topo-
graphical features may be changed to the appropriate posi-
tions and again balls landing on or under the influence of
the hazards and topographical features may have their next
play conditioned by a selection from an appropriate assort-
ment of cards or the like. Play continues and score is kept
in accordance with the rules of actual golf until completion.
In the Figures which illustrate a preferred embodi-
ment of this invention;
Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of a game board
of this invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a game board
of this invention set up for play.
Figure 3 illustrates two sizes of tree obstacles of
this invention.
Figure 4 illustrates the pin.
Figure 5 illustrates a player's marker or golF ball.
Figure 6 illustrates two views of a wood club means.
Figure 7 illustrates two views of a long iron means.
Figure 8 illustrates two views of a short iron
means.
Figure 9 illustrates two views of a chipping means.
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Figure 10 illustrates two views of a putting club
means.
Figure 11 illustrates two views of an action club
means for slices and hooks.
In the Figures like numerals indicate like elements.
In Figure 1 a box (2) is shown adapted to receive a
display sheet (4) within it and further adapted to receive a
playing board (6) over the display sheet (4) in the box (2).
Perforations (8) are arranged at the intersections of rows
and columns to provide a grid of perforations over the sur-
face of the playing board (6). Part of box (2) may be cut
away (not shown) to provide a means of gripping the playing
board (6) to change the display sheets (4).
When a display sheet (4) is inserted under the play-
ing board (6) in the box (2) as illustrated in Figure 2, the
golf hole is displayed through the playing board (6). In
this case the golf hole comprises a tee-off position (10), a
fairway (12), a water hazard (14), large trees (16), small
trees (18), rough (20), a green (22) and sand traps (24).
The flag (26) is inserted in a perforation overlying the cup
on the green (22). As illustrated in Figure 2 the perfor-
ations (8) forming a grid on the playing board (6) overlying
the display sheet (4) provide a means by which the topo-
graphical features such as the trees (16) and (18) may be
inserted on the golf hole.
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The significance of the two different sizes of trees
is as follows. Should a player's ball land on a position
occupied by a tree a one stroke penalty is assessed. ~aving
a tree in the direct line of the next shot will require a
player to make some choices. A player who lands only one
space behind a large tree may play no more than a pitch on
the next shot. If two spaces behind a large tree directly in
the line of flight then a player is permitted no more than a
short iron on the next shot. When the ball lands only one
space behind a small tree the player may use no more than a
short iron on the next shot. In all cases the player may
elect to take a one stroke penalty and move the ball one
space (no closer to the hole) or play the next shot along a
row instead of along a column. Accordingly the trees provide
a three dimensional element to the game board which, in
addition to providing realism to the look of the hoard, also
affect the manner of play of the game.
Should a player hit the golf ball into the water
hazard (14) or the sand traps (24) or into the rough (20),
the player may be required to draw one card from a pack of
cards (not shown) relating to that particular hazard. The
card drawn will contain an instruction which will condition
the next shot of the player by providing a penalty or provid~
ing relief from the particular hazard.
Figure 3 indicates two sizes of trees which may be
used as obstacles on the golf course. Each such tree
comprises a top conical shaped portion (27) and a pin (28),
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the latter being adapted to be inserted into a perforation in
the game board at the location of a tree indicated by the
display sheet. Trees may be indicated on the display sheet
by a circle about a perforation for small trees and two
circles for larger trees.
Figure 4 illustrates the flag (26) which is inserted
by means of a shaft (30) in the perforation on the game board
overlying the cup displayed on the display sheet.
Figure 5 illustrates a player's marker comprising a
ball (32) and a pin (34) being adapted to be inserted into a
perforation within the grid of perforations on the game
board.
Figures 6 through 11 illustrate the club means.
Figure 6 illustrates two views of a typical wood club means
indicating a predisposition to an advancement of 9 units of
yardage. Figure 7 indicates the kind of range which may be
appropriate to a long iron club means. Similarly Figures 8,
9 and 10 indicate the club means appropriate to short irons,
chipping and putting club means respectively. The zero or
black spot indication in Figure 10 indicates that the ball
has been sunk by the putting club means from wherever it has
been hit on the green. Otherwise the number of units of
advancement on the putting club means must equal the distance
to the hole exactly. In the pre~erred embodiment the putting
club means may be played by first calling a break to the
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right or the left or a straight shot, thereby enabling a
player to advance along a row or a column until he is in line
with the flag and then to turn the corner and advance along
the column or row, respectively, towards the flag the number
of units of yardage indicated on the putting club means. The
exact number of units of advancement to the cup must be
obtained by the player or else the ball stops short of or
continues past the cup in the last direction taken.
Selection of the correct break may avoid falling off the
green if the shot is played past the cup.
Figure 11 indicates a multi-faceted (illustration
shown has 14 facets) action club means determining the amount
of lateral yardage assessed in respect of a hook or a slice.
It may be noted that it also permits a direct shot where a
blank is provided.
All the dice in the preferred embodiment of this
invention have rounded corners so that they not only more
closely resemble golf balls, but also tend to roll for a
longer period of time, increasing the suspense of the game.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art
that this game may be played in accordance with the rules of
ordinary golf, subject to the limitations and variations
described above. It will also he appreciated that other
rules may be designed incorporating the same features of this
game in order to heighten certain aspects of the play such as
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the amount of skill involved or the amount of chance
involved.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art
that other variations and modifications of this invention may
be made without departing from the principle o~ this
invention.
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