GB2317832A

GB2317832A - A putting game

Info

Publication number: GB2317832A
Application number: GB9707673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Clarkson Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-03
Filing date: 1997-04-16
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Also published as: GB9707673D0

Abstract

A putting game comprising a target device to be placed on an indoor or outdoor playing surface on which a player may stand to project a ball along the surface using a club, the device comprising, in one embodiment, an inclined mat (20) having two rows of spaced dishes or holes (21) the rows being arranged one behind the other with the centres of the dishes or holes (21) of the back row being aligned with the gaps between the centres of the dishes or holes (21) of the front row. The back row of dishes or holes (21) carry a higher score value than those of the front row and some of the dishes or holes (21) represent bunkers (B). The device is preferably vacuum formed from plastics. The contours of the playing surface may be adjustable.

Description

A PUrrING GAME THIS INVENTION concerns a putting game adapted, in addition to providing amusement, to enhance a player's putting skills.

According to the present invention there is provided a putting game comprising a target device for use on a playing surface on which a player may stand to project a ball along the surface using a club, the device including an array of spaced receptacles in which the ball may be received, the receptacles having different score values, and being arranged to present increased difficulty for a player to project balls into receptacles having a high score value.

Preferably, the device includes at least two rows of receptacles, one behind another, with the centres of the receptacles of one row aligned with the gaps between the receptacles of the other.

The device is intended to be located on the ground and may be constructed for indoor or outdoor use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates, in plan, a game made in accordance with one embodiment; Fig. 2 similarly illustrates a second embodiment; Fig. 3 similarly illustrates a third embodiment; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a playing surface 10 has a standing area at one end 11, is generally rectangular in plan and has a narrower target area at the opposite end 13. It is some 2.5 metres in length and approximately 1 metre wide at the standing end.

The playing surface should be smooth and approximately equivalent to that of a natural golf green. Typically, a material such as ribbed carpet may provide such a surface.

At the standing end 11 there may be marked a grid 12 graduated in terms of a golf handicap which, as illustrated may be between 0 and 24.

At the target end 13 there are provided two rows of spaced receptacles 14 in the form of shallow dishes or the like below the surface 10 into which a golf ball played along the surface may be received.

Each dish 14 will have a score value except for the two outer ones in the first row which may have a penalty score and be considered as bunkers. The dishes in the second row carry a double score value, and one dish shown at 15 may be a further bunker.

In this example, each dish 14 is approximately 1 00mm in diameter and the gaps between the dishes are some 25mm in width.

The first row of dishes are shown in this example as being seven in number with six dishes in the second row whose centres are aligned with the gaps between the dishes in the front row. If required the gap between dishes with valves 1 and 5 in the front row may be only 15mm wide to increase the difficulty of playing into maximum score dish D5 in the second row.

Preferably, the sides 16 of the base surface 10 are raised or have shallow walls to prevent a ball from leaving the surface.

Referring now to Fig. 2 in this example the playing surface 10 is larger than that described in relation to Fig. 1. In this case the surface is 3.5 metres in length and 1.25 metres in width with two rows each consisting of some 10 scoring holes and two or more bunkers. In this case, a dish 17 to the left of D1 in the second row may carry a "bulls eye" or "albatross" value being the maximum score of, say 50. As in Fig. 1, the gap between the two adjacent dishes in the front row represented in this case with score values 1 and 4, is only 15mm wide when compared with the equivalent gaps between other pairs of dishes in the front row, being some 25mm wide. Thus, the level of difficulty in reaching the maximum score value dish is increased.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment and in that of Fig. 1, the outer dishes in the first row, representing bunkers, are provided to prevent easy access to the second row by rebounding off the side walls 16.

In addition to the dishes representing bunkers further obstacles or uneven areas may be provided on the playing surface to determine a level of difficulty for the game. Uneven areas may be created and selected using levers or the like (not shown) to change "the terrain" as required. The course may be tilted using adjustable feet and these again may be adjustable so that the inclination may be longitudinal and/or lateral.

Further refinements may be included such as an automatic and visual scoring means responsive to actuation of switches in the dishes 14 when occupied by a ball, and the dishes may be open or become opened by means for returning the balls to the starting area.

It is envisaged that typically a game may be played as follows. Each player would putt three balls in turn scoring maximum or minimum points to be decided. The game may be played like a game of darts where the aim is to score a specific total of points and the game can be played such that it must start and/or finish with a double score. Each ball must be played from the teeing area illustrated by the grid 12 and a handicap system may be applied according to the grid positions. A ball being received in a bunker may eliminate the score for a particular turn or generate penalty points.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, in a simplified and perhaps more convenient form of the game, a mat 20, for example of rubber, wood, plastics or metal, is wedge shaped in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 4, and again contains two rows of holes 21 each marked with a score or, in some cases, to represent a bunker. The upper surface is inclined upwardly from a front edge 22 to a rear edge 23, the angle of inclination being, for example, 5".

Typically, the overall width of the mat 20 is 1 metre with a depth of 30cm. The holes may be 10cm in diameter and spaced apart by approximately 2.5cm, differential spacing being adopted if required as described in relation to the dishes 15 of Figs.

1 and 2.

The mat 20 can be laid on a playing surface such as carpet or grass, or laid over the surface 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, to provide an inclined surface around the target holes.

The mat 20 may be of plastics and vacuum formed to define an upper inclined surface with dishes instead of through holes 21. Also, an upstanding peripheral rib 24 may surround the rear and sides of the mat 20 to prevent the balls from leaving the surface.

In all embodiments, a greater or lesser number of dishes or holes in more or less rows or in different positions from those illustrated and described may be provided if required.

Claims

1. A putting game comprising a target device for use on a playing surface on which a player may stand to project a ball along the surface using a club, the device including an array of spaced receptacles in which the ball may be received, the receptacles having different score values and being arranged to present increased difficulty for a player to project balls into receptacles having a high score value.

2. A putting game according to Claim 1, in which the target device includes at least two rows of receptacles, one behind the other in the direction of play, with the centres of the receptacles of one row aligned with the gap between the receptacles of the other.

3. A putting game according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a playing surface being generally rectangular in plan and having upstanding sides to prevent a ball from leaving the surface.

4. A putting game according to Claim 3, including, at the standing end of the playing surface, a grid graduated to represent a golf handicap.

5. A putting game according to Claim 2, wherein the receptacles in the back row carry a double score value.

6. A putting game according to Claim 2, wherein the gap between at least one pair of receptacles is reduced in relation to other such gaps to increase the difficulty of playing into a maximum score receptacle behind the reduced width gap.

7. A putting game according to any preceding claim, incorporating a playing surface having obstacles or uneven areas to determine a level of difficulty for the game said areas being selectable to change "the terrain" as required.

8. A putting game according to any preceding claim, incorporating a playing surface which may be tilted using adjustable means to produce a variable inclination for the playing surface which may be longitudinal and/or lateral with respect to the direction of play.

9. A putting game according to any preceding claim, including automatic scoring means responsive to actuation of switches in the receptacles when occupied by a ball, further means being provided to return the balls to a player.

10. A putting game according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in the form of a mat being wedge-shaped in cross-section with two rows of receptacles each marked with a score or, in some cases, to represent a bunker.

11. A putting game according to Claim 10, wherein the upper surface is inclined upwardly from a front edge to a rear edge, the angle of inclination being at or in the region of 5".

12. A putting game according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the mat is vacuum formed from plastics to define an upper inclined surface with dishes therein for the receptacles.