GB2357702A

GB2357702A - Golf putting game

Info

Publication number: GB2357702A
Application number: GB9927277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Miles Walsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-19
Filing date: 1999-11-19
Publication date: 2001-07-04
Also published as: GB9927277D0

Abstract

A golf putting game comprising a continuous putting surface composed of artificial putting surface elements I and J, whereupon the lengthwise direction of the putting surface indicated by line E may deviate from a straight line. End F of element I and end G of element J are shaped to male and female circle forms of the same radius respectively. When ends F and G are joined or abutted together the resultant ball and socket feature permits the rotation of the elements I and J relative to one another. A player may start to putt a golf ball towards hole N or the like from start point M. Objects S, P, and Q may be placed on, adjacent to, and underneath the continuous putting surface respectively in order to obstruct or deviate the intended passage of a golf ball when played towards said hole N.

Description

1 2357702 GOLF PUTTING GAME This invention relates to a golf putting game.

The invention is concerned with providing an interesting and competitive golf putting game for use in confined spaces such as in the home or garden.

It is known practice to have golf putting games comprising artificial putting surfaces and various manifestations of golf hole simulators such as putting cups, which avoid the need for a suitable grass putting surface and a hole penetrating the putting ground. Typically, such golf putting games comprise a single rectangular putting mat made of artificial turf with substantially straight and parallel sides. Typically, from a start point at one end of the putting mat, the player putts a golf ball along the putting mat towards a golf putting hole, or the like, located at the opposite end of the same putting mat. When in use, such golf putting games do not in themselves provide the participant with a set of challenges that are typically presented to a player during a game of golf, and therefore lack the same level of interest and challenge to the player.

An object of this invention is to provide a golf putting game comprising a golf putting mat which may vary in direction through its length, for example a putting mat comprising a'dog-leg' feature, thus presenting a further degree of interest, skill requirement, and complexity to the golf putting game. A golf putting game comprising the said putting mat requires the player to direct a golf ball from a convenient start point at one end of the said mat towards the golf hole or the like at the opposite end of the same putting mat, while negotiating the 'dog leg'feature. Negotiating a 'dog leg'feature during the golf putting game requires the player to judge the pace and length of a number of putting strokes in order to direct the ball successfully from the said start point to the said hole.

Accordingly, this invention provides a golf putting game comprising a continuous putting surface composed of one or more artificial putting surface elements, whereupon the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface deviates from a straight line at a convenient point along its length.

One manifestation of the invention provides a continuous putting surface comprising a single putting surface element that has been cut or shaped into a form whereupon the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface deviates from a straight line at a convenient point along its length. Another manifestation of the invention provides a continuous putting surface comprising two or more artificial putting surface elements which join or abut lengthwise into a 2 form whereupon the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface deviates frorn a ii straight line at a convenient point along its length. Another rnantr'e-statl'on of the invention provides a continuous putting surface, comprising two or more artificial putting surface e eme ts which join or abut through means that permit the player to determine the amount of devi ation the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface takes from a straight line at a convenient point along its length. Additionally, each manifestation of the invention provides a golf putting game comprising one or more golf balls, one or more golf putting holes or simulated golf putting holes, and objects that may be placed on, adjacent to, or underneath the continueus putting surface in order to obstruct or deviate the passage of a golf ball when played to rds the golf putting hole or simulated golf putting hole.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a continuous putting surface comprising one artificial putting surface e emet that is cut or shaped to form a deviation in the lengthwise direction of the continuous put ing surface from a straight line at a convenient point along its length; FIGURE 2 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements i with ends that join or abut to form a deviation in the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface from a straight line at a convenient point along its length; FIGURE 3 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements that join or abut through means that permit a player to determine the amount of deviatior in th a lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface from a straight line, at a convenie point along its length; FIGURE 4 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements. The two artificial putting surface elements join or abut through means that pennit a player to determine the amount of deviation in the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface from a straight line, at a convenient point along its length. Figure 4 also shows a i continuous putting surface which comprises lateral boundaries that are not continually staigh or parallel, and cor-v-jpr-lses objews- -pia-ceu-' on, adjacent to, and underneati-1 the continuou putting surface in order to potentially obstruct or deviate the passage of a golf ball when laye towards a golf putting hole, or the like.

As shown in Figure 1, the golf putting game provides a continuous putting surface A corr Plisi g a single artificial putting surface element, with two ends B and C. The lengthwise alig nm ant o the continuous putting surface A between ends B and C is marked by the imaginary line E. i which is not a straight line due to the deviation in lengthwise direction of A to form an ancile at 3 D. A player putting a golf ball from B to C, or from C to B, would therefore have to direct the path of a golf ball to negotiate the angle at D.

Figure 2 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements 1 and J, defined by ends B, F and C, G respectively. An imaginary line E defines the general lengthwise alignment of the continuous putting surface between B and C. Imaginary fines D to U and D to V on elements 1 and J respectively are generally square to line E. Ends F and G join or abut to form junction fine K to L. End F is generally not square to the lengthwise alignment of element 1 by a variation represented by angle X between junction line K to L and the line D to U. End G is generally not square to the lengthwise alignment of element J by a variation represented by angle Y between junction line K to L and the line D to V. Due to angles X and Y, ends F and G join or abut to provide a change in direction in line E at the junction K to L by a deviation represented by angle Z, which is equal to the sum of angles X and Y. A player putting a golf ball from B to C, or from C to B, would therefore have to direct the golf ball accordingly to negotiate the angle represented by D, passing the ball across junction K to L.

By using the same components described herein and illustrated in Figure 2, the ends to elements 1 and J may be cut, shaped or placed to produce different combinations of angles X and Y, and thereby produce various deviations in the alignment of line E as represented by angle Z.

Figure 3 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements 1 and J. The lengthwise alignment of the continuous putting surface is defined by the imaginary line E. Element 1 has one end F cut or shaped to a male circle form. Element J has an end G cut or shaped to a female circle form. The male circle form F of element 1 has the same radius to the female circle form G of element J to effect a ball joint feature between the two elements 1 and J when joined or abutted together. When ends F and G are joined or abutted together the resultant ball and socket feature permits the rotation of the elements 1 and J relative to one another, and therefore permits the selection of infinitely variable angles of deviation of line E, up to a convenient maximum deviation. The lateral boundaries R of elements 1 and J adjacent to the circular forms F and G respectively are shaped to permit relative rotational movement between the two elements 1 and J, thereby permitting the deviation of the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface.

Figure 4 shows a continuous putting surface comprising two artificial putting surface elements 1 and J. The lengthwise alignment of the continuous putting surface is defined by the imaginary line E. Position M marks the convenient point at which a player may start to putt a golf ball along the continuous putting surface towards the hole marked N. The objective of the game is to putt a golf ball from start point M to come to rest in or on hole N in as few golf strokes as a player can achieve while keeping the golf ball on the continuous putting surface throughout its 4 journey. End F of element 1 and end G of element J form male and female circle forms a; described in Figure 3. The lateral boundaries of elements 1 and J are not continually stra ght or parallel so as to provide a simulation of the forms typically found bordering golf course fE irways. The continuous putting surface comprising elements 1 and J may have placed underneal h it, at any point along its length, objects 0 which disturb the putting surface and may deviate the direction of a golf ball rolling on the putting surface above them. Objects Q are shown in Figure 4 to be of a bar form that will produce a disturbance on the continuous putting surface substantially similar to a ridge form. Features Q placed under the continuous putting surlace may alternatively or additionally take a dome form that would produce a disturbance on the continuous putting surface substantially similar to a hillock form. Features S are a convenient object placed on the surface of the continuous putting surface so as to obstruct the inten ed direction a ball may take towards the hole N. For the purposes of realism to the game ol golf, features S can be conveniently described as hazards such as bunkers or water hazards, and the rules of the golf putting game may penalise a player who's ball touches or comes to rest o 1 such hazards. Features P are objects lying adjacent to the continuous putting surface wdh at least one side conforming to the shape or form of a convenient portion of the lateral boundary of the continuous putting surface. For the purposes of adding interest to the game, features P cah constitute an unsuitable putting surface so that an errant putt towards the hole N that comes to rest on or against feature P will remain within the parameters of play but disadvantage th a playes subsequent stroke.

Claims

1. A golf putting game compdsing at least one golf ball, at least one golf hole or simulated golf hole, and a continuous putting surface comprising one or more artificial putting surface elements, whereupon the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface deviates from a straight line at a convenient point along its length.

2. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1, comprising two or more artificial putting surface elements which join or abut to produce a deviation in lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface from a straight line.

3. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising two or more artificial putting surface elements which join or abut by means of alternating male and female circular forms in order to deviate the lengthwise direction of the continuous putting surface by an infinitely variable angle.

4. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, comprising a continuous putting surface with lateral boundades that are neither continually straight nor parallel.

5. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising a continuous putting surface under which objects may be placed to vertically displace the surface of the continuous putting surface so as to deviate the direction of travel of a golf ball rolling over the position of the object.

6. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, comprising a continuous putting surface upon which protruding objects are placed in order to obstruct the passage of a golf ball towards the golf hole.

7. A golf putting game as claimed in Claim 1,2, 3, or 4 comprising a continuous putting surface adjacent to which objects are placed with at least one side conforming to the shape or form of the lateral boundary of the continuous putting surface, in order to interfere with a golf ball rolling off the continuous putting surface.

8. A golf putting game as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawing.