WO2003080201A1

WO2003080201A1 - A golf game

Info

Publication number: WO2003080201A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/001074
Authority: WO
Inventors: Craig Le Roux
Original assignee: Craig Le Roux
Priority date: 2002-03-25
Filing date: 2003-03-24
Publication date: 2003-10-02
Also published as: AU2003209934A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a golf game. One aspect of the invention provides a figurine (10), representing a golf player, including a base (12), a body (16), and operating means (28) for pivotally displacing a pivotal part of the body with respect to the remainder of the body to permit a matching mock golf ball (38) to be struck by a mock golf club operatively carried on the pivotal part. Another aspect provides a golf game kit including, in miniature form, a mock golfing green, a figurine, as defined, which has a mock golf club, and a mock golf ball. It may include also a mock of at least one other golfing feature, such as a water hazard, a fairway, a bush, and a trophy. After suitably arranging the kit on a surface, at least one player may use the figurine to play the ball towards a hole defined in the green.

Description

A GOLF GAME

THIS INVENTION relates to a golf game.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a figurine representing a golf player which includes

a base, for supporting it on a surface;

a body, representing the body of the golf player, mounted on the base and including a pivotal part, pivotally mounted on the remainder of the body, which, in use, carries a mock golf club and provides for it to be displaceable, by pivotal displacement of the pivotal part, between a first position, representing an end of a follow-through swing, and a second position, representing an end of a back swing; and

operating means for pivotally displacing the pivotal part with respect to the remainder of the body.

The operating means may be manually operable. In a particular embodiment of the figurine which includes such operating means, it includes also biasing means biasing the pivotal part with respect to the remainder of the body towards a position corresponding to the first position of a mock golf club operatively carried thereby and in which the pivotal part is pivotally displaceable via the operating means, against the bias of the biasing means, towards a position corresponding to the second position of the club. As such, in order to strike a matching ball, the mock golf club carried by the pivotal part is manually displaced via the operating means to its second position, the ball is placed at a set position adjacent to the body of the figurine, and the operating means is released, thereby permitting the biasing means to bias the club towards its first position, thereby performing a follow-through swing of the club and striking the ball. The biasing means may include a spring, such as a coil spring, and the like.

The manually operable operating means, where provided, may include a manually displaceable part, such as a lever, which is interconnected with the pivotal part.

The operating means may, alternatively or additionally, include electronic control means for controlling pivotal displacement of the pivotal part with respect to the remainder of the body.

The second position to which the pivotal part is displaceable may be variable. As such, for manually operable operating means including a manually displaceable part, as aforesaid, and biasing means, as aforesaid, it may include also a gauge operatively permitting the manual displacement of the manually displaceable part to be measured, i.e. to different second positions, thereby gauging the power of a shot to be performed upon release of the manually displaceable part.

In a particular embodiment of the figurine, its pivotal part defines an attachment formation for releasably attaching thereto a mock goif club defining a matching attachment formation. As such, a plurality of different mock golf clubs may be provided, each defining such a matching attachment formation, for performing different required shots. In another embodiment of the figurine, it includes a mock golf club of which the loft of the striking face of its head is adjustable for performing any one of various required shots. The striking face may be adjustable also between a square position, any required open position, and any required closed position.

In a particular embodiment of the figurine, its base defines a support formation for supporting thereon a matching ball to be struck, thus defining a set position for such a ball. In an alternative embodiment of the figurine, it is configured so that the head of a mock golf club operatively carried by the pivotal part is located such that the head can strike a matching ball placed on a surface on which the base of the figurine is operatively supported.

The figurine may include a putter mechanism, operatively near a surface on which the base of the figurine is operatively supported, which includes

a striking member, for striking a matching ball, operatively horizontally displaceable relative to the base between a first position, representing an end of a stroke, and a second position, representing a beginning of a stroke;

biasing means for biasing the striking member from its second to its first position; and

operating means for displacing the striking member from its first to its second position.

The operating means of the putter mechanism may be manually operable. Such operating means may include a manually displaceable part, such as a finger grip, and the like. It may have a gauge operatively permitting the manual displacement of the manually displaceable part to be measured, i.e. to different second positions, thereby gauging the power of a shot to be performed upon release of the manually displaceable part.

The operating means of the putter mechanism may, alternatively or additionally, include electronic control means for controlling displacement of the striking member.

The trajectory of a particular matching ball operatively struck by the mock golf club is determined by such factors as the positioning of the figurine with respect to the ball, or vice versa, the selection of a mock golf club or the adjustment of the loft of the striking face of the mock golf club, as the case may be, and the operation of the operating means by a player. The skill of an operator of the figurine would determine how accurately the ball may be struck for reaching a predetermined target.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf game kit including, in miniature form

a mock golfing green;

a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, which has at least one golf club; and

a mock golf ball.

The kit may include also at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, a mock water hazard, a mock tree, and a mock bush.

The operative top surface of the mock fairway, where provided, and the surface of the ball may be matched to provide a high rolling resistance of the ball over the mock fairway. As such, the operative top surface of the mock fairway may be defined by a material such as felt, paper, cardboard, and the like. The surface of the ball may define grip formations which may operatively grip the top surface of the mock fairway. What was stated here in relation to the mock fairway, where provided, may apply also to at least one of the mock bunker and the mock water hazard, where provided.

For a golf game kit including a mock fairway, the operative top surface of the mock golfing green may be made of a material which will operatively provide for a rolling resistance of the ball over it significantly lower than that provided by the operative top surface of the mock fairway. The mock golfing green may define therein a hole. It may have a flag positionable over the hole.

Any of the mock fairway, the mock bunker, the mock water hazard, and the mock golfing green may define an uneven operative top surface. The operative top surface of any of the mock fairway, the mock bunker, the mock water hazard, and the mock golfing green may be of a colour normally associated with the relevant item, e.g. green for the mock fairway and blue for the mock water hazard.

In order to play a game of mock golf using the golf game kit of the second aspect of the invention, the mock golfing green, the ball and the figurine are suitably arranged on a suitably large flat surface, such as a floor or a table. Where provided, any of the mock fairway, the mock water hazard, the mock bunker, the mock tree, and the mock bush may be so arranged together with the mock golfing green as to simulate a hole of a golf course. The golf game kit may include a plurality of mock fairways, mock water hazards, mock bunkers, mock trees, mock bushes, and/or mock golfing greens, permitting holes simulating existing known holes of at least one golf course to be formed.

The properties of the ball may be selected to permit its trajectory, upon operatively being struck by a mock golf club carried by the figurine, to simulate that of a golf ball which has been struck by a golf club, whilst permitting the ball to be suitably confinable during play within the confines of a playing area defined by, i.a., the mock golfing green. Particularly the weight, size, hardness, resilience, and/or surface characteristics of the ball may be selected for this purpose. The invention extends also to a ball having the required characteristics that renders it suitable for playing the golf game as herein envisaged.

The golf game kit may include also printed rules of the game. These rules may be derived from the rules of conventional golf. The golf game kit may include also at least one score card. It may, alternatively, include an electronic score board. It may include also one or more of a mock trophy, a box for packing in all the items of the kit, a mock golf bag, and the like.

The figurine may be modelled on a known golfer, such as a celebrity golfer. The kit may include more than one such figurine, each modelled on a known golfer.

The invention will now be further described by way of three embodiments of a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and an embodiment of a golf game kit, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic operative front elevation of a first embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in a first operative configuration;

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic operative side elevation of the figurine of Figure 1 in its first operative configuration, in the direction of the arrows ll-ll of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic operative front elevation of the figurine of Figure 1 , in a second operative configuration; Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic operative rear elevation of the figurine of Figure 1 , in its first operative configuration;

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic operative front elevation of a mock golf club of the figurine of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic operative side elevation of a second embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic operative top view of a golf game kit, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, in an operative configuration on a table top;

Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic operative side elevation of a third embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in a first operative configuration; and

Figure 9 shows a diagrammatic operative rear elevation of the figurine of Figure 8, in its first operative configuration.

In Figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 0.

With reference particularly to Figure 1 , the figurine 1 0 represents a golf player and includes a base 1 2, by means of which it is supported on a top surface 14 (partially shown) of a table top, and a body 1 6, representing the body of the golf player, mounted on the base 1 2. The body 1 6 includes a fixed part 1 8 and a pivotal part 20.

The pivotal part 20 includes an axle 22, pivotally mounted on the fixed part 1 8 to pivot about its own axis, and a disk-like member 24 representing the arms of the golf player. With reference particularly to Figure 2, the axle 22 defines two end portions 26.1 and 26.2 protruding from the front and rear, respectively, of the fixed part 1 8. The member 24 is mounted on the end portion 26.1 . The figurine includes also manually operable operating means including a manually displaceable part, more particularly a lever 28 mounted on the end portion 26.2, for pivotally displacing the pivotal part 20 with respect to the fixed part 1 8.

With reference again particularly to Figure 1 , the figurine 1 0 includes a mock golf club 30 which is permanently attached to the member 24 and therefore permanently carried thereby. The club 30 includes a shaft 32 and a head 34. The club 30 is shown here in a first position, representing an end of a follow-through swing, and the pivotal part

20 is shown in a corresponding position.

In Figure 3, the golf club 30 is shown in a second position (which may vary), representing an end of a back swing, and the pivotal part 20 is shown in a corresponding position. Clearly, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, collectively, the pivotal part 20 is pivotally displaceable with respect to the fixed part 1 8 between positions corresponding to the first and the second positions, respectively, of the club 30. The lever 28 is fixedly connected to the axle 22 and thus pivots therewith with respect to the fixed part 1 8. The figurine 1 0 includes also biasing means in the form of a coil spring 36 acting between the axle 22 and the fixed part 1 8 to bias the pivotal part 20 towards its position corresponding to the first position of the club 30, as shown in

Figure 1 . By means of the lever 28, the pivotal part 20 is operatively displaced towards its position corresponding to the second position of the club 30, as shown in Figure 3. With the pivotal part 20 in this position, a matching mock golf ball 38 may be placed on a support formation in the form of an indentation 40 defined therefor by the base 1 2. The support formation 40 thus defines a set position for the ball 38.

When the lever 28 is released, the spring 36 biases the pivotal part 20 to its position corresponding to the first position of the club 30, thus causing the club 30 to perform a follow-through swing and its head 34 to strike the ball 38. With reference particularly to Figure 4, on the back of the fixed part 1 8 there is a gauge comprising a plurality of lines 42 permitting the pivotal displacement of the lever 28 to be measured. The more the lever 28 is manually pivotally displaced against the bias of the spring 36, the more powerful the shot to be performed by the club 30 upon release of the lever will be.

With reference particularly to Figure 5, the head 34 of the club 30 (partially shown) defines a striking face 46. The head 34 is connected to the shaft 32 via a joint 48 permitting rotation of the head with respect to the shaft 32 about an axis 50, thus permitting manual adjustment of the striking face 46 between a square, any required open, and any required closed position. The head 34 defines therein also a joint 52, permitting rotation of the portion of the head defining its striking face 46 with respect to the remainder 54 of the head about an axis 56, thereby permitting the loft of the striking face 46 to be manually adjusted.

In an alternative embodiment of the figurine of the first aspect of the invention (not shown), its pivotal part may define an attachment formation for releasably attaching thereto a mock golf club defining a matching attachment formation. As such, a plurality of different mock golf clubs may be provided for the figurine, each defining such a matching attachment formation, for performing different required shots.

In Figure 6, a second embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 58. The figurine 58 includes many features that are identical to corresponding features of the figurine 1 0 of Figures 1 to 4. Identical features, where designated, are designated again by the same reference numerals as before and will not be described again in detail herein.

The figurine 58 includes a putter mechanism including a striking member 60, which includes an operatively horizontal shaft 62 that can slide within a sleeve 64, which is fixedly connected to a side of the base 1 2. The striking member 60 defines a striking face 66 at an end of its shaft 62. Attached to the opposite end of the shaft 62 is manually operable operating means including a manually displaceable part in the form of a finger grip 67.

The striking face 66 is near the surface 14 on which the base 1 2 is supported. As such, a ball 68 has been placed against the striking face 66. The striking member 60 is horizontally displaceable relative to the base 1 2 between a first position, as shown here, representing an end of a stroke, and a variable second position, not shown, representing a beginning of a stroke, through sliding of the shaft 62 within the sleeve 64. Particularly in the view shown, the second position is to the left of the first position. By gripping the formation 67 with a finger, the striking member may be displaced towards its second position against the bias of biasing means in the form of a coil spring 70, acting between the striking member 60 and the sleeve 64. In this position, the ball 68 may be displaced to a position in front of the striking face 66 and to the left of the position in which it is shown. When the formation 66 is released, the striking member 60 is displaced towards its first position under the bias of the spring

70. A shot is thus performed on the ball 68. The base 1 2 has a gauge, comprising a plurality of lines 72, on its side to permit the displacement of the striking member 60 to be measured. As such, the power of a shot to be performed can be gauged.

In Figure 7, a golf game kit, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 72. The golf game kit 72 is arranged on a table top 74.

The kit 72 includes two mock fairways 76, a mock golfing green 78, a mock bunker 80, and two mock water hazards 82. The mock fairway 76 is comprised of a size of green felt. The mock water hazards 82 are comprised of sizes of blue felt and the mock bunker 80 is comprised of a size of yellow felt to represent the colour of sand.

The mock golfing green 78 is comprised of a size of foam-rubber sheeting, which defines a smooth operative top surface. The operative top surface of any of these items may be uneven, e.g. undulating.

The kit 72 includes also a figurine 84, which is identical to the figurine 1 0 of Figures 1 to 4, and four mock golf balls 88, matching the figurine. The figurine 84 includes a mock golf club 86. Each ball 86 is made of a low density plastics material and its properties, particularly its weight, size, hardness, resilience, and surface characteristics are selected to permit its trajectory, upon operatively being struck by the mock golf club 86, to simulate that of a golf ball which has been struck by a golf club, whilst permitting the ball to be confinable during play within the confines of a playing area defined by the mock golfing green 78 and the table top 74. The surface of each ball

88 defines small hook-like grip formations that can grip the operative top surface of any of the mock fairways 76, the mock bunker 80, and the mock water hazards 82, thus providing a high rolling resistance of the ball over any one of these items. This is desirable to prevent undue rolling of a ball after it has landed on either one of the aforementioned items. In contrast, the operative top surface of the mock golfing green

78 is smooth, thus providing for a rolling resistance of a ball 88 over it significantly lower than that provided by the operative top surface of, e.g., the mock fairways 76.

A hole 90 has been cut in the mock golfing green 78, the diameter of the hole being larger than the diameter of a ball 88. The mock golfing green 78 has a flag 92, shown here lying down, including a cylindrical base 94 that can fit into the hole 90 to demarcate its position.

The kit 72 includes still further a base member 96 on which is planted a plastics material mock tree 97 and a plastics material mock bush 98. It may include still further also printed rules of the game, which may be derived from the rules of conventional golf. It may include still further at least one score card or at least one electronic score board, at least one mock trophy, a box for packing in all the items of the kit, at least one mock golf bag, and the like. The figurine 84 may be modelled on a known golfer, such as a celebrity golfer. The kit 72 may include more than one such figurine, each modelled on known golfer.

In order to play a game of mock golf, the mock fairways 76, the mock golfing green 78, the mock bunker 80, the mock water hazards 82, the mock tree 97 and the mock bush 98 may be suitably arranged on the table top 74, as shown, to simulate a hole of a golf course. In an alternative embodiment of the kit of the second embodiment of the invention (not shown), a plurality of such items may be provided for simulating any one of a predetermined number of known holes of existing golf courses.

As there are four balls 88, it will now be assumed that there are four players playing a game and that the first player has arranged the items of the kit on the table top 74, as shown. The first player places the figurine 84 at the position shown, representing the tee-off position. He manually displaces the mock golf club 86, via the lever of the manually operable operating means of the figurine 84, towards its second position, places the ball 88.1 on the base of the figurine, and releases the lever to perform a shot on the ball. Particularly, a combination of the orientation of the figurine 84 with respect to the mock golfing green 78, the adjustment of the head of the club 86 to either a square, an open, or a closed position, the adjustment of the loft of the striking face of the head of the club 86, and the power of the shot as determined by means of the gauge of the lever of the figurine 84 are factors influencing the trajectory of the ball 88.1 , upon being struck by the club 86. Skill is thus normally required for reaching a required target with the ball. After the first player has performed a shot, the other players in turn perform shots on their respective balls 88.2 to 88.4. The succession of shots thereafter are determined by the rules of conventional golf. When play on the hole has been completed, the second player has a predetermined interval, e.g. one-and- a-half minutes, to arrange a new hole, after which the game is continued, again generally in accordance with the rules of conventional golf. It is submitted that the golf game kit of the second aspect of the invention provides a fun and economical alternative to a conventional game of golf. As such, it may involve a group comprising a number of family members, friends and/or business associates without the need to pay course fees, as is often required for playing a conventional game of golf. The mock golf game played using the kit is particularly suited to areas where golf courses are not available or where participation in the game of golf is expensive. It may be used also as a team-building tool for a business or as an attraction in a venue such as a bar, and the like.

In Figures 8 and 9, a third embodiment of a figurine, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 00.

With reference particularly to Figure 8, the figurine 1 00 represents a golf player and includes a base 102, by means of which it is supported on a top surface 104 (partially shown) of a table top, and a body 1 06, representing the body of the golf player, mounted on the base 1 02. The body 1 06 includes a fixed part 1 08 and a pivotal part 1 10. The pivotal part 1 10 includes an axle 1 1 2, pivotally mounted on the fixed part

1 08 to pivot about its own axis, and a disk-like member 1 1 4, representing the arms of the golf player and mounted on the axle 1 1 2.

The axle 1 1 2 has mounted thereon a bevelled gear 1 1 6 inside the fixed part 1 08. A lever 1 1 8 is mounted on an axle 1 20, which is pivotally mounted on the fixed part 1 08 inside the fixed part. The lever 1 1 8 partially protrudes from the fixed part 108 through a slot 1 22 defined in the back of the fixed part. Also mounted on the axle 1 20 is a bevelled gear 1 24, which is engaged with the bevelled gear 1 1 6.

The figurine 1 00 includes a mock golf club 1 26. The club 1 26 includes a shaft 1 28 and a head 1 30. The club 1 26 is shown here in a first position, representing an end of a follow-through swing, and the pivotal part 1 10 and the lever 1 1 8 are shown in corresponding positions. The lever 1 1 8 is manually pivotally displaceable with respect to the fixed part 1 08 to a second position, below the position shown, against the bias of a spring 1 32. Such displacement of the lever 1 1 8 operatively causes a corresponding pivotal displacement of the pivotal part 1 1 0. Through such displacement of the lever 1 1 8, the pivotal part 1 1 0 is displaceable to a second position (which may vary), representing an end of a back swing.

In order to perform a shot on a matching mock golf ball, such as the ball 38 of Figure 3, supported on the surface 1 04, the lever 1 1 8 is manually pivotally downwardly displaced with respect to the fixed part 1 08 to displace the mock golf club 1 26 to a required second position thereof. The figurine 1 00 is then orientated with respect to the ball so that the ball is at a required set position in front of the base 1 02. When the lever 1 1 8 is released, the spring 1 32 biases the lever to its position shown, corresponding to the first position of the club 1 26. Via the bevelled gears 1 24 and 1 1 6, the pivotal part 1 1 0 is displaced to its position corresponding to the first position of the club 1 26, thus causing the club to perform a follow-through swing and its head 1 30 to strike the ball. As such, the lever 1 1 8, the spring 1 32, the axles 1 20 and 1 1 2, and the bevelled gears 1 24 and 1 1 6 comprise manually operable operating means for displacing the pivotal part 1 1 0 and, accordingly, the club 1 26 also, with respect to the fixed part 1 08.

With reference particularly to Figure 9, on the back of the fixed part 1 08 there is a gauge comprising a plurality of lines 1 34 permitting the pivotal displacement of the lever 1 1 8 to be measured. The more the lever 1 1 8 is manually pivotally displaced against the bias of the spring 1 32, the more powerful a shot to be performed by the club 1 26, under bias of the spring 1 32, will be upon release of the lever.

Claims

1 . According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a figurine representing a golf player which includes

a base, for supporting it on a surface;

2. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the second position to which the pivotal part is displaceable is variable.

3. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the operating means includes electronic control means for controlling pivotal displacement of the pivotal part with respect to the remainder of the body.

4. A figurine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the operating means is manually operable.

5. A figurine as claimed in Claim 4, which includes biasing means biasing the pivotal part with respect to the remainder of the body towards a position corresponding to the first position of a mock golf club operatively carried thereby and in which the pivotal part is pivotally displaceable via the operating means, against the bias of the biasing means, towards a position corresponding to the second position of the club.

6. A figurine as claimed in Claim 5, in which the biasing means includes a spring.

7. A figurine as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, in which the manually operable operating means includes a manually displaceable lever, which is interconnected with the pivotal part.

8. A figurine as claimed in Claim 7, insofar as it relates to Claim 5 or Claim 6, which includes a gauge operatively permitting the manual displacement of the lever to be measured, i.e. to different second positions, thereby gauging the power of a shot to be performed upon release of the lever.

9. A figurine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the pivotal part defines an attachment formation for releasably attaching thereto a mock golf club defining a matching attachment formation.

1 0. A figurine as claimed in Claim 9, which has a plurality of different mock golf clubs, each defining an attachment formation matching that defined by the pivotal part, for performing different required shots.

1 1 . A figurine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, which operatively has a mock golf club attached to its pivotal part.

1 2. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 1 , in which the loft of the striking face of the head of the mock golf club is adjustable for performing any one of various required shots.

3. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 1 or 1 2, in which the striking face of the head of the mock golf club is adjustable between a square position, any required open position, and any required closed position.

4. A figurine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the base defines a support formation for supporting thereon a matching ball to be struck, thus defining a set position for such a ball.

5. A figurine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 1 3, which is configured so that the head of a mock golf club operatively carried by the pivotal part is located such that the head can strike a matching ball placed on a surface on which the base of the figurine is operatively supported.

6. A figurine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a putter mechanism, operatively near a surface on which the base of the figurine is supported, which includes

7. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 6, in which the operating means of the putter mechanism is manually operable.

1 8. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 7, in which the operating means includes a manually displaceable finger grip.

1 9. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 8, which includes a gauge operatively permitting the manual displacement of the finger grip to be measured, i.e. to different second positions, thereby gauging the power of a shot to be performed upon release of the finger grip.

20. A figurine as claimed in Claim 1 6, in which the operating means of the putter mechanism includes electronic control means for controlling displacement of the striking member.

21 . A figurine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is modelled on a known golfer.

22. A golf game kit including, in miniature form

a mock golfing green;

a figurine, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which has at least one mock golf club; and

a mock golf ball.

23. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 22, in which the operative top surface of the mock golfing green is green in colour.

24. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 22 or 23, in which the operative top surface of the mock golfing green is uneven.

25. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 24, in which the mock golfing green defines therein a hole.

26. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 25, which includes a flag positionable over the hole.

27. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 26, which includes at least one of a mock tree and a mock bush.

28. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 27, which includes at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard.

29. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 28, in which the operative top surface of the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard and the surface of the ball are matched to provide a high rolling resistance of the ball over it.

30. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 29, in which the operative top surface of the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard is defined by a material such as felt, paper, cardboard, and the like.

31 . A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 29 or 30, in which the surface of the ball defines grip formations which may operatively grip the operative top surface of the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard.

32. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 31 , in which the operative top surface of the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard is uneven.

33. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 32, in which the operative top surface of the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard is of a colour similar to that of the corresponding feature of a golf course.

34. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 33, in which the properties of the ball are selected to permit its trajectory, upon operatively being struck by a mock golf club carried by the figurine, to simulate that of a golf ball which has been struck by a golf club, whilst permitting the ball to be suitably confinable during play within a required playing area.

35. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 34, in which the properties which are selected for the stated purpose are at least one of the weight, size, hardness, resilience, and surface characteristics of the ball.

36. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 35, in which the operative top surface of the mock golfing green is made of a material which will operatively provide for a rolling resistance of the ball over it significantly lower than that provided by the at least one of a mock fairway, a mock bunker, and a mock water hazard.

37. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 36, which includes printed rules of the game.

38. A golf game kit as claimed in Claim 37, in which the rules are derived from the rules of conventional golf.

39. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 38, which includes at least one score card.

40. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 38, which includes an electronic score board.

41 . A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 40, which includes at least one of a mock trophy, a box for packing in all the items of the kit, and a mock golf bag.

42. A golf game kit as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 41 , which includes more than one figurine, as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 21 , each modelled on a known golfer.

43. A figurine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

44. A golf game kit substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.