GB2220147A - A board game of golf - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf board-game for 1 to 4 players comprises a distance chart relating dice roll to selected club and a playing board representing 18 hole course, distances being marked stepwise in parallel columns following hole shape. Certain hazard locations indicate that a golf, sport or general knowledge question is answerable to establish if hazard invokes full penalty. General knowledge questions and questions of identifying golfers profiles are used to resolve putting. Game mechanism is also a basis for a television game show. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOARD GAME OF GOLF This invention relates to a golf board game for 1, 2, 3 or 4 players, as singles or sides, in matchplay or strokescoring. A novel distance chart relates dice nunber to club chosen for stroke and to 6 set distances for club. Playing board areas represent an 18-hole course with distances narked out stepwise throughout each hole. From any location, choice of clubs is linited for next stroke. Score cards are kept at each hole.

Certain distances, in hazards, are labelled indicating a golf, sport or general knowledge question must be answered before effect of hazard is known. When putting, players either get one extra stroke on overshooting hole or use general knowledge questions and golfers profiles to finish, using same system throughout game.

Golf is an unusually difficult theme for a board game. Elaborate rules and penalties, equipment selection, handicapping and scoring systems and freak events in play are not conducive to simple game design. Players relationships vary by match, and order of play or frequency of stroke is not straightforward. One major design obstacle is need for a random distance assignment system for a stroke with selected club. Distances must reflect varying degrees of success with stroke. Another obstacle is that random distance systems do not guarantee player holing-out after reaching putting green. Player may continually overshoot hole distance. Distance layouts involving grids, as used in many board games, may result in players getting correct distance to hole but not holing-out. Several dice thrown together may resolve grid line problems but cause confusion.

In real golf, choosing best club for elevation, distance and accuracy required for given situation, playing stroke, observing result and moving to new location are time consuming but in the board game must all be achieved instantly. Attempts to recreate golf precisely have been successful in computer games but not in board games. The golf theme at board game level has neither been represented accurately enough, and with sone skill factor, to satisfy dedicated golfers' requirements nor involved sufficient novelty and modern type of skill/chance combination to relate to needs of the board game playing general public.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a golf board game with a fast and simple but effective system for determining which of 6 allowable distances for a given club are assigned for that stroke Choice of club is determined by location and distance requirement. The distance chart has 6 set distances for each individual club arranged in parallel columns alongside a column containing dice numbers 1 - 6. Above the distance columns are names of each club and a sliding clip indicating which club player intends to use next stroke. Below distance column for each club are listed the locations at which club may be in use. After dice roll, player reads horizontally along dice number rank until meeting distance column for club with indicator on. Yards distance in intersecting square is distance allowed for the stroke, achieved using 1 dice.

On the board, distances are narked out stepwise from -teeing ground initially as 10 yard steps and then as 5 yard steps once within 50 yards of hole. The 6 allowable distances per club have been painstakingly worked out so that a distance player expects does in fact exist on board. Certain distances are depicted inside bunkers or in rough, which merely restricts choice of club for next stroke. However, certain other distances depicted in rough, on fairway, in water, and on course boundaries are specially labelled indicating player is to answer a specific type of question before penalty or relief from hazard is established. Correct answers at such locations mininise effect of hazard on player's progress whereas incorrect answer incurs full penalty.

Questions at problem locations introduce a non-chance element into otherwise chance-only game. This gives an extra dimension to game events.

These special distances, labelled G, S or K indicate questions on golf, sport or general knowledge respectively. Question cards may have more than 1 series of questions of each type. An opponent selects a question of required type from one or another series on next card. Question cards may be numbered and each card dedicated to a famous golfer, whose profile appears on top face of card. Players profiles are numbered also and nationality is given as a clue to player's identity. When code letter specifies question ts to be golf type, player has option of taking question or naming player featured on top card.

Two other problem locations invoke automatic 1 stroke penalty on arrival there. Locations coded T signify need to visit toilets, with penalty for delay-to game. Locations coded H occur only on putting greens and indicate that a second player arriving there from putt has hit the first player's ball, when 2 players are at the location at same time.

A purely random distance selection system fails to ensure players hole-out in a reasonable number of strokes, since players may continually putt 5 yards past the hole. This makes comparisons to par meaningless. Use of general knowledge questions and profile recognition from cards overcomes this problem. Once player putts past hole distance, further strokes are based on questions and profiles and correct response allows player to hole-out in next stroke, profiles are pictures or written resumes.

Game may be played as straight golf without use of questions or profiles At labelled locations player takes penalty associated with problem. An alternative is straight golf through to green but use of questions and pictures only to resolve putting. An individual may play solo versus par or standard scratch score, automatic holing-out after an overputt being essential when playing alone.

There is no provision for a handicap system or ladies teeing grounds closer to holes. Women can roll a 6 dice as well as men. However, since women generally are less concerned with golf history, golf rules minutia and sports records than men, some relief is given by allowing women option of naming golfer featured on top card When faced with any G, S or K labelled problem distance.

At game end, scorecard design permits comparisons of player or side's performance in strokeplay versus individual opponents or sides, or versus par or standard scratch score for course and distance. Xatchplay comparisons are between player or side versus best opponent at each hole and versus par for each hole.

A specific representation of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings showing hole design, distance marking system, special locations, distance chart, scorecard, question cards with profiles on reverse side, and course analysis sheet.

Figure 1 shows relationship of features basic to a hole, path 1 fron previous green, teeing ground 2, rough 3, fairway 4, water hazard 5, putting green 6, hole distance 7 (circled), hole flag 8, bunker 9, distance in rough 10, course boundary 11, path 12 leading to next teeing ground.

Also in figure 1 are distances specifically mentioned in examples of play text and some problem distances labelled for questions.

Ordinary distances not mentioned in text are omitted for simplicity. Special problem distances represented are water hazard 13 labelled G for golf question, fairway distance 14 unplayable and labelled K for general knowledge question, rough distance 15 is a lost ball and labelled S for sports question, boundary location 16 requiring a new ball and labelled K for general knowledge question, putting green distance 17 labelled H for hitting opponent's ball, and fairway distance 18 labelled T for a visit to toilets.

Figure 2 shows components of teeing ground in detail, arrow 19 indicates direction of play, marker board 20 displays hole details such as hole number 21, yards distance 22, and number of strokes par 23 for the hole.

Figure 3 shows distance marking layout on a hole, all numbers within diagram representing yards distance from teeing ground, no locations are labelled for special significance since emphasis is entirely on spatial layout of parallel columns of distance steps following general shape of hole.

Figure 4 illustrates a distance chart which includes a plastic sliding indicator clip 24 which travels left to right through space 25 so that clip may be above name of club 26 for use next.

Beneath name of each club is a column 27 of six set distances for the club, dice number column 28 contains numbers one to six, and beneath club distance columns are locations 29 at which that club say be in use.

Figure 5 depicts a question card 30 containing series one questions 31 (ilk, 1S, 1G) and also series two questions 32 (2K, 2S, 2G) and answers 33, plus name of player 34 featured on reverse side of card and number of card 35 in series.

Figure 6 shows picture side of question card with players profile 36, card number 35 and nationality of player featured 7 Figure 7 shows scorecard design 38 including course distance 39, standard scratch score 40 for distance, par 41 for individual holes, par for course 42, first nine holes total distance 43, second nine holes total distance 44, five-barred gate scoring column 45 for recording each stroke at hole.

Figure 8 is an example of one player's scorecard 46 in a match, showing total strokes 47 taken at each hole, results 48 versus opponents hole by hole, total strokes 49 for course, strokes over or under par 50, strokes 51 compared to standard scratch score, strokescoring comparison 52 with best opponent, summary of satchplay conparison 53 versus best result of opponents.

Figure 9 illustrates course analysis sheet 54 for the outward 9 holes of the course, a similar sheet would relate to the inward 9 holes. The table is self-explanatory, numbers in bunker locations 55 are all yards distance from teeing ground for that hole, numbers in hazard locations 56 are also yards distance, total bunkers 57 and total hazards 58 per hole and halfcourse indicate relative distribution of special locations in terms of hole lengths and par strokes.

Board features are coloured as in nature. 18 holes on one side of a board is not practical. Two separate boards of 9 holes each permit single board folds and readable numbering. Most practical approach is a 2 sided board folding once, having a different 9 holes on each side. Distance markings alternate on each side of hole which gets more distance steps in same hole length. There is enough space on inner side of distance lines to accommodate several players markers at once. These columns of distance numbers follow shape of hole reading from teeing ground.

This board game mechanism, involving questions and golfers picture recognition at hazards and to resolve putting, also provides an excellent basis for a Television quiz-game show. Large screen board in studio would be illuminated and have players' locations and special hazards highlighted on hole in play. Individuals or sides compete under guidance of a golfing celebrity/compere. Electronic display units have a combined scorecard revealing status of players or sides. Another screen displays profile of player featured on next question card and, on commend, reads out a specified type of question from that card and later reveals answer.

PLAYINF THE GAME 1. TYPES OF MATCH: Singles, or sides such as threesomes, best ball, foursones, or fourball say be played on board using strokescoring and satchplay rules essentially sane as real golf.

2. ORDER OF PLAY: Dedicated golfers to whom "having the honour" and "who's awayw nay be second nature can play game that way. Simple instructions call for player with highest dice roll to tee-off first.

Players and sides alternate strokes, keeping same order throughout hole.

Players on same side may alternate teeing-off, but keep that order till finish of hole. Fast exciting games result if each player completes hole before next player starts hole.

3. CHOICE OF CLUBS: Clubs featured on distance chart are equivalent to a "half-set". No.1 wood is only for initial drive off teeing ground.

No.3 wood is for teeing-off or fairway. Irons may be used on fairways, but are obligatory in rough Wedge is only used in bunkers and only. putter is; used on greens. Calculation of distance remaining to hole and inspection of distance chart quickly establishes which is best club available in that circumstance.

4. USE OF DISTANCE CHART: After deciding which club is to be used next, player sets plastic indicator clip above name of club on distance chart.

Dice is then rolled and chart read along number-rolled rank till meeting club column with indicator above. Number in that box is yards distance for that stroke using selected club.

For example: Dice roll 5 with No.1 wood = 250 yards.

Dice roll 3 with Neo.5 iron = 80 yards.

Dice roll 6 with wedge = 50 yards.

Dice roll 1 with putter = 5 yards.

In bad weather, subtract 20 yards from shots out of fairway or rough.

An alternative distance system is using several dice, each representing a particular club, with sides specially labelled as 6 set distances per club. Dice would be colour coded and each one having a similarly coded shaker with club name and distances printed on. This is time consuming and potentially confusing, but a feasible system. However, distance chart is fast, efficient, foolproof, and very durable when laminated.

5. USING SCORECARDS: Sheet containing scorecard has purposely allowed blank space for written distance subtractions. This approach is better than calculating in one's head, since player returning to last stroke position can identify previous distance by looking at scoresheet subtractions. Each 9 hole section has a column for noting individual strokes during holes using

system. After completing hole, total strokes are written in main score column space for that hole.

AN EXAMPLE OF PLAY DRXONSTATING CLUB AND DISTANCE SYSTEM The par 4 hole of 445 yards referred to in play is illustrated in drawing So.1. Details given show correct club selection and proper use of distance chart.

Players put markers on teeing ground for hole. First player chooses a No.1 wood to drive-off because maximum distance is desirable. Before rolling dice, player sets chart indicator above No.1 wood. Dice roll is 6 which is 260 yards, player moves marker to 260 line and writes a stroke on scorecard. This new location is on fairway 185 yards from hole. When other players have gone, first player selects No.3 wood for next stroke, sets chart indicator on No.3 wood and then rolls 5 which is 200 yards. Player puts marker on 460 line and records second stroke on scorecard. This distance is in bunker 15 yards past hole. Next turn wedge must be used, chart is set and dice rolled giving 3 which is 20 yards with wedge. Marker is moved back towards hole to 440 line, on putting green 5 yards other side of hole.Scorecard is sparked for third stroke, chart is set for putter and dice roll is 1 which is 5 yards. This takes player's marker to 445 yards which is hole distance, meaning player holes-out in fourth stroke. Player moves -marker to next teeing ground and awaits other player(s) before continuing. Scorecard is marked for 4 strokes total, which is equal to par for hole.

SPECIAL HAZARDS. PNALTIS AND RELIEF Certain hazard distances are labelled indicating a penalty if playing 'straight' golf. Penalties are as follows: CODE HAZARD pULL PENALTY G, S or K Ball lost in rough 1 stroke + back to previous distance G, S or K Ball out-pf-bounds 1 stroke + back to previous distance G, S or K Ball lost in pond 1 stroke + back te previous distance G, S or K Unplayable in trees 1 stroke + back 1 distance step G, S or K Ball in stream 1 stroke + back l distance step H Hit other ball on green Add 1 stroke to score T Need to visit toilets Add 1 stroke to score Bunkers and rough are not special hazards and merely restrict choice of club for next stroke.At G, S or K locations, restarting new ball from previous distance is effectively 1 stroke penalty since player has to wait for next turn after returning to last distance, but both strokes are recorded. H and T locations involve player adjusting scorecard and taking next turn as usual. Thus penalties do not affect order of play.

PLAY USING QUESTIONS AND PROFILES: When question cards are used, pack is shuffled and placed on table with profiles upwards. Player landing at labelled location is given a question of relevant type from top card by an opponent. Code labels are: G = golf, S = sport, K = general knowledge Player say wait till next turn before answering. If answer is incorrect, then hazard effects full penalty listed in table above. If answer is correct, relief from hazard is as listed below. However, H and T locations involve no questions or profiles and still incur 1 stroke penalty.

IAZARD RELIEF Lost ball in rough Find ball, play from there Ball out-of-bounds 1 bounds, play from there Ball in pond 1 stroke + back 1 distance step t Unplayable in trees Xanage to play from there Ball in stream . 1 stroke + back 1 distance step t + Next hazard may be ignored USE OF GOLFERS PROFILES: There are some options on electing to name golf player featured rather than take question. Correct identification gives relief from hazard as in preceding table. Incorrect answers incur full penalties from hazards as listed in first table. Profile identification option is different for men and women: Men have option only at G locations.

Ladies have option at all G, S or K locations.

USE OF QUESTIONS AND PROFILES AFTER PUTTING: Once on the green player may sake final putt, but overshoots the hole instead of holing-out. Rather than risk overputting back in the other direction, player attempts to answer next general knowledge question. If correct answer is given, player holes-out in 1 more stroke. If incorrect, player tries to identify golfer.

If correct, player still holes-out in only 1 stroke more. However, if player gets both wrong, stroke is recorded and player stays at that location, repeating sequence until successful. Prior to start, agree which system to use either extra stroke or the cards.

WIllING TITUS lATCH In match play, a hole is won by player or side completing hole in least number of strokes. Holes may be halved with same number of strokes. Match is 9 or 18 holes as agreed prior to start. There is no need to play every hole to know winner(s) if a side leads by more holes than those left to play. In strokescoring play, a side or player holing-out agreed number of holes in least aggregate strokes wins match. In any match, if results are even at end, restart at hole No.1 and continue until winner is determined.

TELEVISION BOARD GAXE SHOW Combined scorecard display unit indicates status of all contestants simultaneously. Any player or side's main objective would be to defeat rivals in that round. However there is opportunity for 'instant' rewards on occasions such as holing-out in one (2 possible on each 9 hole round) or achieving birdies. A rare but significant event would be player or side beating par for round. Each player has individual electronic access to distance chart display unit. Dice roll would be automated using an electronic random number selector.

Programme lengths lend themselves to 9 hole matches, but other 9 holes are available for play-offs. Bovelty is added by teams bringing along their local Club Professional as consultant for the golf questions and profiles.

This would be appropriate if game has a charity component. Golf questions are coded as general public or expert level questions. Additionally, a side containing 2 golfers gives a few strokes to a non-golfing or combined golfer plus non-golfer team.

Claims (8)

1. A golf board-game for up to 4 players, as singles or sides, comprising a dice, novel distance chart with sliding indicator clip, scorecards, players' markers and a playing board representing 18 hole course, wherein distance chart relates dice number rolled to 6 set distances for club selected for next stroke, and wherein playing board has distances marked out stepwise from teeing ground to hole, but alternating on left and right sides to form parallel columns of numbers following actual shapes of holes, and also wherein overputt holes-out next stroke.

2. A golf board-game as claimed in claim 1, wherein certain distances are identified as hazards such as lost balls, unplayable, out-of-bounds, in water, hitting an opponents' ball and needing to visit toilets; which all involve some form of penalty.

3. A golf board-game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein hazard locations are specifically labelled indicating a golf, sport or general knowledge question from next card in series must be answered correctly in order to gain relief from penalty.

4. A golf board-game as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein each question card in the series has a profile of a different famous golfer on reverse side; game players either answer specified type of question or identify golfer featured on card and if correct obtain relief from hazard penalty.

5. A golf board-game as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein after putting past hole, player answers a general knowledge question or identifies golfer and, if correct, holes-out in next stroke ensuring players take few strokes on greens whereas random number systems take many strokes.

6. A golf board-game as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein game forms basis of a television game show with individuals or teams competing, but with only 1 ball per side; players alternate strokes, but questions and golfers profiles are a group effort, and wherein large playing board, scoreboard, questions and answers board1 golfers profiles display, and random numbers 1 to 6 are all electronically operated, and also wherein players or teams get a variety of rewards for achievements such as 'aces', 'birdies', scoring below par for course, winning the round or series, becoming champion or getting lowest score ever; added novelty being presence of golf proPessionals assisting teams with only golf ueston=- and profiles and in event of scores being level at end of round. the professionals play-off on putting green.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A board game of golf with a playing board representing an 18 - hole course layout, numbers printed on the board at intervals throughout the holes indicate total yards distance from the teeing grounds, intervals being initially in 10 yard steps but then changing to 5 yard steps at 40 - 5C yards from hole distance and continuing that way until reaching outer distance limit beyond a hole, wherein numbers for distance are on alternating left and right sides of a hole to form parallel columns of numbers following general shape of hole, no central/straight or best line being indicated or suggested since the. side locations of numbers is not related to hooked/sliced strokes or mishaps but is strictly a means of simply and effectively marking many distance locations in a small space suitable for board game scale, and wherein these distance numbers are underlined in n emended manner to allow room for several players markers on the same line simultaneously, however the precise location of any distance is defined by the positioning of the number in the rough/green/fairway/water/bunker to avoid confusion since the line ray cr.C,s several boundaries in order to be long enough but the number's location is unambiguous, and also wherein distances located on putting greens are always 5 yard steps and hole distance is central on the green in < toed location which is encircled and containing the flag.

2. A golf board game as claimed in claim i, wherein a single combined distance chart relates 6 set distances for any selected club to random numbers from a single standard dice, any number of clubs may be ranked in the chart and a plastic sliding indicator may be positioned on top of the laminated chart to show which particular club has been chosen for the next stroke, whilst immediately below the column of distances for any club is listed the permissible situations in which that club may be in use.

3. A golf board game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a player may automatically hole out by recording 1 extra stroke after overputting the hole, provided the overputt goes to an otherwise uncomplicated green distance location and not a "hitting opponents ball" location when the usual penalty is incurred before recording extra stroke to hole out.

4. A golf board game as claimed in claims 1 - 3, wherein certain distance locations are identified as hazards, in the case of bunkers which are not special hazards the distance is numbered inside the bunker outline and merely restricts choice of club to the wedge next stroke, however other distance locations are code labelled indicating they represent either in water, out of bounds, lost ball,,unplayable or hitting an Opponents ball problem sites all of which incur a penalty which is typically stroke and distance as in real golf.

5. A golf board game as claimed in claims 1 - 4, wherein hazard locations other than bunkers are coded to specify that the player landing in that hazard must correctly answer the next question on golf, sport or general knowledge in order to gain a specified relief from hazard penalty before proceeding with any further strokes, question cards may have more than one series of questions of each type such that further novelty is added by an opponent choose which series question of the specified type to present to the player in the hazard.

6. A golf board game as claimed in claims 1 - 5, wherein question cards introduce additional novelty by having a written and/or pictorial profile of a famous golfer on the upper face of each card, game rules giving some options to elect to try and name the player profiled as a way of gaining relief from hazard as an alternative to taking the specified question.

7. A golf board game as claimed in claims 1 - 6, wherein after overputting hole distance on the green and not being at a special distance location of any kind may have recourse to options such as taking the next question of preferred type or putting a name to the uppermost profile as a way of putting out in one more stroke, rather than roll dice and risk more strokes.

8. A golf game design as claimed in claims 1- 7, but wherein design forms the basis of an electronic video game or television game show with players or teams competing, but only having I ball per side so that players have to alternate taking strokes and with hazard questions and/or profile recognition being tackled individually by the player who got into the hazard or as a group effort, and wherein a large playing board, scoreboard, questions and answers display, and profile display are all electronically controlled as would be the one distance chart and cursor and a button operated number randomiser as opposed to a dice, and also wherein at the television level particularly the players or teams get a variety of rewards for "aces" and "birdies" and such as scoring below par for the course or lowest ever score in addition to winning the round and routine prizes, added novelty being inclusion of local professional golfers known to each team to assist with golf questions and profiles if desired, in event of tie the ladies Or pro's would have a "putt-out" on studio putting green.