WO1999062603A1

WO1999062603A1 - Simulated golf game

Info

Publication number: WO1999062603A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/001036
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barend Michael Pienaar
Original assignee: Barend Michael Pienaar
Priority date: 1998-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 1999-12-09
Also published as: AU4384899A

Abstract

A board game simulating golf is comprised of a set of rules for playing such game and a substrate having a playing surface (12) on which is represented a golf course comprising a plurality of golf holes. Each hole has a sequence of landing areas (16) defined on it and numbered. A plurality of identification tokens are provided so as to be positionable on the landing areas (16). Each is assignable to a participant for representing the position of such participant in the game. A plurality of questions, preferably on a set of cards, test a participant's knowledge of rules of the game of golf. The participant is required to answer a question when his token lands on a landing area (16) that has been predesignated for answering a question. Answers are provided, preferably on the reverse side of the card on which the question appears. Random number generating means, such as a die, is provided for producing a number to determine progress of a participant's token along the sequence of landing areas (16) for a hole.

Description

SIMULATED GOLF GAME

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a board game based on golf and its rules and apparatus for playing it.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Prior art board games simulating golf are known. Many of these involve the casting of dice to determine the outcome of a golf shot played by a participant and have cards on which are presented questions or options in accordance with such outcome.

United States patent number 5,720,482 to Boudrias discloses a golf game for playing on a board on which are delineated golf links and areas on which player marker tokens may land, according to the throw of dice. Landing markers on the green areas of the links are differently coloured, and these colours are associated with correspondingly varying degrees of difficulty of golf skill testing questions. These questions are provided on skill testing cards that are divided into groups, each group being associated with a number thrown on the die. The answers given by a player to the questions posed determines the number of putting strokes he requires to progress to the next fairway.

US patent 5,692,751 to Morrissey et al discloses a simulated golf game played on a board having a golf course illustration on it. A number of query cards are provided, each having a question and answer provided on it for each of a number of subject matter categories. There are also a number of golf club cards for determining golf club selection for performing a golf shot and first and second outcome cards for determining the outcome of such shot.

No simulated golf game in the prior art seeks to test a player's knowledge of the game of golf. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such

CONFIRMATION COPT a game, which should further enable players to improve their knowledge of the rules and laws of golf.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a board game simulating golf comprises a substrate having a playing surface on which is represented a golf course comprising a plurality of golf holes, each hole having a sequence of landing areas defined to be distributed over it, means for providing a plurality of questions capable of testing knowledge of rules of the game of golf, and being for use in relation to certain of such landing areas, means for providing a set of answers to the questions, a plurality of identification tokens positionable on the landing areas and each being assignable to a participant for representing the position of such participant in the game, random number generating means capable of producing a number to determine progress of a participant's token along the sequence of landing areas for a hole and a set of rules for playing such game.

By holes is meant the playing area from tee to green including greens and hazards, as represented on the playing surface of the substrate. Each hole thus represented may comprise a tee area, a fairway area, a green area and, optionally, a hazard area.

In a preferred form of the invention, landing areas are marked to be classified into classes according to a plurality of outcome categories representative of real golfing situations. Preferably there are three categories of outcomes. These outcomes may include reward outcomes, penalty outcomes and question outcomes. Consequently, the landing area classes include one or more representing separately rewards, penalties and questions. Should a participant land his identification token on such landing area belonging to a class representing a question, he shall be obliged to answer a question provided from the question providing means. In a further preferred form of the invention, the questions are graded into a plurality of categories of difficulty. These categories may correspond with categories of awkwardness that are representative of real golfing situations.

In a yet further preferred form of the invention, holes are numbered in a sequence and the landing areas are sequentially numbered to follow the sequence of the holes. The landing areas may thus be sequentially numbered from a starting area to an end area. The start area is preferably on a first tee area and the end at the hole on an eighteenth green area.

The means for providing the questions may comprise a set of cards having a first side on which at least one question is representable. Should more than one question be represented on a card, card comprises means for indicating the difficulty category of the question.

In a still further preferred form of the invention, the means for providing the answers to the questions comprises a booklet. In an alternative preferred form, the cards have a reverse face on which the answers are provided.

In a further preferred form of the apparatus, the substrate is semi-rigid. Further preferably, the board is foldable.

In a yet preferred form of the invention, the random number generating means comprises a die.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a playing surface of a board having on it a representation of a golf course, according to the game of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates one of the holes of the course illustrated in figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The board game is comprised of apparatus that comprises a playing surface provided on a substrate and on which is illustrated a golf course. The substrate may be of any suitable flexible or rigid or semi-rigid material on which the golf course may be illustrated. It may thus comprise a suitable textile, or a non-woven material. In a preferred embodiment it comprises a board. Preferably it is foldable to be conveniently stored when not in use, together with the other apparatus of the game.

The course comprises a number of golf playing holes illustrated on the playing surface. These may be illustrated in any suitable configuration, for example a links. They may be depicted in plan view or in another alternative view, such as perspective view. Numbered landing are designated and are distributed on each hole to be spaced from each other. These are sequentially numbered in integers, preferably from a start (0) to 72, corresponding to the usual par score for most courses. However, the course illustrated may be a representation of course having a par of 71 or other number and even may be a nine hole course, where the par would be about 36. Preferably, the golf course illustrated on the surface should represent a known actual golf course, further preferably one that is well known internationally to the golf playing public as a famous tournament course. The illustration preferably should present a plan view of such course. The board in one embodiment of the invention is double sided, with a different course being depicted on either side.

As the game is not intended to be of long and drawn out duration, a 72 landing course is considered both sufficient and desirable, as well as representative of authenticity.

The apparatus further comprises identification tokens representing participants in the game. In a preferred embodiment, the tokens or markers have a tee-peg shape. The pegs may be self-supported, or may be fittable into suitably shaped receiving holes located to be associated with the designated numbered landing areas along the course. Preferably there are at least two such receiving holes associated with each landing area, so as to provide for more than one participant to land his token at such area. Alternatively, the tokens may be in the form of other items of golfing apparatus, for example different coloured golf balls or clubs.

The apparatus also includes random number generating means. These may include any suitable such means, for example a die or set of dice, a spinner or an electronic means such as a pseudo-random number calculator. The number thus generated will determine progress of a player and positioning of his marker or identification token along the course. Should only one die be used, the game will tend to be of longer duration than where two dice are used. The die or dice may be shaped as golf balls, having dimpled facets, each having a different one of the outcome numerals 1 to 6 imprinted thereon.

In an embodiment where a spinner card is used, it is preferably divided into 5 sections, representing the following golf scores: Albatross, Eagle, Birdie, Par, Bogey and the related stableford points indicated on each section i.e. 5 Albatross, 4 Eagle, 3 Birdie, 2 Par, 1 Bogey. A spin of the card will indicate the player's fortune and he moves his token along the sequence of landing areas according to the number of stableford points indicated.

In addition, the game apparatus includes a set of rules and means for providing participants with questions to answer. Correct answers lead to progress around the course. The questions may be provided on any suitable means, such as on a set of question cards, which may be shuffled from time to time so as to be randomly presented. Alternatively they may be contained in booklet form with suitable randomising means being provided to determine the order in which they are posed. The questions relate to the rules of the game, so that participants have the opportunity of improving their knowledge of the game and its rules as they play. The answers to the questions will determine an outcome and thus whether or not the participant answering the question may advance his marker along the course according to the sequentially numbered areas. The answers may be provided on any suitable means, by way of non-limiting example in a booklet or on the reverse face of a question card, or in an electronic data storage means, such as a hand held pocket data minder system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cards are brought into play in the event of a player's token landing on an area belonging to a predetermined category of question areas. The player will then be posed a question and his further progress will be determined by the correctness of his answer.

The landing areas in the question class may themselves be subclassified according to the difficulty of questions to be asked. Hence the questions would be graded or categorised according to difficulty and one question in each category may appear on each card. Alternatively, provision may be made for the cards to be separated according to difficulty category and placed on the playing board accordingly.

The difficulty of a question put to a participant will depend on the position of such participant's marker - for example, should it be in a landing area falling in a bunker, the category of question will be of greater difficulty than had the marker been in the middle of a fairway.

With reference to the drawings in figures 1 and 2, a playing board, designated generally by means of the number 10, presents a playing surface 12 on a semirigid board, on which are graphically and schematically represented a series of golf links 14, collectively making up a golf course. Although the course illustrated on the board comprises 18 holes, a shortened course may also be provided, such as with 9 holes or other convenient number.

A sequence of landing areas 16 for the tokens (not shown) of participants is shown, the landing areas being distributed from hole to hole along the golf course. Numbering is from 1 to 72 with a start, half-way point and finish at the club house 18. In total, therefore, there are 73 landing areas, representing 75 positions in the game. Arrows 20 indicate the direction of progress from hole to hole.

Each of the various numbered landing areas is allocated an outcome 22 of a simulated shot, represented by the throw of a die or dice. The outcome is described at such area. As shown more clearly in figure 2, which represents a closer view of the fifth hole, the various outcomes may include, as examples, the player's ball in a bunker (landing area 17), ball on fairway (area 18), ball behind tree (area 19) and shank (area 20). Progressing to the sixth hole, a player may encounter the consequence of using a wrong club (area 21 ).

It will thus be apparent that the outcomes mentioned above may be placed in different categories of situations. Three such situations are envisaged in this example: a reward situation, a penalty situation and a question situation. The class into which a landing area falls is suitably identified, for example by allocating a particular colour to such area according to its class. In the case of a landing area in the reward class, the participant is rewarded with an extra turn to play, while the landing on a penalty class landing area results in the loss of at least one turn. A player who lands on a question class landing area is required to answer a question. Questions are to be found on the faces of cards constituting a set (not shown) that is placed face down in a zone 24. The subject matter of the questions relates to the rules of golf in various golfing situations. An example of such a question relates to the penalty that applies in a situation where a player's shot strikes a caddy standing out of bounds and rebounds into play.

The questions are graded into various categories according to degree of difficulty. Accordingly, in this example, the class of question landing areas is subdivided into subclasses according to awkwardness of the real-life situation the player finds his ball in. Therefore, by way of example, the player whose position marker is on an area in a relatively comfortable position such as on a fairway 26, will receive and "easier" question to answer than a competitor whose ball lies in an area marked "Bunker" 28.

The game may be played by the participants in any one of numerous recognised golf formats such as (without limitation) single, foursomes, betterball, alliance, first nine and second nine. Participants may thus play as individuals or teams.

Briefly, by way of non-limiting example, the game is played by the participating players initially deciding on the game format: • Singles Each player represents himself; • Betterball Players form teams of two and throw one die or set of dice per turn per team and are presented with one question to which the team must answer collectively - i.e. giving one answer, with;

Alliance Players form teams of three of more, throw once per team with all players able to participate in answering the question as a team, as in the betterball case;

• Foursomes Players for teams of two or more and the team is represented by each player in the team in turn having to cast the die or dice and answer the subsequent question, without conferring with his colleagues.

To determine which of the participants "tees" off first, a coin or tee-peg may be flipped, or dice cast. Play will then progress clockwise in turn after the starter. To start, the starting player casts the die and advances his marker by the number of spaces or landing areas corresponding with the number thrown. Each such landing area represents a situation of play. These are:

• Question situations: such as a green, fairway, rough and bunker, each representing a different difficulty category of question;

• Reward situations: such as one-putt, birdie, chip-in and eagle, each of which rewards the participant with an additional throw of the die on his turn (two throws in the case of an eagle);

• Penalty situations such as water hazard, "fresh air", shank, slice, hook,

"ball behind tree", "out of bounds" and three putt, each of which causes the participant to miss his next turn

(two turns in the case of "out of bounds").

Depending on the situation represented by the landing area on which the player's marker comes to be positioned, the player is required to answer a question.

On a landing area representing a question, the player's opponents on his left hand side selects a card from the relevant pack according to difficulty and puts the question appearing thereon to the player concerned. If the player answers the question correctly, he is given another turn to play. If he answers incorrectly he waits for his next turn.

On answering the question, all the other players have a chance to challenge the correctness of the answer given by the player or, if he cannot answer, to provide an answer themselves. Each player is limited to only one challenge per round of turns. A challenge is indicated by a first player shouting "Fore" before the next player throws the die. If he provides the correct answer, he throws twice on his next turn. If his answer is incorrect, he is penalised by missing his next turn.

The winner is the player first to pass the landing area numbered 72, thereby completing the eighteen holes of the course.

A complete round of the throwing of dice must be completed before the winner is confirmed and declared. A situation in which two or more players complete the game in the same round is settled by the player scoring the least over par (i.e. 72 in this example) being declared the winner. For example, Player A is on area number 68 and throws a 6, so that his marker would pass the last numbered area 72, located on the eighteenth green and reach an imaginary 74. Player B is already on 72 and throws a 4, giving him a 76. Player A wins by virtue of being the lesser over par.

Answers to the questions are contained in a book. The question cards reflect the relevant page in the book which gives and explains the answer. All questions are based on the rules of golf. In an alternative embodiment, the questions may be provided on the reverse side of the question cards.

The following advantages in the invention will be apparent: 1. An improved knowledge and understanding of the rules of golf is to be gained because questions are based on various golf situations experienced by everyday golfers, as the rules and decisions pertaining to such situations are discussed in detail in the answers. 2. The game allows for a healthy dialogue between golfers about the rules of golf arising from the challenge system provided for in the rules.

3. The rules of the game and the actual playing thereof are relatively simple.

4. The emphasis of the game is on acquiring knowledge and understanding of the rules of golf and not so much on a complex game procedure.

5. The duration of the game is flexible, thereby allowing the game to take as little as ten minutes or as long as two hours, in the latter instance where multiple rounds of the game are played.

The game may be produced in an electronic form. In an embodiment of such form, the game comprises programmable means for depicting the golf course, electronic data minder means for storing the questions and answers, output means for representing the course according to data from the golf course depicting means, and for communicating a question and an answer to a participant when prompted by means of an input from such participant. The game in this form further includes electronic token representing means, programmable pseudo random number generating means and processor means capable of acting on inputs from a participant and determining the position of the relevant token on the course and output means for communicating such position to the participant.

Claims

1. A game simulating golf, comprising a substrate having a playing surface on which is represented a golf course comprising a plurality of golf holes, each hole having a sequence of landing areas defined to be distributed over it, means for providing a plurality of questions capable of testing knowledge of rules of the game of golf, and being for use in relation to certain of such landing areas, means for providing a set of answers to the questions, a plurality of identification tokens positionable on the landing areas and each being assignable to a participant for representing the position of such participant in the game, random number generating means capable of producing a number to determine progress of a participant's token along the sequence of landing areas for a hole and a set of rules for playing such game.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the questions are graded into a plurality of categories of difficulty.

3. A game according to claim 2, wherein the categories of difficulty correspond with categories of awkwardness that are representative of real golfing situations.

4. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the landing areas are marked to be classified into classes according to a plurality of outcome categories representative of real golfing situations.

5. A game according to claim 4 wherein the landing area classes include one or more representing separately rewards, penalties and questions.

6. A game according to any one of the preceding claims having a starting area and an ending area and wherein each landing area has a different numerical designation and is sequentially numbered from such starting area to such ending area.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein the holes are numbered in a sequence and the landing areas are sequentially numbered to follow the sequence of the holes.

8. A game according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein each hole comprises a tee area, a fairway area, a green area and a hazard area.

9. A game according to claim 8 wherein the start area is on a first tee area and the end at the hole on an eighteenth green area.

10. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for providing the questions comprises a set of cards having a first side on which at least one question is representable.

11. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for providing the answers to the questions comprises a booklet.

12. A game according to claim 11 wherein the cards have a reverse face on which the answers are provided.

13. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate is semi-rigid.

14. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate has two opposed sides, presenting opposed playing surfaces, each having a different course depicted on it.

15. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the board is foldable.

16. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tokens have a tee-peg shape.

17. A game according to claim 16 wherein the substrate includes receiving holes located to be associated with the designated numbered landing areas and shaped to receive the tee-peg shaped tokens at least partially.

18. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the random number generating means comprises a die.

19. A game according to claim 18 wherein the die is generally shaped as a golf ball, having dimpled facets each having one of the outcome numerals 1 to 6 imprinted thereon.

20. A golf game according to any one of the preceding claims including programmable means for depicting the golf course, electronic data minder means for storing the questions and answers, output means for representing the course according to data from the golf course depicting means, and for communicating a question and an answer to a participant, electronic token representing means, programmable pseudo random number generating means and processor means capable of acting on inputs from participants and determining the position of the token on the course and output means for communicating such position to the participant.

21. A simulated golf game substantially as described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.