GB2157183A - Board golf game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The game apparatus comprises a board marked to indicate a "hole" including a tee, fairway, green an (optionally) hazards, the fairway being divided into distances or numbers from the fee; "ball" markers; and at least two random devices bearing indicia associated respectively with the fairway markings and with the number of "shots" for "holing out" on the green. Five such devices may be used corresponding to "tee", "fairway I", "fairway II", "wedge" and "putting" and sixth and seventh devices (which may be cards) associated with the hazards may also be used. The random devices may be suitably marked dice or a plurality of marked, rotatable drums or wheels arranged on a common axle with an indicator for each drum. Alternatively, a single drum with a series of sets of markings can be used.

Description

SPECIFICATION Board golf game This invention is concerned with a board game simulating the game of golf, and whilst the board game provided by the invention involves a degree of chance, in its preferred form, the player is also called upon to exercise a certain amount of choice.

According to this invention a board game simulating the game of gold has a board marked to indicate whole" (including a "tee", a "fairway", a "green", and-optionally-one or more "hazards", the "fairway" being divided into a series of "distances from the "tee", there being also markers to indicate the position of a player's ball and at least two random devices one associated by its indicia with the distance or numbered markings on the "fairway", and the other being associated by its indicia with the simulating of the placing of a player's marker along the "fairway" being determined in accordance with the indications of the first random device, and the number of shots required for "holing" of the marker from any position on the "green" being determined by the second random number device.The number of "shots" required to hole out from a position on the "green" may be in accordance with an indication given by the second random number device, or it may be determined by the number of times the player has to use the second random device to obtain coincidence between a code on the putting area and the indication on the second random device.

Preferably there are at least two intermediate random devices in addition to the first and second random devices, the player having the option after operating the first random device to give his "tee shot" to use either of the intermediate random devices for his subsequent "shot" or "shots" before arriving on the "green". Thus, there may be four random devices corresponding to "tee", "fairway", "wedge" and "putting" shots, the first three being marked with distances and the fourth with the special "putting" code. There may in fact, be a fifth random device associated with hazards marked on the board. It will be appreciated that the indicia on the random devices are such that the different devices are likely to produce shot lengths corresponding to the simulated situation.For example, the "tee shot" device will show a set of generally longer distances than the "fairway shot"' - although there may be some overlap.

The green may be divided into a series of concentric annular areas, and a code associated with these areas may comprise numerals (eg "1" nearest the hole then "2", "3" and "4").

According to a preferred feature of the invention the random devices each take the form of a wheel free to rotate on an axis common to all the devices there being a datum marker associated with each wheel. In one form the device comprises a single drum with a series of sets of markings thereon, the drum being housed in a container which has a sight for each set of markings. It is also preferred that the board represents a complete golf course, with a series of "holes" of differing length.

A board game in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only.

The game simulates the game of golf, and the board on which the game is played is marked out with the plan of a golf course. The couse may be a purely imaginary one or in fact it can be a representation of an actual golf course. This lends greater realism to the game as does the correct marking of the board with landscape features. Indeed, the board could be constructed as a relief map of the golf course. An interesting feature of the game is that there may be a variety of boards each representing some particular golf course, so that the playing of the game can be varied as is the game of golf according to the "course" which is chosen.

It is to be understood that the term "board" is used to describe any properly marked plane sheet, and that the sheets could be made of paper. In one arrangement there is a basic frame and the marked sheets each representing a golf course can be placed in this frame one at a time.

The board will show nine or eighteen "holes", but only the markings of one needs to be described in detail. The markings essential for a single "hole" are a representation of the fairway with any hazards along its length, a representation of the green and hole, and distance or numbered markings on the green and the fairway. Taking a 400 yards hole as an example, there are distance markings at 150 yards, 175 yards, 200 yards, 250 yards, 300 yards, 350 yards and 400 yards. Certain hazards are indicated on the diagram, namely, a bunker at 150 yards, very rough at 200 yards, semi-rough at 200 yards and semirough at 250 yards.

The "green" is marked with four concentric circles drawn about the "hole", the annular area around the hold being marked 1,the next area in an outward direction 2, the next 3 and the outer area 4. There are also areas on the green marked respectively:- "Left bunker", "Right bunker" and "Left bunker 2".

Adjacent to the diagram are four codes marked thus:- First code headed "Tee" 1:300 2:250 (semi-rough) 3:250 4:200 (semi-rough) 5:200 (very rough) 6:150 (bunker) Second Code headed"l;ainlvay" 1 - 150yards 1 2 - 250yards 2 3 - 100yards (left bunker) 4 - 200yards (right bunker) 5 - 100yards 4 6 - 200yards 3 Third Code headed "Wedge" 1 - 100 yards - 1 2 - 50 yards (semi-rough)-2 3 - 25 yards (left bunker )-1 4 - 25 yards (right bunker)-1 5 - 100 yards (left bunker 2)-3 6-75yards-1 Fourth Code headed - Putting 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-1 6-2 These codes indicate the possible moves of a player on the "hole" in accordance with the indications of a random number device to be further described.Each player has a marker, which maytake the form of a distinctively coloured ball or representation of a golfer.

The random number device comprises a frame supporting a horizontal axle on which six drums are arranged side-by-side, each drum being free to rotate about the axle. A series of numbers 1 to 6 is marked on the periphery of each drum and an indicator is associated with each drum. The device can be made in varying degrees of sophistication. In a simple form the player spins one of the drums by hand and reads off the number which comes to rest nearest to the indicator. In a very refined version the drums are operated by a handle as in the well known "fruit machine". Reading from one end to the other, the drums are referred to as "Tee"; "Hazard"; "Fairway"; "Wedge"; "Hazard and "Putting".

To play the game, each player first operates the "Tee" drum and this indicates the length of his first "shot". The marker is then placed on the diagram in the position indicated. If this shot arrives at some hazard, then the player must make his next shot by operating the "Hazard" drum; if not then he can choose either the "Fairway" or "Wedge" drum for his second shot. In this manner the player is able to progress by a series of shots to the "green" and it will be observed that the "Fairway" and 'Wedge" codes include a number to indicate the annular area of the green on which the players arrive. To hole, the player must obtain the correct code indication from the "Putting" drum, or special putting dice as shown by the annular area on which he alights. Scoring follows that of an ordinary game of golf.

It will be appreciated that an ordinary dice could be used as the random number device, and in that case, different coloured dice could be used for "Tee"; "Fairway"; "Hazard" etc. orto use Hazard Bunker Cards for any penalty to be incurred.

In an alternative form of the game, the board is printed in the same way as that described above, excepting that there is no necessity for the concentric ring markings on the "green". The random number device is rather more sophisticated, in that it has a drum being housed within a case with a longitudinal slot to provide a "sight". Six obscuring plates are slideably mounted in this slot, each being equal in length to the width of one of the sets of markings on the drum. Hence, by sliding the obscuring plates, any selected one of the sets of markings is visible in the "sight".

The sets of markings are similar to those already described, escepting that the extra set is referred to as a "Short Tee" set, there being a code for use with this set on short "greens". Further, one of the markings on the "Short Tee" is an ace, and if this marking appears, the player is regarded as having holed-in-one.

The code associated with the putting set of markings is also different, in that it merely indicates the number of putt shots to be added to the player's score for holing out. Thus, the player only operates the drum once on each "green" to find the number of shots to be added for putting.

Claims (7)

1. A board game simulating the game of golf has a board marked to indicate a "Hole" including a "Tee", "Fairway", and a "Green", and optionally one or more "Hazards".

The "Fairway" to the "Green" being divided into a series of distances or numbers from the "Tee", there being also markers to indicate the position of a players ball and at least two random devices, one associated by its indicia with the distance or num bered markings on the "Fairway".

The other being associated by its indicia with the number of shots required for "Holing Out", from any position on the "Green" when the "Green" has been reached.

2. A board game as claimed in claim 1 in that the number of shots required to "Hole Out" is in accordance with an indication given by the second random device.

3. A board game as claimed in claim 1 and 2 in that "Holing Out" in one form can be determined by the number of times a player has to use the second random device to obtain a coincidence between a code on the "Putting" area and the indication on the second random device.

4. A board game as claimed in claim 1 will preferably have at least three random devices in addition to the first and second random devices, the player having the option after operating the first random device to give his "Tee Shot" to use either of the intermediate random device for his second or subsequent shot or shots before arriving on the "Green". Thus there may be five random devices corresponding to "Tee", "Fairway I", "Fairway II", "Wedge" and "Putting". The first four being marked with distances and the fifth a "Putting Code".

5. A board game as claimed in claim 1 and 4 in that there will be a sixth and seventh random device associated with the "Hazards" marked on the board.

The sixth random device with distance markings will constitute a penalty to pay on the "Fairway and Surrounds". The seventh random device with coded markings will constitute a penalty to pay on the "Green and Surrounds".

Cards marked with "Bunker Card" and "Green Bunker Card" can also be used in this respect.

6. A board game as claimed in claims 1,3 and 5 wherein the random device can be operated by hand, electric (battery or mains), electronically and a computer.

6. A board game as claimed in claim 1,2 and 3 can have the "Green" divided into a series of concentric annular areas and a code associated with these areas can be used.

7. A board game as claimed in claim 1,4 and 5, take as a preferred feature a random device which can take the form of a wheel free to rotate on its axis common to all the devices there being a datum market associated with the wheels.

8. A board game as claimed in claim 1,4,5, and

7. Take as a preferred feature a random device that can take the form of a single drum with a series of sets of markings thereon. The drum being housed in a container which has a sight set of markings.

9. A board game as claimed in claim 1,4,5,7 and 8 wheren the random devices can be operated by hand, electric (battery or mains) electronically and a computer.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1+3 to 11 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

10. A board game as claimed in claim 1 can use ordinary dice as the random device, the indicia being associated with the numbered distances from the "Tee" to the "Green". A special putting dice its indicia being associated with the number of "Putts" required to "Hole Out". It will be appreciated that dice coloured to a corresponding code can be used for the "Tee", "Fairway", "Hazard" and "Putting".

11. A board game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the board can be representative of a complete golf course real or imaginary and even take the form of a relief map, all with holes of differing length.

1. A board game simulating the game of golf has a board marked to indicate a "Hole" including a "Tee", "Fairway" and a "Green", and optionally one or more "Hazards".

The "Fairway" to the "Green" being divided into a series of distances or numbers from the tee, there being also markers to indicate the position of a players ball and at least two random devices, one associated by its indicia with the distance or numbered markings on the "Fairway".

3. A board game as claimed in claims 1 and 2 will preferably have at least three random devices in addition to the first and second random devices. The player having the option after operating a No. 1 random device to give his "Tee Shot" to use either a No. 2, No. 3, No.4 or No. 5 for his subsequent shot to the "Green" from the "Fairway". There are a further three random devices. 2 Hazards and 1 Putting, the hazard random devices constitute penalty shots when a hazard is encountered along the "Fairway" or around the green. The putting random device has a numerical code for "Holing Out" when the green has been reached.

4. A board game as claimed in claims 1 and 2 has a series of cards marked 1 set "Bunker Card" and "Green Bunker Card" to be used when a hazard is encountered.

5. A board game as claimed in claims 1 and 3 take as a preferred feature a random device that can take the form of a cylinder with a series of set markings thereon and sight set the full length.