GB1468146A - Apparatus for playing a golf game - Google Patents

Abstract

1468146 Golf-like games R M BAYLEY 1 March 1974 [4 Dec 1972 21 Feb 1973 26 Feb 1973 12 April 1973 14 June 1973] 55935/72 8462/73 17772/73 9214/73 and 28393/73 Heading A6D In a golf game, similar to the normal game but eliminating much of the walking, a player hits his first shot from a tee area 10, 11 or 12 towards target A (if simulating a long hole) or towards a nearer target (if simulating a short hole), his first target score, determined by the number associated with the zone of the target in which his ball comes to rest, being used to decide which target he should aim at next. A high score is rewarded by skipping distant targets and aiming at a target nearer the tee area. According to the invention, at least one of the targets includes front and rear surfaces, spaced to allow a golf ball to pass therebetween, the front surface providing a ramp at ground level, both surfaces substantially preventing rebound of a ball landing thereon, and means for detecting upon which surface the ball stops its movement and for indicating a corresponding score. A separate tee area G is provided for target G (which may be skipped if a high score is achieved at D, E or F). The simulated hole is finished by putting into a hole 15 from position 1, 2, 3 or 4 (depending upon previous shot performance at D, E, F or G). A bunker 13 is provided. Three simulated holes having individual putting areas, but sharing some of the targets A-G, may be situated adjacent each other, Figs. 2 and 5 (not shown). Parts of the course may be floodlit or covered. One of two alternative forms of target structure may be provided. A first form, Figs. 3-4 and 9-12 (not shown), comprises inclined fences extending transversely to the flight of the ball and arranged one behind the other, the height of successive fences increasing from front to rear and the material and/or mounting of each fence being such that a flighted golf ball landing thereon does not rebound appreciably. The channels between adjacent fences are divided into high-scoring central zones and low-scoring lateral zones. Switches in the base of each channel may detect the presence of a ball and cause the appropriate score to be indicated at the tee area. The front fence presents a ramp up which a ball rolling towards the target may travel. The second form of target structure, Figs. 6-8 and 13-16 (not shown), comprises an array of concentric annular channels associated with respective scores which increase towards the centre of the array. The array is inclined and its lower, forward end is straight and touches the ground to form a ramp. Ball detecting switches are again provided.