WO1997007864A1

WO1997007864A1 - Method for playing a game using golf clubs and golf balls

Info

Publication number: WO1997007864A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/013694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Don H. Raybourn
Original assignee: Raybourn Don H
Priority date: 1995-08-22
Filing date: 1996-08-22
Publication date: 1997-03-06
Also published as: AU6957996A

Abstract

This invention is a method for playing a game using golf clubs and golf balls on a unique game course (10) having a central interior common landing area and a peripheral zone with a multiplicity of tees (12a-12r), adjacent hitting areas (16a-16r) and putting greens (18a-18r). The player directs tee shots and shots from the adjacent hitting area in to the interior common landing area but never walks into the area. Indicia such as yardage markers on the interior common landing area lets the player known how far the ball traveled. The interior common landing area has fairways (14a, 14b) and object greens (22, 24, 26, 28, 30). When the player's ball directed into the interior landing area falls within a predetermined distance, typically about 50 yards from an object green, the player then plays his remaining shots from the adjacent hitting area to the peripheral located putting green and puts out.

Description

Title: A METHOD FOR PLAYING A GAME USING GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF BALLS

Field of the Invention:

A method for playing a game utilizing golf clubs and golf balls, more specifically a game played on a course having interior object greens for directing golf shots thereto, and perimeter located putting greens. Background of the Invention:

Golf originated over a century ago on the St. Andrews Golf Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. Golf has enjoyed immense popularity as a lifetime sport in which young and old, male and female alike, can enjoy. Indeed, with the handicap system, even the relatively unskilled player can compete directly with the more skilled athlete. Golf is a sport that requires vigorous practice and attention to detail, especially in the mechanics of the game. Moreover, one can get a reasonable amount of physical activity, especially if they consider walking the course rather than riding in a cart.

Nonetheless, golf has a few drawbacks. First and foremost, it requires a huge amount of land on which to lay out the typical 18-hole, 72-par golf course. Real estate is expensive, especially in and around cities and suburban areas where many golfers live. Thus, a need exists for a golf course layout and a method of playing golf which reduces the amount of land required to play.

It is the object of the present invention to provide the benefits and maintain as much as possible the rules of a golf game but while reducing the amount of land required to play on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects are provided for in a game utilizing golf clubs and golf balls which is played on a course having a perimeter and a central interior. In the central interior are located, typically, one or more fairways and two or more object or target greens. At least partially surrounding the central interior area is a perimeter on which are located a multiplicity of holes or shot taking unit areas, each shot taking area comprised of a tee area, an adjacent area, and a putting green.

In arslicant's unique method of play, adapted to applicant's unique course, tee shots are directed into the interior area (for landing either on a fairway or an object green) with shorter shots, typically shots less than about 25 to 50 yards, being made from an adjacent area to a perimeter located putting green. As set forth in more detail below, the player need never set foot onto the fairway or onto the interior located object or target greens.

In traditional golf, each hole typically has a tee area, a fairway from or over which tee shots are directed, and a green at the other end of the fairway. In traditional golf, tee shots are directed down a fairway, and, at the other end of a fairway, typically along an longitudinal axis (a slight bend for a dog-leg right or a dog-leg left) lies the green. In a typical 18-hole golf course, there are 18 tee areas, 18 fairways, and 18 greens. After the player in traditional golf tees off, he walks or rides his cart down the fairway for a second shot, and subsequently putts out on the green. After this, he walks to a second and subsequent tees and repeats the same.

On applicant's unique course layout in playing golf utilizing applicant's unique method, the golfer makes all the tee shots from a perimeter area directed into a centrally located common landing area comprised of typically one or more fairways and, typically one or more object greens. However, the player of applicant's unique method need never set foot into the fairways, which are common landing areas for a multiple of tee shots from different tees, or need putt out on the object or target greens. Instead, the player of applicant's unique method notes, from a grid system on both the fairways and the object greens, where his tee shot has landed, and plays subsequent shots either from an adjacent area directed into the interior common area or, if the remaining yardage to the hole is less than a pre-determined yardage, typically 25 yards, the shot is played from an area adjacent the tee to the putting green also adjacent the tee or from the putting green itself. Simply put, utilizing applicant's unique method, a multiplicity of holes are played, as in golf, but putting out the holes is done on a green other than that in which the tee shots or subsequent shots are directed. Indeed, using applicant's unique method of play, two pins are utilized as targets during each hole of play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an annotated illustration indicating the features of applicant's unique playing course.

Fig. 2 is a representation of a typical scorecard for use in playing applicant's unique game.

Fig. 3 is a preferred embodiment of applicant's unique course on which applicant's unique game is played. Fig. 3 also illustrates the method of play of a typical par 3 hole.

Fig. 4 illustrates the playing course set forth in Fig. 3 but illustrates the rules of play for a par 4 hole.

Fig. 5 illustrates applicant's course substantially as set forth in Fig. 3 except illustrates play for a par 5 hole.

Figs. 6 and 7 are flow diagrams indicating the rules of play for par 3, 4 and 5 holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figs. 1-3 illustrate the details of the unique course layout for applicant's unique game. More specifically, game course (10) may be constructed on a variety of terrain with various natural and artificial topographic features. In any case, course (10) is laid out such that there are one or more, typically 9 or 18 tee areas. Here, for the sake of example, tee areas are designated 12a through 12r. The tee areas are similar in shape and size to those found on the typical golf course. They are planted with the same kind of grass (or synthetic turf) and are intended to be utilized with typically a ball set on a golf tee. However, note that tee areas are not separated from adjacent tee areas by fairways, as is the case of a typical golf course layout. For example, note that tee area 12a may be only a few yards from tee area 12b. Thus, we note a first distinction between applicant's unique course layout and a typical golf course - the tee areas are not separated, one from another by fairways. Applicant's unique golf course layout has at least one and, typically two, here designated 14a and 14b (north and south) fairways. The fairways are typically about 300 yards along a longitudinal axis and, in width substantially less than that (typically 30 to 60 yards wide) . The fairways are typically planted in grass (or covered with synthetic turf) found on ordinary golf courses. However, applicant's novel golf course layout provides for grid lines on the fairways made with lime or any other marking substance and designating yardage zones from the tee areas. They are utilized to give the player an approximation of the distance traveled by his tee shot, and also in the case of par fives, his second or subsequent shot.

Also unique to applicant's course layout, adjacent to each tee area, is an adjacent hitting area (sometimes called a microfairway) here designated 16a through 16r to correspond to the 18 tee areas 12a through 12r. These areas vary in size but are typically 20 to 60 yards long and 10-35 yards wide. Moreover, their shape may be varied, as reference to Fig. 3 clearly illustrates. Further, they each would typically contain two sand traps here designated with the numeral 32. These adjacent hitting areas are utilized for striking shots either following the tee shot (unless the player's tee shot lands on the intended object green) , which shots are directed as set forth below.

Adjacent or in relatively close proximity to each of the tee areas and each of their respective adjacent hitting areas is a putting green, with each green having a pin 18. Moreover, if there are, as is represented here, 18 holes to the game course, there will be 18 pins and up to 18 greens. Here the 18 greens, each associated with a tee area, and an adjacent hitting area, and in relatively close proximity thereto, are designated 18a through 18r. With reference to Fig. 3, it is noted that greens, such as green lδa through 18c, may flow one into the other and providing, in effect, a large "group green" having pins for several holes therein. These greens are designated as putting greens for the reasons that the golfers putt out utilizing the respective pin and respective hole associated with the pin. For example, hole 121 has a tee area 121 and adjacent hitting area 161 and a green 181 with a pin 18 therein. Players playing hole 12 will putt out on green 181 after hitting their tee shots from tee area 121 and typically hitting from adjacent area 161.

Thus, in overall plan form view, it is noted that applicant's unique course contains a central interior area comprised of one or more fairways and one or more object greens. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, there are two fairways and five object greens making up the interior common landing area and into which the players playing the 18 tees will direct their tee shots. Basically, a perimeter 10b at least partially surrounds the interior area, the perimeter on which is located holes made up of individual groups or units 11; adjacent to one another, each group or unit 11 being comprised of: a tee area, an adjacent hitting area, and a putting green.

Typically, adjacent to fairways, tee areas, and greens is a "rough, " usually planted with the same vegetation that may be found in the rough of an ordinary golf course, although the rough within the central hitting area, here comprising fairways 14a and 14b as well as object greens 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 and including water hazards 34 and the sand traps 32 as illustrated, typically should have some, but not many tall trees, as is sometimes found in rough areas on a typical golf course.

Turning again to object greens 22 through 30, it is noted that these greens have a grid or indicia system 33, for example, concentric circles emanating from the pin and typically 5 yards apart, for indicating the approximate distance that a golf ball lands from the pin. Each object green has an object pin associated therewith here designated object pins 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31.

Thus, it is appreciated with reference to Fig. 3 that applicant's course layout is unique in a number of respects. Adjacent tee areas are only yards apart, reducing the distance walked by the player. A common interior landing area is provided which consists of at least one fairway (receiving shots from several tee areas) , at least one object green and, typically, as¬ sociated rough, sand traps, and water hazards.

Turning now, and with reference to Figs. 3-6, we look at applicant's unique method of play. As noted, the rules of play are based on the game of golf wherein a minimum number of strokes utilizing golf balls and golf clubs are attempted to complete the game are used to determine the winner.

The rules are the same as golf except as indicated. Typically, one to four players can play with a handicap for the less skilled players. Par for each hole is determined, as with a normal golf course, based on distance of the hole. Typically, there are par 3, par 4, and par 5 holes. The round of golf begins at hole number 1 and, if it is an 18-hole course, it is completed at hole number 18. The play for each hole is initiated by a tee shot from the tee area directed to an object green or down the fairway depending upon the yardage for the hole (the par) , and determined with reference to the score card 36 here illustrated in Fig. 2. For example, with reference to scorecard 36, it is seen that hole number 5 is a par 3 with ladies and senior having a 100 yard distance, regular a 150 yard distance, and championship a 200 yard distance. Distances and hole yard markers are provided in each tee area designating the distance between the tee and each of the object greens. In this particular tee area, there being five

(5) object greens, there would be five (5) yardage markers indicating, for example, object green 22 at 50 yards; object green

24 at 100 yards; object green 26 at 150 yards; object green 28 at

200 yards; and object green 30 at 250 yards. The yardage markers to the object greens would determine which object green and pin will be the subject of the direct tee shot. In this example, the lady and senior would hit their tee shot towards object green 24, the regular towards object green 26, and the championship player toward object green 28. If all players in the foursome were regulars, they would be hitting the same object green.

Playing a par 4 means hitting the first shot down the fairway, rather than towards an object green. Like a typical par 4, the green is intended to be reached on the second shot, not the first. Therefore, each of the players directs their tee shot down the fairway and determines the yardage of the shot by observing the particular yardage zone that the ball stops in.

Par 5 tee shots are played the same way as par 4, with each player taking their best shot down the fairway, looking, obviously, to stay on the fairway and get their best distance. Again, each player will observe where the ball stops.

A player's second shot will be made either from the adjacent area (in the case of a par 3 where the player didn't reach the object green or in the case of par 4 and par 5 tee shots) or directly on the putting green for those players fortunate enough in, playing a par 3, having landed on their object green.

At all holes, a player's first shot is from the tee. Their next shot that is from a hole that is not a par 3 hole will be from an adjacent area directed either down the fairway, towards an object green, or towards the putting green, as set forth in more detail below.

Note that adjacent areas typically have two sand traps so that if a player's tee shot or a subsequent shot lands in the sand trap, the player must take his next shot from the sand trap in the adjacent area. Likewise, if a player goes into a water hazard, he must take a drop on the adjacent area along with the penalty stroke just like regular golf. Further, it is possible that a shot may be played from the rough, if the player strikes the tee shot or a subsequent shot is unfortunate enough to land in a rough, surrounding or part of the interior common landing area. Tee shots landing in a fairway will be taken from the adjacent hitting area but those tee shots landing in the rough will be required to be played from the rough adjacent to each tee area.

Thus, with the background generally of how tee shots and subsequent shots are played, we will now visit a foursome playing first a par 3, then a par 4, and finally a par 5, and an effort to put the rules set forth above in practice. Playinσ a par 3 : Refer to Fig. 3

Using hole number five as an example of how a three par hole is played, we use a foursome consisting of a lady ("A"), a senior

("B"), a man ("C") or a regular as it is referred to on the score card (36), and a championship player ("D") . Assuming the lady

("A") has the honor and shoots first, she first looks at her score card (36) observing the yardage marked on the card for hole number five under the category of "ladies" 100 yards. She then looks at the permanent markers provided at that tee and observes that the object green between the two fairways that is 100 yards is the second green with a blue flag attached to the pin in that hole.

She will also notice that the permanent marker which indicated that this particular green is 100 yards is also the same blue color to coordinate with this flag. She then selects the golf club from her golf bag that will be best for the shot and she executes the shot.

She observes where the ball comes to a stop, which in this scenario is on the proper green to the right and a little short of the hole. She then steps aside and allows her fellow competitors to hit their shots.

Next, the senior player ("B") follows the same procedure, only he observes the yardage marked on the card for number five hole in the column for seniors, and again by consulting the permanent yardage markers, he finds he is to play the same green as the lady did. He executes his shot, and it goes over the green.

Next to play is the man ("C") who also follows the same procedure and finds that the yardage on the card in his category is marked 150 yards. He then looks at the permanent markers at number five tee and finds the striped yellow permanent marker indicates 150 yards, and it is the third green with a striped yellow flag attached to the pin in the hole of that object green. Like the others, he selects his club and executes his shot toward the green that he has chosen. He observes where the ball stops and the condition of the lie, which in his case is pin high and to the right of the green in the rough, less than 50 yards from the intended green.

The fourth player in the group plays the championship tees ("D") follows exactly the same procedure, as does every player on each hole, and sees that the card indicates that his green is 200 yards. The permanent marker this time is red and corresponds to the fourth object green between the fairways which also has a red flag. He selects his club, makes his shot toward the green with the red flag, and observes that the ball ended up in the sand trap.

After hitting their tee shots, the foursome retreats to the adjacent hitting area behind the tee. The championship player

("D") , because he hit his tee shot in a sand trap, and is less than

50 yards from the object green, drops his ball in the sand trap and plays his second shot from that location to the putting green behind the fifth tee, and more precisely to the hole with a pin with the number five on it.

The man ("C") drops his ball in the rough next to the putting green provided behind the tee, the approximate distance that his tee shot appeared to stop from the object green, and executes his second shot towards pin number 5.

The senior ("B"), having hit his tee shot over the object green, but less that 50 yards from the object green, drops his ball on the adjacent hitting area a similar distance, and makes his second shot towards pin number 5.

The lady ("A") , having hit the object green with her tee shot, places her ball on the putting green behind the tee, the ap¬ proximate distance her tee shot stopped from the hole on the object green and putts out. Assuming the other players reached the green on their second shots, they too putt out. Plavinσ a par four: Refer to Fig. 4

Using tee number twelve as an example, all of our foursome endeavor to hit their ball in the fairway as best they can. The championship player ("D") hit it through the fairway into the rough and stopped in a 300 yard zone. He observes that on the card in the area for championship players that hole number twelve is listed at 400 yards. He subtracts the 300 yard tee shot he made from the hole's listed 400 yards and notes that he has a 100 yard second shot to the object green. After the other players in the foursome play their tee shots, and it becomes his turn again, he will select the club he uses for a 100 yard shot and by observing the permanent marker placed on the adjacent hitting area he selects the object green closest to 100 yards as the target for playing his second shot. Because his drive stopped in the rough, he must drop and play his second shot from the rough that is provided at the adjacent hitting area. He hits his second shot toward the object green he selected and because he was required to hit from the rough, he caught a flyer and the ball went over the green into the rough, but less than about 50 yards from the object green. After the others have played their second shots, and it becomes his turn again, he must drop his ball in the rough again. The approximate distance his second shot stopped from the edge of the object green and pitch or chip his ball onto the playing green and in turn, putt out.

The man ("C") in this scenario plays a not too interesting, but a near perfect hole. His drive found the fairway in the 225 yard zone. He was allowed to drop his ball on the adjacent hitting area on the fairway grass. Like the player before, he refers to the card for the yardage of number twelve for the regular distance, subtracts his drive of 225 yards from the regular distance which is 375 yards and finds that he has a second shot of 150 yards. He then observes the permanent marker and chooses the object green that most closely represents that yardage. He plays his second shot to the proper green which in this case was the second green with the red flag. His shot stopped on the green, and when it becomes his turn again, he is allowed to drop his ball on the green behind the twelfth tee and putt out from approximately the same position and distance his second shot came to rest on the object green.

The senior ("B") made the hole more interesting, if not frustrating. His drive stopped in a sand trap in the 250 yard zone. Just as the others have done, he refers to the card for the distance of hole number twelve, but he uses the yardage for the senior. He finds it is 375 yards. He subtracts his drive that stopped in the 250 yard zone and finds he has 125 yards for a second shot. He consults the permanent marker provided on the adjacent hitting area for number twelve hole and sees that the marker color coded red indicates that the second object green with a red flag is the closest to 125 yards. Because his drive stopped in the sand trap, he must drop his ball in the sand trap provided in the adjacent hitting area and play his second shot. He plays the shot and ends up a little short, but less than 50 yards from, and to the left of the object green. When it becomes his turn again, he will drop his ball on the adjacent hitting area, that distance to the putting green provided for number twelve, and because his second ball stopped in the rough, the drop must be taken in the rough. He makes his shot toward the putting green when his turn, and in turn, putts out.

The lady ("A") in this group had, in our opinion, too much frustration. Her drive was in the 225 yard zone but in the rough. Like the others, she consults the score card for the yardage on hole twelve for ladies and finds it is 350 yards. She subtracts her 225 yard drive and finds she has 125 for her second shot. She looks at the permanent marker to see which object green most closely reflects the distance she has for her shot. She finds it is also the second object green with the red flag. She plays her shot, and it goes into the water in front of that green. When it is her turn again, she drops her ball in a drop zone provided for this purpose that necessitates playing her third shot over the sand trap at the pin on the putting green behind number twelve tee, and marked with a flag with the number twelve on .it. Assuming she makes the green with her fourth shot (a penalty is added just like in traditional golf), she may in turn, putt out. Plavin a par five: Refer to Fig. 5

The par five hole is played much as the par four and par three with the exception that the second shot typically will not be directed toward an object green (unless the difference remaining to the hole after the first shot is equal to or less than the distance to the farthest object green) because the distance re¬ quired on the card may call for so much yardage that the player must hit a second shot as far as he can down the fairway, again in order to get into position to hit his third shot at an object green and/or perhaps (of the remaining distance is less than about 50 yards) a pitch or chip shot to the putting green behind the tee.

In the diagrammed scenario on Fig.5, the championship player ("D") drove his ball from the thirteenth tee (550 yard hole) 300 yards in the fairway and played his second shot for the object green (22) that was nearest the 250 yards he had left for this hole. In doing so, he hooked his shot a little and found the water adjacent to (but less than about 50 yards from) the object green, to the left of that object green, and incurred a penalty shot for relief from the water. When next his turn, he will drop his ball on the adjacent hitting area, make his fourth shot to the putting green behind the thirteenth tee, and putt out in turn.

The man ("C") playing the regular tees drove 250 yards in the fairway. He consulted the card and the markers and found himself to have 250 yards yet to be played. He hit his second shot from the adjacent hitting area, and stopped on the wrong object green (here at 200 yards) leaving him with just less than 50 yards still to go. When his turn, he will drop the ball about 50 yards from the pin on the putting green behind the thirteenth tee and pitch his third shot to the green, putting out in turn.

The lady ("A"), although shorter off the tee than the man ("C") , also hits a drive, and a second shot, and her third shot is played from the adjacent hitting area about 50 yards from the pin of the putting green. The senior ("B") hit a 225 yard drive, but it landed in the rough. Because he was in the rough, he must play his second shot from the rough that is provided at each adjacent hitting area. Dropping into a bad lie, he was forced to hit less club than he needed and only went 170 yards on his second shot. Adding the distance of his drive and his second shot and subtracting the result from the 450 yards given on the score card for seniors, he found that he needed a 55 yard second shot which he made to the first object green with the black flag. His third shot stopped on the green a few feet to the right of the hole. When it was his turn, he will place his ball on the putting green behind the thirteenth tee as near as possible to the same location it was on the object green, and putted out.

Fig. 6 is flow chart for playing a par 3. Box 100 indicates that a tee shot is hit towards an object green. The object green is determined as set forth above by reference to the scorecard and yardage marked on the tees. Box 102 indicates that a determination must be made as whether or not the tee shot landed on the object green. If it does, Box 4 indicates that the player places the ball on the putting green about the same distance from the pin as where the tee shot stopped from the pin of the intended object green. Box 106 indicates that, in turn, the player will putt out and total his/her score.

Turning back to Box 102, if determined that if the tee shot did not land on the object green, a second determination must be made as indicated in Box 110. This determination is whether or not the tee shot stopped at a distance greater than a pre-determined figure, typically 50 yards, but any appropriate pre-determined distance (given the size of the units and adjacent hitting areas, and other elements of the course design) from the object green.

Box 112 indicates that if the answer to that determination is "yes" then next shots are made from the adjacent hitting area to an object green, the object green being that object green that is closest to the remaining distance so long as the remaining distance is greater than 50 yards. For example, if the distance greater than 50 yards turns out to be 100 yards, then the player at Box 112 would choose (with reference to yardage markers) an object green a distance from his drop in the adjacent area that is about 100 yards away and direct his next shot (Box 112) to that object green. Box 114 indicates that when a subsequent shot finally is equal to or less than a pre-determined distance (here 50 yards) from an object green, then a determination is made on whether or not the shot landed on the putting green (Box 116) . If it did, the player putts out in turn, but if the shot did not land on the putting green, the player goes back to Box 114 and plays his lie towards the pin on the putting green.

Fig. 7 indicates a flow chart showing how a par 4 or par 5 is played. Box 118 indicates that a tee shot is hit down the fairway. Box 120 indicates that the player subtracts the distance that the ball traveled from the hole distance.

Box 128 examines this difference, if greater than the distance to the farthest object green, the next shot is down the fairway, Box 130. If the Box 128 difference is equal to or less, the next Box, Box 129, examines whether or not the Box 128 difference is greater than 50 yards. If the difference is greater than 50 yards, the player hits the next shot from the adjacent hitting area to the object green closest to this difference. For example, if the difference is 150 yards, the player at Box 131 would hit the next ball from the adjacent hitting area to the object green closest to 150 yards. After that play is continued just as we would at Box 102. However, if the difference is not greater than 50 yards, then the next ball will be played from the adjacent hitting are to the putting green at a distance from the edge of the putting green equal to this distance. For example, if on a par 4 the player hits a very good drive, say a 360 yard drive on a 400 yard par 4, then there is only 40 yards remaining (Box 128.) Since this difference is less than a pre-determined, here for example, 50 yard distance, the player will play his second shot on the par 4 from the adjacent hitting area to the putting green a distance of 40 yards from the edge of the putting green.

Given another scenario, Fig. 7 explains the play of a par 4 or par 5. In this case, a woman is playing a 350 yard par 4 and hits her first shot a total distance of 100 yards. Subtracting that from the hole distance (Box 120) indicates 250 yards remaining. Going to Box 128, this distance is not greater than the distance to the farthest object green, but is greater than 50 yards; this distance being 250 yards remaining. Then, in Box 131, it indicates she will hit the next shot from the adjacent hitting area to the object green closest to this remaining distance. In the case of Fig. 3, this would be the farthest object green, which is, in fact, at 250 yards. She then takes her second shot from the adjacent hitting are to the 250 yard object green and she hits it

190 yards, leaving 60 yards remaining to the object green. Since this is greater than 50 yards, she will take her third shot from the adjacent hitting area to the object green that is closest to

60 yards, in this case, the 50 yard object green. Hitting that third shot from the adjacent hitting area, the unfortunate lady is still short at that object green by 10 yards. Therefore, she would take her fourth shot from the adjacent hitting area to the putting green (since she is equal to or less than 50 yards from the object green) , but take the fourth shot from the adjacent hitting area 10 yards from the edge of the putting green. In this case, the fourth shot fortunately lands on the putting green and she putts out. Using the same scenario with a par 5 player playing a hole at 500 yards, a tee shot is hit 300 yards leaving 200 yards remaining. At Box 128 we notice that the difference is less than the distance to the farthest object green, but greater than 50 yards so, at Box 131, the player will play his next shot from the adjacent hitting area to the object green close to this remaining distance. In this case, it would be the 200 yard object green. Placing the ball on the adjacent hitting area, this player is fortunate enough to land directly on the object green. He then notes the distance from the pin of the object green, takes a drop on the putting green, and putts out in turn.

Applicant would point out that the differences referred to are absolute values, dropping the negative sign. For example, if the player's first two shots on a 500 yard par 5 are 230 and 300 yards, his/her sum is 530 and the difference is regarded as 30, not -30.

Applicant provides an interior common landing area in a unique golf course layout which is at least surrounded by a perimeter in an overall configuration that can either be a rectangle, square, octagon, oval (as illustrated in these figures) , hexagon, circle, or any other similar configuration. Inside the common landing area, where the player does not enter, is one or more, typically two longitudinally aligned fairways, and one or more, typically five object greens (typically located between the fairways and about 50 yards apart) , quite a few sand traps and a couple of water hazards with the rough on either side of the fairways and out of bounds on the outside edge. One fairway and three object greens may be used as an alternate preferred embodiment or as many as four fairways and thirteen object greens could be used. The yardage marker zones, typically 25 yards wide, appear across the fairway and into the rough. Yardage circles typically every five yards appear surrounding the pin at each object green. The circles can be exhibited in any manner but a pliable net apparatus which would be invisible except for the circles would be advantageous. The net mesh would not allow golf balls to pass through. This would allow balls (typically range balls) played from the tee or adjacent area into the interior common area by the players to be easily and timely collected by course attendants from the object greens by simply gathering up the nets. For the purposes of efficient and economic operation and maintenance of a game course as set forth herein, an alternate preferred embodiment may have half of the tees in adjacent areas opposite each other. The shots from these areas are directed towards each other and into the common landing area. This interior common landing area may also be shared with two driving ranges placed perpendicular to the fairway or fairways of the interior common area with shots directed at each other.

The tees are elevated in most cases as are the adjacent hitting areas. This allows the player to more easily follow the balls flight and able to see where it stops. Typically, the lowest point in the golf course is near the middle and the perimeters are typically higher than the middle of the interior common landing area. It is note that each tee has associated with it an adjacent hitting area from which second, third or even more shots may be played, shots with more than about 50 yards typically remaining to the pin being played to the interior common landing area (fairway or object green depending upon the yardage remaining) and those with less than about 50 yards being directed from the adjacent hitting area to the putting pin associated with the putting green adjacent the tee area. In some designs with more object greens in the common interior landing area, only short chip shots and sand shots would be played from the adjacent hitting area to the putting green. This course and method of play allows for more people on the course and faster movement around the course.

The putting greens are in the opposite direction from which all full shots are directed (to the interior landing area) . Color coated balls could help the players distinguish between each player's balls. Indeed, the dimensions of the course could be compressed by using balls with less distance value, or playing the course with only clubs of less distance value. Using permanent markers at each tee and adjacent hitting area that are color coordinated to the flags at the object greens and giving the yardage from the permanent marker to each of the five object greens or whatever number of object greens there are) also simplifies in determining shot distance and object green. Range balls are used for all full shots to the interior common landing area and no walking or riding to the location of the tee shots are allowed. Pitching, chipping and sand shots can be made from the adjacent hitting areas to the putting greens. Lighting can be provided in the interior landing area and the perimeter so the game can be played at night. Tree rows, hedges and\or fences or nets with or without vines, can be provided on either side of all tees and ad¬ jacent hitting areas for safety, beauty, privacy and definition.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention's particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalences that may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What Is Claimed Is:

1. A method of playing a game with a multiplicity of golf clubs and a multiplicity of golf balls, including the steps of: - providing a game playing course comprising a peripheral shot striking area and an interior common landing area, the peripheral shot striking area comprised of a multiplicity of holes, each made up a unit area, each unit area having, adjacent to one another, a tee shot area, an adjacent hitting area, and a putting green with a pin, wherein the interior common landing area has a multiplicity of object greens, each object green with distance markings thereon and has at least one fairway marked out with yardage zones; - striking a first shot from one of the multiplicity of tees towards the pin of a pre-determined object green; for a first shot that lands on the object green, taking a drop on the putting green of the unit area at ap¬ proximately the same distance between where the first shot landed on the object green and the pin of the object green and putting out; for a first shot that lands off the object green, but greater than a pre-determined distance from the pin of the object green, taking a second shot from the adjacent hitting area of the unit areas towards the pin of an object green; for a first shot that lands equal to or less than the pre-determined distance from the pin of the object green but not on the object green taking a second shot from the adjacent hitting area of the unit area towards the pin of the put- ting green; for a second shot directed to an object green that lands greater than the pre-determined distance from the pin of that object green, taking subsequent shots from the adjacent hitting area until one such shot lands less than the pre-determined distance; for a second shot or subsequent shot that lands less than the pre¬ determined distance to the object green, but not on the object green; taking additional shots from the adjacent hitting area towards the pin of the putting green until one lands on the putting green; then putting out; for a second shot or subsequent shot that lands on the object green, placing a ball on the putting green at the same approximate distance from the object green pin and put¬ ting out.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the player repeats the steps set forth in Claim 1 for some of the multiplicity of holes.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the player, prior to any shot, selects a club based on the anticipated length of his shot and selects a playing ball of a color different than any of his competitors.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the player totals the shots for all holes played and compares them to his competitors, low score winning.

5. A method of playing a game with golf clubs and a multiplicity of golf balls, including the steps of: providing a game playing course comprising a peripheral shot striking area and an interior common landing area, the peripheral shot striking area comprised of a multiplicity of holes, each comprising a unit area, each unit area having, adjacent to one another, a tee shot area, an adjacent hitting area, and a putting green with a pin, wherein the interior common landing area has a multiplicity of object greens, each object green with distance markings thereon and has at least one fairway marked out with yardage zones; striking a first shot from the first tee area directed down the fairway; determine with reference to the yardage zones that are on the fairway, the distance the ball traveled; compute the distance remaining between the point where the first shot landed and the yardage of the hole; for first shots wherein the computed distance exceeds the distance between the tee and the farthest ob¬ ject green, execute a second shot from the adjacent hitting area down the fairway; for this second shot, add the distance it traveled to the distance the tee shot traveled, subtract from hole distance to determine a difference; for differences of less than the distance to the farthest object green, but greater than a pre- determined fixed distance, strike a subsequent shot from the adjacent hitting area to an object green nearest the remaining difference; continue striking shots from the adjacent hitting area into object greens closest to the remaining difference until the first of either landing on the object green or reaching a difference of equal to or less than the pre-determined fixed distance occurs; for such shots that land on the object green, place the ball on the putting green and putt out; for those that are equal to or less than the pre-determined fixed distance, place on the adjacent hitting area and hit subsequent shots to the putting green until one lands thereon, and then putt out; for differences less than a pre-determined fixed distance, strike the next shot and subsequent shots from the adjacent hitting area towards the putting green, until the putting green is landed on, then putt out.

6. The method of Claim 5 wherein the player repeats the steps set forth in Claim 1 for some of the multiplicity of holes.

7. The method of Claim 5 wherein the player, prior to any shot, selects a club based on the anticipated length of his shot and selects a playing ball of a color different than any of his competitors.

8. The method of Claim 5 wherein the player totals the shots for all holes played and compares them to his competitors, low score winning.

9. A method of laying out and constructing a game course on land utilizing the steps of: - preparing an interior common landing area having at least one fairway and at least one object green, preparing a peripheral area at least partially sur¬ rounding the interior common landing area, the peripheral area being prepared with a multiplicity of adjacent units each having a tee area, an adjacent hitting area and a putting green.