Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOLF BOARD GAME APPARATUS
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a golf board game apparatus that includes a
game board, two
different kinds of specialty dice and two different sets of specialty cards
which can affect the
number of strokes the player counts.
Background Art
There are golf board games known in the prior art. Each of them attempts to
give the players a
board game experience that relates to the game of golf. For example, USA
Patent Numbers:
3,944,229, 4,364,569, and 5,234,218, each try to simulate the use of golf
clubs as part of their
golf board game experience. The invention that is the subject of this patent
application does not
require an attempted simulation of the use of golf clubs in order to achieve
its objectives.
In another prior art golf board game patent, USA Patent 5,720,482, skill
testing questions are
used as part of the playing apparatus. The invention that is the subject of
this patent application
does not require the use of skill testing questions in order to achieve its
objectives.
Still other prior art golf board game patents, such as USA Patent 5,470,077,
uses a complex set
of spinning discs as part of the process by which a player advances along the
board, and
ultimately wins or loses. The invention that is the subject of this patent
application does not
require the use of spinning discs in order to achieve its objectives.
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Still other prior art patents, such as USA Patent 4,127,273, uses a standard
square circle pattern
game board style board to construct a golf board game. The invention that is
the subject of this
patent application does not require the use of a standard square circle
pattern game board in order
to achieve its objectives.
Still other prior art patents, such as USA Patent 4,042,246, rely heavily on
creating for each of
the golf links on the game board, a series of distinct and different paths on
the game board along
which a player's simulated golf ball can travel. The invention that is the
subject of this patent
application does not require the use of a series of different and distinct
paths for a simulated golf
ball to travel on the golf links depicted on the game board in order to
achieve its objectives.
Still other prior art patents, such as USA Patent 6,105,963, use a large
number of different game
boards to construct a golf board game. The invention that is the subject of
this patent application
does not require the use of a multiple of different game boards to accomplish
its objectives.
Still other prior art patents, such as USA Patent 5,722,659, require the use
of a combination of
four dice and a spinner, to play their version of a golf board game. The
invention that is the
subject of this patent application does not require the use of a spinner or a
spinner in combination
with dice in order to achieve its objectives.
Each of the above referred to prior art patents relied on combinations or
components that are not
used in the instant invention. From the above list it can be seen that the
prior art contains many
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different varieties of golf board game patents, all of which have some
components that are in
common with other granted USA golf board game patents. Some of the granted
prior art golf
board game patents have many components in common with other granted USA golf
board game
patents. To the best of the Inventor's lrnowledge of the prior art, the
instant invention, that is the
subject of this patent application, contains some uniquely invented
components, in a uniquely
invented combination, that produces a unique golf board game playing apparatus
which in turn
creates a unique playing environment and experience that is different from the
prior art. Further,
the components of the instant invention, as combined in the instant invention,
accomplishes the
below set out objectives of the Inventor.
Summary of the Invention
An object of this invention was to provide a golf board game apparatus that
could create a
unique and different playing environment and experience in the playing of a
golf board game.
A second object of this invention was to provide a golf board game apparatus
that could provide
such a large number of different game possibilities that the same people could
play the game
over and over again without becoming bored.
A third object of the present invention was to provide a golf board game
apparatus that was
relatively easy to use.
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A forth object of the present invention was to provide a golf board game
apparatus that required
the players to use different elements, each of which were easy and direct to
use, while playing
the game, to add to the game's interest and variety.
A fifth object of the present invention was to provide a golf board game
apparatus that in some
embodiments, could allow the players to set the game's degree of difficulty.
The objects of the invention are accomplished by a golf board game apparatus
comprised of a
game board having a multiple of golf links represented on it, wherein the
majority of the golf
links include each of a tee area, a main fairway area, a bush area, a fairvvay
area safe zone, a
playing hazard area, and a golf green area, and wherein all of the golf links
include each of a tee
area, a fairway area safe zone, and a golf green area; a standard numbered six
sided die; a first
specialty six sided die, having one of each of the numbers l, 2, 3 on at least
one of its faces, and
one of those numbers on each of its remaining faces; a second specialty six
sided die, having one
of each of the words and phrase "Fairway", "Rough", "Sand", "Uut of Bounds",
on at least one of
its faces, and one of those words and phrase on each of its remaining faces; a
first specialty set of
cards wherein, while the player is on a certain portion of the main fairway
area of at least some
of the golf links, at least some of them can affect the player's position on
the game board, and at
least some of them can affect the number of strokes the player counts; and a
second specialty set
of cards at least some of which, while the player is on a certain portion of a
golf link, can affect
the number of strokes the player counts. Further, in one of its embodiments,
most or all of the
golf links contain two different tee areas, one of which is closer to the golf
green area.
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The instant invention accomplishes its objectives by the creation of a unique
combination of a
specially designed game board, two specialty card sets, two specialty dice,
and the inclusion of a
standard six sided die. The dice invented by the Inventor for the instant
invention can be seen to
be unique and to be direct and easy to understand and use. Similarly, each set
of specialty cards
is easy to use as it only relates to a certain well defined area of a depicted
golf link on the game
board. Finally, it can be seen that the combination of elements that makes up
the apparatus of
the instant invention will provide a unique and different playing environment
and experience
from the prior art golf board games, and one which is easy and direct to use,
and one which will
allow for a great deal of variety from game to game, so that the same people
can play the game
over and over again without getting bored Further, the inclusion of a second
tee area that is
closer to the green area than is the first tee area, on most or all of the
golf links, in some
embodiments of the invention will allow players to choose the degree of
difficulty of the game
by selecting whether to begin from the first or second tee area, on each of
the links that allows
for such a choice.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a game board of the present
invention.
Figure 2a shows the front face of an example of the first ten cards that would
make up one half
of the first set of specialty cards for embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 2b shows the front face of an example of the second ten cards that
would make up the
other half of the first set of specialty cards shown in figure 2a.
Figure 2c shows the back face of an example of the type of cards that would
make up the first set
of specialty cards, the front faces of which were shown in figures 2a and 2b.
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Figure 3a shows the front face of an example of the cards that would make the
second set of
specialty cards for embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 3b shows the back face of an example of the type of cards that would
make up the second
of the specialty sets of cards for embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 4a shows three sides of one of the specialty dice created for the
present invention.
Figure 4b shows the other three sides of the dice shown in figure 4a.
Figure Sa shows three sides of the other of the specialty dice created for the
present invention.
Figure Sb shows the other three sides of the dice shown in figure Sa.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a game board invented for the
invention. There
are eight~n golf links shown in figure 1, and a water hazard in the form of
river 16. The main
tee area of each link is in the same playing section as is the link's number
10. To illustrate all of
the various components of the golf links, for the first link, link 1, all of
the various components
of the link are numbered, however, Green Side Bush is not on the first link,
and therefore Green
Side Bush is not seen or numbered on the first link. Green Side Bush first
appears and is
numbered on the sixth link. For additional clarity, some of the componerns of
the golf links have
been numbered on various other of the golf links shown in figure 1.
In figure l, as can be seen on link 1, each golf link has a main tee area 9a,
a link number 10, a
secondary tee area 9b, fairway playing sections 11 and/or 14, sand traps 12,
and a green area 15.
In addition some of the golf links shown in figure 1 also have Fairway Bush
sections 13a and/or
Green Side Bush sections 13b, and a water hazard section 16a.
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Figure 2a illustrates a preferred embodiment of half of the front faces of the
first specialty set of
cards. Figure 2b illustrates a preferred embodiment of the other half of the
front faces of the first
specialty set of cards. Figure 2c illustrates a preferred embodiment of the
back face of each of the
cards of the first specialty set of cards. The cards illustrated in figures
2a, 2b and 2c are one
example of a first specialty set of cards of the present invention. Other
cards could be used to
make up the first specialty set of cards of the invention. It can be seen that
not all of the cards in
the first specialty set of cards of the invention are unique. Therefore,
another example of a first
specialty set of cards of the invention is the cards of figure 2a, each
duplicated, thereby making
up 20 cards, and again using the back face shown in figure 2c. In the
preferred embodiment of
the invention the first set of specialty cards contains twenty cards. However,
it is not necessary
that the first set of specialty cards contain twern~r cards. Another example
of a first specialty set
of cards is the cards of figure 2b plus a duplication of the first column of
the cards of figure 2b,
with a back face on which are written in small letters the word "BUSH" a
multiple of times. In
order for a set of cards to be a first specialty set of cards for the present
invention the set of cards
must (i) be comprised of some cards that affect a player's position on the
game board, and (ii) be
comprised of some cards that affect the number of strokes a player must count,
and (iii) it does
not matter if one or more of the cards does both (i) and (ii).
As can be seen from the cards illustrated by figures 2a, 2b, and 2c, the
illustrated first specialty
deck of cards offers four possible outcomes, (i) nothing, (ii) the player's
position on the game
board is affected; (iii) the number of strokes the player is counting on the
golf link is affected;
and (iv) both the player's position on the game board is affected and the
number of strokes the
player is counting on the golf link is affected.
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Figure 3a illustrates a preferred embodiment of the front faces of the second
specialty set of
cards. Figure 3b illustrates the back face of each of the cards of the second
specialty set of cards.
The cards illustrated in figures 3a and 3b are one example of a second
specialty set of cards of
the present invention. Other cards could be used to make up the second
specialty set of cards of
the invention It can be seen that not all of the cards in the second specialty
set of cards of the
invention are unique. Therefore, another example of a second specialty set of
cards of the
invention is the cards of the first column of figure 3a, each duplicated,
thereby making up 10
cards, and again using the back face shown in figure 3b. In the preferred
embodiment of the
invention the second set of specialty cards contains ten cards. However, it is
not necessary that
the second set of specialty cards contain ten cards. Another example of a
second specialty set of
cards is the cards of figure 3a plus a duplication of the second column of the
cards of figure 3a,
with a back face on which are twice written, in small letters, the words
"GREEN SIDE BUSH".
In order for a set of cards to be a second specialty set of cards for the
present invention the set of
cards must (i) be comprised of some cards that affect the number of
strokes/putts a player must
count, and (ii) it does not matter if one or more of the cards also affects
the player's position on
the game board
As can be seen from the first specialty die illustrated in figures 4a and 4b,
that die has the
number 1 on two of its faces, the number 2 on three faces, and the number 3 on
one of its faces.
It is not essential that the first specialty die have the number 1 on two of
its faces, the number 2
on three faces, and the number 3 on one of its faces. It is essential that at
least one of the faces of
the first specialty die have the number 1 on it and that at least one of the
faces of the first
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specialty die have the number 2 on it and that at least one of the faces of
the first specialty die
have the number 3 on it. Consequently, another first specialty die would be a
six sided die with
the number 1 on two of its faces, the number 2 on two of its faces, and the
number 3 on its last
two faces.
As can be seen from the second specialty die illustrated in figures Sa and Sb,
that die has the
word "Fairway" marked on three faces, the word "Rough" marked on one face, the
word "Sand"
marked on one face, and the words "Out of Bounds" marked on one face. It is
not essential that
the second specialty die have the word "Fairway" marked on three faces. It is
essential that at
least one of the faces of the second specialty die have "Fairway" marked on
it, and that at least
one of the faces has the word "Rough" marked on it, and that at least one of
the faces has the
word "Sand" marked on one face, and that at least one of the faces has the
words "Out of
Bounds" marked on it. Consequently, another second specialty die would be a
six sided die with
the word "Fairway" marked on two of its faces, the word "Rough" marked on two
of its faces,
the word "Sand" marked on one face, and the words "Out of Bounds" marked on
one face.
The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a standard six sided
die, with a different
one of the numbers 1 to 6 inclusive marked on each of the die's faces.
In the following examples of rules for use with the invention the first
specialty die is also
referred to as the "putting die".
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An example of a set of rules for the preferred embodiment of the invention
described above and
illustrated in the drawings, is as follows:
There may be 1-4 players. Each player takes a coin or similar small object and
uses it as
his playing piece. The object of the game is to play the 18 holes in the least
number of strokes.
The nwnber of strokes that a player counts per hole is as follows: Each role
of the die is one
stroke; Plus any strokes added on because of hazards such as Out of Bounds,
water, and bush;
Plus the number of putts; Plus the penalties accrued from landing on hazards,
on die, for out of
bounds, add 2 strokes , for sand back up 1 space (no stroke), for rough - back
up 1 space (no
stroke); Plus the penalties accrued from the board, for water add 1 stroke,
for bush 13a pick a
card from the first specialty set of cards and follow the instructions on the
card, for bush 13b
pick a card from the second specialty set of cards and follow the instructions
on the card.
The dice are used as follows: (A) all dice are rolled at once on all par 3's;
and (B) all dice
are rolled at once at holes # 10 and # 13 when playing those par 4's from the
front tees; and (C) all
dice are rolled at once whenever the player has a chance to reach the green (6
spaces or less from
the green); and (D) only the standard six sided die and the second specialty
die need to be rolled
whenever the player cannot reach the green; and (E) the player rolls only the
specialty dice
whenever they are only 1 space from the green; and (F) the player rolls only
the first specialty
die to determine the number of putts when they have chosen that option.
The darker shaded areas of the fairway 14 are the safe zones, and within three
spaces from
the green is a safe zone. However, a player is subject to hazards within the
safe zone when the
player has entered one of the hazards, including the out of bounds and the
sand and rough, while
playing from outside the safe zone. Rolling a 1, 2 or 3 on the standard die is
not subject to the
hazards marked on the second specialty die, but is subject to the hazards on
the board, water,
to
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bush, except when playing from within the safe zone. When a player is playing
from the bush
they are subject to water hazards on the board except when moving backward. A
player rolling a
4 or 5 on the standard die is subject to all hazards, except when playing from
within the safe
zone. A player will not be subject to water and bush hazards when backing onto
these spaces.
Hazards on the die take precedence over hazards on the board A player does not
need to roll the
exact number to the green. A player is considered to have reached the green if
the player rolls a
higher number than what is needed to reach the green. (e.g., 2 spaces away
from green and rolls a
3 or higher). However, if the player is 4 spaces away ( 1 space outside the
safe zone) and rolls a
and either sand or rough, then the player will proceed from the side of the
green. When the
player is only 1 space from the green or playing from the side of the green,
the player is
automatically on the green with the next roll, and needs to roll only the
specialty dice.
Whenever the player has reached the green they have the option of taking the
number of
putts on the putting die or they may choose to roll the putting die to
determine the number of
putts. The player must take the number of putts they roll when they have
chosen to roll the
putting die.
The Rolling a 6 Rule: In the playing of the game, on the standard die, rolling
a 6 is not
subject to hazards at any time during play. Rolling a six on the standard die
allows a player to
advance 6 spaces or less without penalty. A player playing from within a safe
zone 14 is not
subject to any hazards at any time.
To begin the game, the players may start from the first tee area, 9a, or from
the second tee
area, 9b. The player rolling highest number on the standard die plays first to
start the game. The
first player plays until he has completed the first hole and then records his
score before the next
player plays, and so on. After the first hole has been completed, the player
with the lowest score
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on the preceding hole plays the next hole before a player with a higher score
on the preceding
hole. The player with the lowest score at the end of 18 holes is the winner.
In case of a tie, the
players tied will play sudden death starting from hole number l and continue
until a winner is
declared.
An example of an easier set of rules for the preferred embodiment of the
invention described
above and illustrated in the drawings, is using the above set of rules but
removing the "Rolling a
6 Rule", and replacing it with the following: In the playing of the game, all
rolls of the standard
dice will be subject to all hazards at all times, except when playing from
within the safe zone.
Another example of a game board for a preferred embodiment of the invention,
would be the
game board illustrated in figure l, with the omission of the 9b tee areas.
Such a game board may
not allow the players to change the level of difficulty of a golf board game
played using the
apparatus containing it, however, it would still allow for an apparatus of the
present invention.
To the best of the Inventor's knowledge, the instant invention accomplishes
its objectives by the
invented combination of the invented new specialty dice, the invented
specialty card sets and the
invented game board that allows the specialty dice and card sets to be used in
combination with
it to create the new golf board game apparatus of the instant invention. The
use and
understanding of the putting dice is simple, the number you roll is the number
of putts you count,
according to the example rules included above. The use and understanding of
the two specialty
card sets is simple, according to the example rules above, when you land on a
Bush section you
pick a Bush card and do as it instructs; when you land on a Green Side Bush
section you pick a
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Green Side Bush card, and do as it instructs. The board is also easy to use
and understand, as is
the second specialty dice, having a single word or simple phrase plainly
written on its faces. In
combination, all of the above elements provide for a great deal of variety and
a very large
number of game possibilities. In combination the elements also provide, to the
best of the
Inventor's knowledge, a unique and different playing environment and
experience in the playing
of a golf board game. It is also clear that the above described embodiments
also create golf
board game apparatuses that require the players to use different elements,
each of which are easy
and direct to use, while playing the game, and that adds to the games interest
and variety. It can
also be seen that in some of the preferred embodiments presented above the
players can set the
game's degree of difficulty by choosing either tee area 9a or 9b from which to
begin.
Variations to the invention can be made, as discussed and explained above, in
addition other
variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and they are covered
by the appended
claims, as they are within the scope of the invention.
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