Golf Game

Abstract

A game of golf deviates from USGA rules by use of a special marker that may be placed anywhere on a golf course, such as in a sand trap. A group of golfers initiate play from a location proximate the special marker. Play thereafter proceeds according to USGA rules until all players are on the putting green. Ball on the putting green are not marked and removed, but left in place where they can interfere with shots made by members of the group. Predetermined special events are associated with a reduction in points that are used to reduce the USGA score.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/757,344 filed Nov. 8, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as though fully replicated herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

[0002] The present disclosure pertains to the game of golf and, in particular to a game that is based upon modifications to the rules of golf.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] The rules of golf are well known to those who play the game. The rules are substantially uniform where R&A based in St. Andrews, Scotland works through the United States Golf Association ("USGA") based in Far Hills, N.J. to administer the Rules in the United States, its territories and in Mexico. The R&A itself has the same responsibilities for other parts of the world. Accordingly, there is a worldwide collaborative effort to unify the rules of golf. The current version of the Rules of Golf is the 33.sup.rd Edition effective January 2016. Generally speaking, the rules cover a variety of topics from how to count strokes, what happens if a ball is lost or resides in an unplayable lie, how to mark a ball on the putting green, and course etiquette.

[0004] Slight changes are made in the Rules of Golf from time to time. By way of example, continuous putting was introduced to the Rules as an optional Local Rule in 1966. This became a Rule in 1968, and was rescinded from the Rules in 1970. It applied to single stroke play only, and essentially provided that once a player has begun putting on a hole they must continue putting until the ball is holed. There was consideration for the fact that this could mean a player would be standing on a fellow competitor's putting line. A fellow competitor could request to have the player's ball lifted and thus interrupt their continuous putting. Included within this Rule was a clause that only allowed a ball on the putting green to be lifted and cleaned prior to the first putt. After striking the first putt, the ball could not be lifted until it was holed (except as described in the exception above). This prohibition on lifting and cleaning applied to all forms of play, not just stroke play. It is currently a common practice to place a marker on the green so that there is no positional interference with another player's ball.

[0005] Golf course committees now have an option to adopt a local rule eliminating a penalty that was formerly assessed whenever a ball or marker was accidentally moved on the putting green.

[0006] While golf traces its origins to 15.sup.th century Scotland, the United States is by far the world's biggest market for golf. In the United States, golf adds an estimated $70 billion to the American economy. Even so, golf is seemingly in decline. By way of example, in 2013 there were an estimated 14,600 golf facilities, and 160 of these closed. This was the eighth consecutive year of net closures. From 2006 to 2013 the number of people who played golf in the United States fell from about 30 million to 25 million. A number of factors contribute to this decline and are believed to include: (1) people increasingly lack sufficient time for devotion to play, (2) costs associated with playing golf, (3) design parameters making golf courses increasingly difficult to play, and (4) lack of current stars to ignite curiosity and respect where such players as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods do not have the presence or prestige that they once held.

SUMMARY

[0007] The presently disclosed instrumentalities advance the art and overcome the problems outlined above by modifying the Rules of Golf in a way that deviates from the official Rules. These modifications, which are described below, are useful for their entertainment value, which is enhanced by providing an additional element of competition on the putting green. Moreover, various options provide for shortening the duration of play and simplifying play on difficult courses, all at the discretion of individual players who need not necessarily submit these changes for approval by a committee or rulemaking body.

[0008] According to one embodiment, a game of golf includes selectively positioning a set of special markers. The set includes at least one special marker for each hole in a course of play that includes a plurality of holes. This may be, for example, a nine hole or eighteen hole course of play. Each hole has a tee area, a fairway and a putting green hole. Each golfer in a group of golfers initiates play by striking a ball with a golf club from a position proximate the special marker. Strokes are counted per USGA/R&A rules as the golfers in the group continue play for the hole until all golfers in the group have landed a ball on the putting green.

[0009] In one aspect, the golfers may deviate from established USGA rules by leaving all balls in place on the putting green without marking the position of the balls. Play on the green commences serially with the golfer whose ball on the putting green is located farthest from the putting green hole, allowing that golfer to putt the ball and then commencing with the next farthest golfer until all golfers in the group who have not holed out have taken a stroke. Strokes for each player are counted on the putting green to arrive at a USGA score. A revised score is determined by deducting from the USGA score a predetermined number of points for special events that occur during the course of play for the hole. The above steps are repeated for each hole in the course of play to arrive at a cumulative score that is less than the USGA score.

[0010] In one aspect, each golfer may initiate play by dropping his or her ball in the same lie no further than two club lengths away from the special marker.

[0011] In one aspect, the special markers are not necessarily located in the conventional tee area of the hole. The special marker for any particular hole may be located, for example, in a sand trap, at a position on the fairway, or on the putting green.

[0012] In one aspect, one or more strokes taken by golfers on the putting green may purposefully interfere with a putt that is to be taken by a subsequent golfer. Interference may include positioning one's ball to block a shot by the subsequent golfer or causing one's ball to strike the subsequent golfer's ball.

[0013] In one aspect, the special events may include any number of events according to a schedule of points relating play events to point values where better play results in a lower score, such as the schedule below:

[0014] (1) landing closest to the pin when initiating play from the special marker, -1 point;

[0015] (2) making a birdie from the special marker, -2 points;

[0016] (3) making par by play ninclu89dng a shot from a bunker, -1 point;

[0017] (4) holing out from a shot off of the putting green, -1 point;

[0018] (5) one-putting the putting green, -1 point;

[0019] (6) having the lowest USGA score for the hole, -1 point; and

[0020] (7) winning the 9.sup.th hole by having the lowest USGA score for that hole, -3 points.

[0021] In keeping with the intended manner of play on the green, it is preferred that the special markers used in the step of selectively positioning are constructed as oversize billiard balls. The balls are lightweight, hollow and oversize in the sense of having a diameter of preferably at least about 12 inches. The outer surface is decorated by painting in the manner of a billiard ball. The billiard balls have numbers corresponding to the number of a hole in a course of play. Where the course of play is nine holes, the billiard balls will be primarily solids. For an eighteen hole course of play, balls having a number greater than 15 may be decorated in any manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a golf course including a plurality of holes that may be adapted for play by placement of set of special markers;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a hole of the golf course;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a tee area of the hole;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a putting green of the hole during a course of play according to the instrumentalities described herein;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the putting green in a sequential stage of play;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the putting green in a sequential stage of play;

[0028] FIG. 7 shows the putting green in a sequential stage of play;

[0029] FIG. 8 shows one special marker constructed as a billiard ball;

[0030] FIG. 9 shows one special marker constructed as a billiard ball; and

[0031] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a process of playing golf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a golf course 100 that is provided by way of example representing any golf course that may be utilized in the play of golf according to the USGA Rules. A main road 102 provides access to the golf course 100, with entry through clubhouse 104. The clubhouse 104 may contain a bar or `watering hole` for a snack or after-play drinks, as is well known in the art. The golf course 100 is formed of various holes, such as holes 106, 108, 110, and 112. Each hole includes a tee area, a fairway and a putting green, as is known in the art. As shown in FIG. 1, there are a total of twenty-seven holes, which may be played in designated courses of nine holes each, with selection of two such none hole courses for a total of eighteen holes of golf. Cart paths 114, 116 provide player access to the various holes. Different courses differ in their design, number of holes, and local rules of play as authorized by R&A and the USGA.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a hole 200 that may be utilized for the play of golf according to the instrumentalities described herein. A tee area 202 may include, generally speaking, one or more tee position lines 204, 206, each associated with a degree of difficulty in making a tee shot. As is known in the art, an area of relatively unmaintained grass or `rough` 208, is present, as is a fairway 210 of mown grass. Various hazards are optionally present by design, such as a water hazard or pond 212 and a bunker or sand trap 214. A putting green 216 is specially maintained to provide a smooth surface, and is provided with closely mown grass that facilitates putting activity which is performed with the intent of placing a golf ball in a hole indicated by pin 218.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the tee area 202 in expanded detail. While the local rules may specify that players should tee-off from positions demarcated along lines 204, 206, such as positions 300, 302, a special marker 304 is provided to reposition the tee location. The special marker may be, for example, an oversize billiard ball that can be rolled into position anywhere on course 200. This position may be located in the rough 208, anywhere on fairway 210, in a hazard such as the sand trap 214, or even on the putting green 216 (see FIG. 2). Thus, the special marker 304 may be selectively repositioned by a group including one or more players according to the desires of the group. Alternatively, the special marker 304 may be arbitrarily positioned for particular use by all groups in a tournament or other course of competitive play. In yet another alternative, course management may selectively reposition the special marker 304 at different times to provide variety when playing a particular hole. A set of special markers 304 may be utilized, each on different ones of the holes 106, 108, 110, 112, to provide a course of play that may include any number of holes but preferably includes a multiple of nine holes.

[0035] Table 1 below shows the proposed modifications to the Rules of Golf according the instrumentalities provided herein. The rules provide for a social golf game blending traditional golf scoring with shots that puts a unique spin on scoring and playing golf. The game helps sharpen short skills by preferentially rewarding those who make `short game` shots with improved scoring. The following rules may be used in any combination.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Instructions for Modified Rules of Golf 1. Have Fun. Enjoy the game, friends and comradery. Walking is encouraged. 2. Each player gets two scores for each hole: (1) your traditional score by countingthe number of strokes on the hole, and (2) your "Deduction Points". Mark the top part of the box for each hole with your traditional score and the bottom part of the box for each hole with your Deduction Points. 3. You start each hole from "The Ball", the oversized billiard ball which can belocated anywhere on the hole. Play your tee shot from The Ball by dropping your golfball in the same lie no further than two club lengths away from The Ball and no closer to the green. If The Ball is in the sand trap you must drop in the trap. 4. Each player gets Deduction Points for each type of shot executed on that hole; a player can earn multiple Deduction Points on one hole according to the following schedule of points: Type of Shot Shot Name Points Closest to the Pin from The Ball "Closest To Pin" -1 Birdie from The Ball "Oh Yea" -2 Par from a bunker "Sandy" -1 Up and Down from off green "The B" -1 Hole out off green "The W" -2 One putt "Dunker" -1 Winner of Each Hole "Got One" -1 Winner of the 9.sup.th hole "Last Chance" -3 5. All players shall play "Stymies" on the greens. To play Stymies means that balls on the greens are to be left in place and played in the order of the farthest from the hole going first and each time thereafter until all balls are holed out. The intent is to use your ball, if necessary, to impede the next player's shot. Any ball struck by an opponent's ball will be played where they both stop until holed out. 6. If teams are played, scoring can either be team combined total score or best ball for each team. 7. At the end of the round, add up your traditional score and add up your Deduction Points. Your score for the game is determined by deducting from your traditional score your Deduction Points. For example, if your USGA score is 40 and you had -10 Deduction Points your net score would be 30. Lowest score is the winner of the game.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the putting green 216 in a state that is ready to commence playing stymies according to Rule 5 of Table 1. The putting green 216 has a playing surface 400 and a hole 402, as are known in the art. All players in a group of four such players have advanced onto the putting green 216 by play according to the Rule of Golf in a course of play for any particular hole that proceeds from the location of special marker 304 to the putting green 216. In this state, each player of the group has a respectively corresponding golf ball located at one of positions 404, 406, 408, 410. This play differs from the normal rules of golf in that the players do not place a marker at the position of their ball, rather, play is conducted with all balls in place as they lie on the surface 400 of putting green 216.

[0037] A golfer with his or her ball in the location 410 is farthest from hole 402. Therefore, this player putts first. This player has a choice to hole out by putting to cause the golf ball from location 410 to enter hole 402, as would be the natural desire when playing according the Rules of Golf in unmodified form. Under the Rules of Table 1, however, this same player may seek advantage by putting, instead, to position the ball to present an obstacle to other players with balls resident at locations 406, 408. Accordingly, this player may putt to reposition the ball at location 414, where it interferes with the path of travel towards hole 402 from each of locations 406, 408.

[0038] With the first ball formerly at location 410 repositioned to position 414, the player with the ball at location 404 is now furthest from the hole. This player also has a choice of holing out or attempting to interfere with the play of others. As shown in FIG. 5, this player putts along arc 502 to reposition the ball from location 404 to location 500 where the ball interferes with putting from each of positions 406, 408, 414.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, a player with the ball at position 408 is the next in turn because this ball is farthest from hole 402. This player has a shot that is blocked by the ball at location 414, and so the player putts along arc 600 to strike the ball at position 414. Due to the resulting impact, the respective balls travel to new locations 602, 604. The next farthest ball from hole 402 is then the ball at location 406. This player is able to putt along arc 700 (see FIG. 7) so that, with a break in the green, the ball enters hole 402. Play proceeds in this manner until all players have holed out, and then the group advances to the next hole.

[0040] Scoring proceeds with one point per stroke, counted as one would score when playing USGA golf. Deduction Points are assessed pursuant to item 4 of Table 1, which reduces the score. Thus, for example, the player with the ball at location 406, as shown in FIG. 4, could receive three Deduction Points--one for being closest to the pin from the special marker 304, one for one-putting the green, and one for being the winner of this hole. These Deduction Points are deducted from the USGA score. Deduction Points may be determined utilizing any number of the events described in item 4 of Table 1. For example, groups may play using one, two, three, four, five, six or all of the events there described.

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a special marker 304A according to one embodiment. The special marker 304A is constructed as an oversize billiard ball, connoting the use of stymies on the green. The special marker 304A may have, for example, a diameter of at least about twelve inches, eighteen inches or twenty-four inches. Special marker 304A is preferably formed as a hollow ball with the outer wall made of a hard material, such as steel, aluminum or plastic. As shown, the special marker 304A is decorated as a "solid" billiard ball where surface 800 is painted purple. A circle 802 is painted white and contains the numeral "4" or another suitable number and coloring system according to that ordinarily utilized for solid billiard balls. Special marker 304A is over-coated with a protective layer, such as a glossy polyurethane.

[0042] FIG. 9 shows a special marker 304B according to one embodiment. The special marker 304A is constructed as an oversize billiard ball, connoting the use of stymies on the putting green. Special marker 304B is preferably a hollow ball with the outer wall made of a hard material, such as steel, aluminum or plastic. As shown, the special marker 304B is decorated as a "stripe" billiard ball where surfaces 900, 902 and 904 are painted white. A surface 904 contains the numeral "9." A stripe 906 is painted yellow in keeping with the color scheme for billiard balls. Special markers 304, A, 304B are preferably over-coated with a protective layer, such as a glossy polyurethane.

[0043] Table 2 below provides a color scheme for billiard balls. It will be appreciated that the conventional count only goes up to 15, and so any color may be used in association with balls having a number higher than 15. The numbers on the balls identify the hole number for a course that is played according to the rules described herein.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Color Scheme Stripe or Numeral Solid Color 1 Solid Yellow 2 Solid Blue 3 Solid Red 4 Solid Purple 5 Solid Orange 6 Solid Green 7 Solid Maroon 8 Solid Black 9 Stripe Yellow 10 Stripe Blue 11 Stripe Red 12 Stripe Purple 13 Stripe Orange 14 Stripe Green 15 Stripe Maroon 16 Any pattern Any color 17 Any pattern Any color 18 Any pattern Any color

[0044] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process 1000 for playing golf according to the instrumentalities described herein. The course of play is arranged by selectively positioning 1002 a set of special markers, such as markers 304, 304A, 304B. This positioning may be done by course management, or else a group of golfers may decide where to position the marker for a particular hole. While positioning the special markers in the traditional tee area of a hole of golf is not precluded, the special markers are preferably located away from the tee area for each hole. Suitable positioning may include, for example, positioning in a bunker or sand trap, on the fairway within a chip shot of the putting green, or on the putting green. The ability to initiate play from anywhere on the hole may advantageously shorten the duration of play while presenting golfers with new and interesting lies.

[0045] Each golfer in a group of golfers approaches the special marker and drops his or her ball in the same lie within a predetermined distance, such as two club lengths from the special marker and no closer to the hole, to position the ball. Play is then initiated 1004 by the first golfer taking a stroke. Play continues according to USGA rules until all golfers have landed 1006 a ball on the putting green. A deviation 1008 from the rules is made because the balls are left in place on the putting green without marking the balls as would happen otherwise per USGA rules.

[0046] Starting with the golfer whose ball is farthest from the pin, the golfers take turns 1010 by putting or other types of strokes. In this manner it is possible to add a dimension of fun by interfering with the play of another golfer by use of blocking shots or striking shots, as discussed above. Each golfer takes a stroke in turn and then the cycle begins anew starting with the golfer who is farthest from the hole until all golfers have holed out 1012 with an associated USGA score. Points may be calculated on an individual basis or a team basis where the points for a particular team are optionally (1) accumulated for the team, or (2) accumulated as the lowest individual score for any team member on a particular hole. Points are then deducted 1014 according to the schedule of events in step 4 of Table 1.

[0047] This manner of play is repeated 1016 for each hole in the course of play.

[0048] Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the foregoing discussion teaches by way of example and not be limitation. Accordingly, what is shown and described may be subjected to insubstantial change without departing from the scope and spirit of invention. The inventors hereby state their intention to rely upon the Doctrine of Equivalents, if needed, in protecting their full rights in the invention.

Claims

1. A game of golf played by a method comprising the steps of: selectively positioning a set of special markers including at least one special marker for each hole in a course of play that includes a plurality of holes, each hole having a tee area, a fairway and a putting green hole; permitting each golfer in a group of golfers to initiate play by striking a ball with a golf club from a position proximate the special marker; counting strokes per United States Golf Association ("USGA") rules as the golfers in the group continue play for the hole until all golfers in the group have landed a ball on the putting green; deviating from USGA rules by leaving all balls in place on the putting green without marking the position of the balls; once each member of the group has a ball on the putting green, commencing serially with the golfer whose ball on the putting green is located farthest from the putting green hole, allowing that golfer to putt the ball and then commencing with the next farthest golfer until all golfers in the group who have not holed out have taken a stroke; counting strokes for each player on the putting green to arrive at a USGA score; deducting from the USGA score a predetermined number of points for special events that occur during the course of play for the hole; and repeating the above steps for each hole in the course of play to arrive at a cumulative score that is less than the USGA score.

2. The game of golf according to claim 1, wherein the step of permitting each golfer to initiate play includes positioning the ball by dropping the ball in the same lie no further than two club lengths away from the special marker.

3. The game of golf according to claim 1, wherein the step of specially positioning includes placing at least one special marker in a sand trap.

4. The game of golf according to claim 1, wherein one or more strokes taken by golfers during the step of commencing serially purposefully interferes with a putt that is to be taken by a subsequent golfer.

5. The game of golf according to claim 4, wherein interference with the putt includes positioning a golf ball to block a shot by the subsequent golfer.

6. The game of golf according to claim 4, wherein interference with the putt includes causing a ball to strike the ball of the subsequent golfer.

7. The game of golf according to claim 1, wherein the special events include one or more events selected from the group consisting of: (1) landing closest to the pin when initiating play from the special marker, (2) making a birdie from the special marker, (3) making par by play ninclu89dng a shot from a bunker, (4) holing out from a shot off of the putting green, (5) one-putting the putting green, (6) having the lowest USGA score for the hole, and (6) winning the 9.sup.th hole by having the lowest USGA score for that hole.

8. The game of golf according to claim 7 wherein the special events include at least three events selected from the group.

9. The game of golf according to claim 7 wherein the special events include all events from the group.

10. The game of golf according to claim 7, wherein the events are associated with points assessed as follows: (1) landing closest to the pin when initiating play from the special marker, -1 point; (2) making a birdie from the special marker, -2 points; (3) making par by play ninclu89dng a shot from a bunker, -1 point; (4) holing out from a shot off of the putting green, -1 point; (5) one-putting the putting green, -1 point; (6) having the lowest USGA score for the hole, -1 point; and (7) winning the 9.sup.th hole by having the lowest USGA score for that hole, -3 points.

11. The game of golf according to claim 1, wherein the special markers used in the step of selectively positioning are constructed as oversize billiard balls.

12. A set of special markers for use in golf, comprising: a plurality of balls, each having a hollow core, a diameter of at least twelve inches; and an outer surface decorated in the manner of a billiard ball, the outer surface including indicia in the form of a number associated with a hole number for a course of play.

13. The set of special markers according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of balls include a mix of stripes and solids.

14. The set of special markers according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of balls are primarily solids.