US20150273300A1

US20150273300A1 - Interactive pressurized water miniature golf course

Info

Publication number: US20150273300A1
Application number: US14/225,370
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry D. Bartz; Sharon L. Arcand-Bartz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-25
Filing date: 2014-03-25
Publication date: 2015-10-01

Abstract

An improved miniature golf course provides water features which may advance, retard, or randomly impact the motion of the golf ball. The features may also wet the players by spraying them, forcing them to wade, misting them, etc. The features may take the form of water jets, streams, waterfalls, cascades, swirling turbulent water, water tunnels, triggers, alternative routes to the green, alternative parts of the green reached by different water features, fountains, gratings, nets, floating fairways and greens, ramps, waterwheels, water cannons, and combinations thereof.

Description

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to golf games, and specifically to miniature golf games having interesting course layouts and features.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Miniature golf courses in modern times tend toward exciting decorations. Most modern miniature golf courses have lush planting, ponds, and outré additions like volcanoes and pirate ships, especially themes for courses, parts of courses or holes: pirate themes, wilderness themes, and other fantastic themes.
However, most modern miniature golf courses have in fact got quite old fashioned play of the holes. Most modern miniature golf courses have holes which feature some fairly traditional arrangements of geometric obstacles, walls, tunnels, hills and valleys.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,738 in fact mentions this exact issue, stating, “ . . . such modern miniature golf courses courses have been analyzed to be generally stagnant in design of the individual hole in play, and innovations of late have been essentially made only in the décor and environs of the course layout—such as jungle motifs, space motifs, etc. But, by and large, the design of the hole continues to be conservative, if changed at all.”
What is relatively rare however, is to see water used as part of a modern miniature golf course hole. In general water is kept to the sides of the holes and is used essentially as decoration. Thus the players will likely find themselves playing a fairly tame hole while walking beside a pond, the pond having fish or a faux pirate ship, or perhaps walking over a bridge from the green of one hole to the tee-off area of another hole.
Rarely, a golf course hole might have water used as a passive obstacle. In the passive water obstacle hole, the players may find the hole looping around a puddle of water, or might have to putt the ball across a narrow bridge which itself spans a very narrow body of water. If the player accidentally hits the ball into the water, the player then does nothing more than fishing the ball out of the water and placing it back on the course.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,076 to Desjardins (Dec. 26, 1995) at least attempts to enliven the proceedings by providing a modern miniature golf course cup which detects the entry of a ball when a player has successfully sunk a putt. It then activates sprinklers, as a surprise, for laughter inducement. It is worth mentioning that this device does not actually alter the play of the overall hole in any way, as the mechanics of putting remain the same: the sprinklers come on only after a putt is sunk into the cup.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,105 to Benevento (Oct. 10, 2006) is similar in that regard: it detects entry of a ball into the cup, which can then activate a pachinko game, and which might in turn activate a water sprayer. Again, the actual play of the hole is not implicated at all.
The history of water, in both full sized and miniature golf has always been to use the water as an obstacle to be avoided. A penalty is always assessed if water is encountered in play on a full-sized golf course. It would be preferable to provide a miniature or full sized golf course that changes that mentality and usage. It would be preferable to provide water features that are used not just as obstacles to be avoided, but also as an ally to be used strategically to accomplish the goal of minimizing golf stroke counts, which in turn makes the course more enjoyable and memorable.
It would be preferable to enliven the actual golf play of the game by providing courses which use water in an interactive manner, not just a passive manner.
It would further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses water not just to retard the ball's progress but to change its motion or even advance the ball.
It would further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses the actual pressure of water, hydraulically, to influence the play of the hole in terms of actual golfing experience of selecting routes and shots and attempting to make accurate shots.
It would yet further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses spraying or misting of players during the course of the play of the hole not just for amusement but also to impact the golf strategy choices made by the player (again: routes chosen, shots to attempt, and accuracy) during play, for example, to cause players to attempt to avoid getting wet.
It would even further be preferable to provide a modern miniature golf course which as to a degree features of a water park, that is, which invites players to get wet while playing the game of miniature golf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

General Summary

The present invention teaches that water may be used interactively during play of a golf course hole. The hydraulic pressure of water, created by gravity, by pumping, by nozzles, jets, misting, flow and more may be used to alter the course of play of a golf hole. Water is not used as a passive obstacle, or for retrieval of balls, but rather is used to alter the trajectory of a ball when it is putted, or to cause a player to have to make choices about playing a hole knowing that they may get wet themselves, or to provide a more active, exciting play of the hole.
The features may take the form of water jets, streams, waterfalls, cascades, swirling turbulent water, water tunnels, triggers, alternative routes to the green, alternative parts of the green reached by different water features, fountains, gratings, nets, floating fairways and greens, ramps, waterwheels, water cannons, and combinations thereof.

Summary in Reference to Claims

It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an improved miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play in which a player is putting the golf ball about a tee-off area, a fairway area and a green area, wherein the improvement comprises:
providing pressurized water and using the pressure of the water to alter the motion of such ball during such course of play.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball by a player, the golf course hole comprising:
a water feature, the water feature having pressurized water, the golf course hole having a layout, the layout designed so that while moving, the ball will enter the pressurized water and the pressurized water will alter the moving of the ball,
the water feature having pressurized water being one member selected from the group consisting of: jets, sprayers, misters, cascades, waterfalls and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the alteration of the moving of the ball further comprises:
one member selected from the group consisting of: retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, providing alternative water routes of advancing the ball, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature comprises: a stream which moves such ball in a manner selected from the group consisting of: advancing the ball, retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, moving the ball to a first portion of such green area.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein such ball further comprises: a normal sinking ball or a floating ball, and the water feature further comprises an outlet which allows the water to depart but strands the ball out of such water feature, the outlet further comprising: a grating, a net, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: a fountain having a plurality of water-filled levels with water flowing out of each level, the water flowing out of the fountain in at least one directions depending upon where in the fountain such player hits such ball.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole further comprising:
a second water feature, such player having the choice to attempt to hit such ball into either of such water feature or such second water feature, the second water feature altering the motion of such ball in a manner different from the first water feature.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: waterfalls which such ball must be hit through, waterfalls which such player must pass through, cascades which alter the motion of such ball by passing it across a plurality of obstacles within the cascade, terraces down which the water carries such ball, and combinations thereof.
It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature comprises: one member selected from the group consisting of: a portion of the fairway which is afloat, a portion of the green which is afloat, a barrel bridge, a wave maker and combinations thereof
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises:
a stream carrying such ball for a first distance, with a walking path beside the stream for the first distance, so that such player may walk beside such ball as it is carried.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises:
at least one water tunnel which such ball passes through while in such water.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the hole further comprises:
a vertical obstacle over which the water feature propels such ball.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises:
a trigger mechanism which actuates the water feature upon one member selected from the group consisting of: random actuation, timed actuation, actuation by entry of such ball into a first part of the water feature, actuation by entry of such player into a first part of such hole, and combinations thereof
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises:
a waterwheel having at least one bucket disposed so that the bucket may move to a low position in which the bucket retrieves such ball from the water feature and a high position in which the bucket releases the ball out of such water feature.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises:
at least one member selected from the group consisting of: buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the fairway, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the green, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to advance the ball and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole, wherein the water feature further comprises: a mechanism which shoots the ball using water.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: at least one water gate which has a first position in which the water gate allows water to flow through and a second position in which the water gate prevents water from flowing through.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play by a player putting such golf ball into a cup, the golf course hole comprising:
a water feature which wets the player during such course of play and not after putting such golf ball into such cup.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for further use by a second player, wherein the wetting of the player during the course of play further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: requiring the player to wade in water, triggering fountains to wet such player, triggering sprayers to wet such player, wetting such player when the player follows their ball into an area of spraying, requiring such player to pass through a waterfall, requiring such player to pass by a water feature controlled by such second player, allows such player to choose between a dry route to the green and a wet route to the green, and combinations thereof

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a first embodiment of the invention, having geysers or fountains erupting from the fairway of the miniature golf course hole.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a second embodiment of the invention, having a vertical feature which can be traversed by using hydraulic water pressure to advance the ball up over the obstacle.

FIG. 3 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a third embodiment of the invention, having a slanted fairway, a river type water feature which advances the ball to a grate upon which the ball automatically is retrieved and deposited back onto the green.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a tunnel or cave with a waterfall and for which the ball is shot either into or out of, or both, during the play of the hole.

FIG. 5 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, having a tricky shot which must be made in order to send the ball straight to the area of the hole and avoid having the ball enter the water feature.

FIG. 6A is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, having a cascade (non-vertical waterfall) in turn having obstacles or rocks which simulate action of a pinball as the ball bounces down the cascade carried by the water.

FIG. 6B is front view of the cascade of the sixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, in which balls pass down a series of terraces or water covered plateaus.

FIG. 8 a is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighth embodiment of the invention, in which the balls enter a bowl and exit by one of multiple different exits leading to different parts of the green.

FIG. 8 b is a side view in cross-section of the eighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a ninth embodiment of the invention in which the fountains operate continuously.

FIG. 10 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, featuring a plurality of water cannons which act to shoot the ball from the fairway area to the green area.

FIG. 11 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features which leave the fairway area to the green area.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a twelfth embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features of different types: one type, a jet, if hit by a ball will loft the ball over a ridge or curb into a favorable position near the hole while the other type, a water flow, will carry the ball to a less favorable position below a slope.

FIG. 13 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, possibly suitable for use as a final hole which removes the balls from play.

FIG. 14A is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention having a fancy, multi-level, decorative fountain feature which is able to take the ball to different parts of the green area.

FIG. 14B is a side view of a decorative fountain feature according to FIG. 14A, showing the multi-level nature of the fountain feature.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, having a “rain forest” area in a lower elevation part of the hole's fairways/greens. The tree features of the invention embodiment may rain, spray or mist players who must enter below the trees.

FIG. 16 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, in which a flow of water passes through a grate which returns a mis-hit ball to a player while the flow continues.

FIG. 17 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, in which the green area having the hole therein is subject to adverse water flow.

FIG. 18 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighteenth embodiment of the invention in which the players may all hit their balls into an extended water feature of the river type, then walk beside their balls, even past other holes of the miniature golf course, to reach the green area.

FIGS. 19 a, 19 b, 19 c, 19 d are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, having one member selected from the group consisting of nozzles providing timed, brief, angled spurts of water which pass over the fairway/green area, jumping jets, roman arches and combinations thereof.

FIG. 20 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twentieth embodiment of the invention, similar to the second embodiment, in which a vertical feature is matched with a water feature which can carry the ball over the vertical feature (obstacle), however, a second vertical feature can be traversed in a single stroke if the players are accurate enough.

FIG. 21 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-first embodiment of the invention, in which the player may use an angled wall to select which of a plurality of watercourse type water features to use to reach the green.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a miniature golf course hole according to a twenty-second embodiment of the invention in which the player putts the ball over a waterfall and down to the green area.

FIG. 23 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-third embodiment of the invention, in which the players must wade in shallow water if their ball does not very accurately hit the green.

FIG. 24 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature.

FIG. 25 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which a low area of the fairway has water passing across it periodically.

FIG. 26 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in particular, a side view of a the twentieth embodiment of FIG. 20.

FIG. 27 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which a water-wheel arrangement lifts balls out of a water feature and deposits them at a higher level on a green or a trough leading to a green.

FIG. 28 is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention, in which a number of new style of wind-mills have blades which enter the water feature, creating an obstacle.

FIG. 29A is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to twenty-ninth embodiment of the invention in which one or more buckets are supported in an off-set manner so that as they fill they eventually empty onto the green.

FIG. 29B is a side view of the off-set bucket of FIG. 29A.

FIG. 30 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirtieth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature in a manner similar to the twenty-fourth embodiment, of FIG. 24, but with dry caves on the later side of the water feature.

FIG. 31 is a frontal view, from a player's perspective, showing a series of intermittent fountains which operate to produce a “wave” or other synchronized water effect as the player putts the ball.

FIGS. 32 a and 32 b are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-second embodiment of the invention in which one player has a control which they may use to activate water features which spray onto the fairway when another player is attempting to shoot.

FIGS. 33 a and 33 b are a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-third embodiment of the invention in which the fairway is mounted upon a floating, pontoon-style, bridge which is free to move somewhat under the weight of the players and the action of an optional wave making machine.

FIG. 34 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to thirty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which an offset supported bucket fills and empties itself onto the fairway, thus periodically flooding the fairway area.

FIG. 35 is a planform view of a waver-type sprinkler of an alternative embodiment of the invention having obstacles impeding the advance of the ball while the intermittent sweep of the sprinkler wets the green.

FIG. 36 is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a ball may be impacted by water jets from the side of the course, rather than vertical jets.

FIG. 37 is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as seen in side view in FIG. 28, showing the twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 38 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which an missed putt by the player results in the ball entering water features which move the ball to an earlier part of the green.

FIG. 39 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the ball must be putted across water which is “boiling” and bubbling. (The term “boiling” as used herein does not refer to high temperature of the water but to the specific type of vertical motion associated with the same word in water sports.)

FIG. 40 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-fifth embodiment of the invention, in which extremely turbulent shallow water is present around the hole of the green area or in other parts of the hole.

FIG. 41 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between sprays or mists from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources.

FIG. 42 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-second embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between walls, or through a framework, arbor, gazebo or the like which sprays or mists the players from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources, and yet further in which players may be given an alternative route to the hole which allows them to avoid getting wet but which may not be advantageous otherwise.

FIG. 43 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-third embodiment of the invention in which a ridge down the middle of a fairway area may divert balls into a water feature, and including banked walls.

FIG. 44 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which a gate may be present in a water feature, the gate opening when players successfully pass their balls across a light sensor/laser arrangement, such as in a tunnel, thus opening the gates for a more direct route toward the hole.

FIGS. 45 a and 45 b are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which the players shoot their balls off a ramp and into a water feature having nets instead of holes therein.

FIG. 46 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according a forty-sixth embodiment of the invention in which the players stand on a platform and actually shot their balls away from the hole. The ball enters a water feature which then carries the ball back toward the hole, for example, under the platform or around the player.

FIG. 47 is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which the players actually pass sideways under a flowing waterfall provided by an extended overhang, with a side water feature should balls leave the dry area.

INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS

Water feature: geysers 11
Fairway area 12
Tee area 14
Hole 16
Green area 18
Ball 20
Water feature: ball jet 21
Lower fairway area 22 a
Upper fairway area 22 b
Vertical feature (bump) 23 c
Hole 26
River water feature 31
Slope 33
Flow direction 35
Hole 36
Tunnel 37
Outlet 39
Waterfall water features in/out 41, 43
Tunnel 45
Hole 46
Stream 51
Angled wall 53
Hole 56
Gratings 59 a, 59 b
Water flow 61
Upper fairway area 62
Cascade 63
Obstacle 64
Outlet 69
Water flow 71
Upper fairway area 72
Terrace 73
Green 76
Grating 79
Water flow 81
Exit hole 83
Hole 86
Water feature 91
Fairway 92
Putting area 94
Hole 96
Green 98
Hole 1006
Green area 1008
Water course 1101
Separator (island) 1103
Water feature, less desirable route 1201
Fairway with bowl 1202
Lower slope 1203
Grating 1205
Jet mechanism 1206
Ridge/curb 1207
Hole 1208
Water feature (shallow pond) 1301
Platform (floating/solid) 1303
Wall 1305
Hole 1306
Ramp 1401
Fountain (upper level) 1403
Chute from upper level 1405
Water flow A, B, C
Chute/trough from mid-level 1409
Rain trees 1501
Hole 1506
Adverse flow 1701
Fairway area 1702
Grating 1709
Long water feature about park, with path 1801
Tee area 1802
Green area 1808
Water snake style jet 1901
Water acceptor 1903
Water snake 1905
First vertical water feature, middle 2001
Fairway area 2002
Second vertical feature, middle 2003
First vertical water feature, side 2005
Second vertical water feature, side 2007
Grating 2009
Intermediate grating, side 2020
Double angled obstacle 2101
First water feature 2103
Second water feature 2105
Green area 2108
Waterfall 2201
Water feature (wading pool) 2301
Sloped section of green 2305
Hole 2306
Water feature 2401
Underwater tunnel 2403
Trough 2501
Intermittent water feature 2503
Fairway 2602
First vertical obstacle 2605
Second vertical obstacle 2607
Green 2608
Grating 2609
Water jet 2610, 2612
Grating 2620
Water feature 2701
Fairway area 2702
Waterwheel 2703
Bucket 2705
Hole 2706
New style windmill 2801
Water feature 2803
Blade entering water 2805
Water feature 2901
Bucket 2903
Offset support 2905
Green area 2908
Water feature 3001
Dry caves 3003
“Wave” of water jets 3101
Fairway 3102
Water feature, geyser/fountain 3201
Fairway area 3202
Manuel control of water 3203
Water feature 3301
Fairway area 3302
Bridge 3303
Pontoon/float 3305
Wave maker 3307
Water bucket 3401
Fairway area 3402
Offset support 3403
Hole 3406
Ball, deflected 3600
Horizontal jet 3601
Fairway 3602
Wall 3603
Sensor 3605
Water feature 3701
Windmill 3703
Water feature 3801
Fairway 3902
Water feature (bubbling, boiling) 3903
Green 3908
Water feature on fairway 4001
Fairway area 4002
Water feature on green 4003
Green 4008
Water jet 4101
Fairway 4102
Sensor 4105
Water feature, sideways jet/mister/geyser/nozzle 4201
Wall/framework/arbor/gazebo/decoration 4203
Light sensor/light source 4205
Alternative (dry) path 4222
Water feature 4301
Mid-fairway slope 4303
Banking wall 4305
Grating 4309
Tunnel 4401
Light sensor/source 4403
Gates (in closed position) 4405
Gates (if open position) 4407
Ramp 4501
Net for hole 4503
Water feature (pond) 4505
Water feature 4601
Green 4602
Stairs 4607
Platform 4609
Water feature (sideways waterfall) 4701
Walkable tunnel 4701
Overhand 4703
Water feature (side river) 4705

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a first embodiment of the invention, having geysers or fountains erupting from the fairway of the miniature golf course hole. In a preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the invention water feature 11 is a set of geysers or fountains. These fountains are shown to span the fairway area 12 of the miniature golf course, however, they may in fact be located upon green area 18, tee-off area 14 or the like.
The geysers or fountains may be constant, requiring players to get their ball through them or suffer having the motion of the ball altered by the motion of the water, or the water features 11 may be spasmodic in operation. They may erupt randomly, or may be triggered by the presence of the ball or player in a first area of the course, and so on. They may also erupt in a pattern, such as a ripple pattern from one side of the fair way 12 to the other, forcing the players to successfully time their shots through the water.
Another aspect of the present invention is that it has features of a water park: the players may be required to bring swim wear or the like to gain admission, and to secure all electronics before playing, as the water features 11 may be arranged to douse the players as well as the ball. Alternatively, the players may have to pass the ball through but may have a dry path past the hazard, or the ball may stay dry but the players may get soaked, misted, sprayed, rained upon or the like.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a second embodiment of the invention, having a vertical feature which can be traversed by using hydraulic water pressure to advance the ball. Ball 20 is pictured in flight after being launched by the water feature, in this case, a skewed fountain which makes a “ball jet” 21. While the ball is depicted above the water it may simply flow with water which is being forced by hydraulic pressure to flow UPWARD, from lower fairway area 22 a to upper fairway area 22 b.
Vertical feature (bump) 23 c may be seen in profile, and it will be understood that for safety reasons this vertical feature may have alternative dry path which is a set of steps, so as to minimize the risk of accidents to people attempting to step on a wet sloped surface. Customers will not normally be allowed to walk on obstacles presenting tricky footing.
Hole 26 may be seen in profile.
FIG. 3 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a third embodiment of the invention, having a slanted fairway, a river type water feature which advances the ball to a grate upon which the ball automatically is retrieved.
River water feature 31 may be used with a ball which is able to float, that is which is lighter than water. While a standard PGA competition ball sinks, floating balls allow a stream to meander along carrying the ball easily visible to the player, who may not even have the end of the stream in view and thus may find themselves wondering where they are going to end up.
Alternatively, with clean water of shallow depth a player may see a ball which is heavier then water being rolled along the (clean, smooth) stream bed to its final destination.
Arrow 35 depicts the flow direction, which in this embodiment is toward the hole 36, not away from it. Thus, the water feature of the present invention is not necessarily classed as a water obstacle or water hazard, which renders it completely opposite in effect from passive water hazards.
Slope 33 adds an exciting element of skill to this process. If a player manages to hit the ball hard enough to avoid the problem of having the slope 33 roll it sideways into the stream 31, they may keep their ball on an advantageous track toward the hole 36.
Water tunnel 37 further increases the interest of the course as the ball may disappear from view for a moment passing under a decoration or in this case, under the fairway area. In addition, water tunnel 37 allows for a broader arrangement of courses with more interesting and varied terrain.
Outlet (grating) 39 is one example of a mechanism which may remove water (a water outlet) but which leaves the ball back in play, even on dry land. In addition to a grating, outlet 39 may be a netting, an artificial turf with no backing which allows water to pass between the blades of greed grass, a water permeable carpet, etc.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a tunnel or cave with a waterfall and for which the ball is shot either into or out of, or both, during the play of the hole. Waterfall water features in/out 41, 43, allow the ball to pass through a land tunnel 45. The player may also be allowed, or required, to pass through the tunnel in alternative embodiments. Hole 46 may be inside of the tunnel or outside of the tunnel. There may be a waterfall “in” or a waterfall “out” or both as shown.
FIG. 5 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, having a tricky shot which must be made in order to send the ball straight to the area of the hole and avoid having the ball enter the water feature.
Stream 51 has angled wall 53, by hitting the bank shot off the angled wall the player avoids having their ball land in the water and the ball as a result stays on a fairly straight path toward the hole 56.
If the ball falls into the water feature, it will end up at areas 59 a, 59 b of the green area, which are depicted to be gratings or other water outlets. These areas 59 a, 59 b may not be as advantageous for the next putt as if the player had hit the angled wall 53.
FIG. 6A is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, having a cascade (non-vertical waterfall) in turn having obstacles or rocks which simulate action of a pinball as the ball bounces down the cascade, carried along by the gravitationally supplied pressure of the water. Water flow 61 down the cascade 63 may be seen to carry the ball from upper fairway area 62 to the lower fairway area, passing about and/or over obstacle 64 for amusing effect as players attempt to shoot so as to have the ball land in an advantageous location on the lower fairway area.
Outlet 69, such as a mesh or screen, allows the ball to remain in play.
Plumbing arrangements for the golf holes of the invention may be carried out by a wide variety of means, such as gravity fed plumbing, pump pressurized conduits and the like. Such pumps may recirculate the water in areas having little water.
Water of the course of the invention may be chlorinated and otherwise treated as swimming pool water is treated, so as to render the invention a combination of golf course hole and water attraction. This of course may be an optional embodiment of the invention and may not necessary unless it is required by regulation or ordinance.
FIG. 6B is front view of the cascade of the sixth embodiment of the invention, showing more of the pinball like nature of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, in which balls pass down a series of terraces or water covered plateaus. Water flow 71 carries the ball from the upper fairway area 72 down a series of terraces such as terrace 73 to green 76 to come to rest at grating 79.
FIG. 8 a, 8 b is a planform and side view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighth embodiment of the invention, in which the balls enter a bowl and exit by one of multiple different exits leading to different parts of the green. Water flow 81 may swirl, or may be smooth, or turbulent, but it allows the balls entrained with the flowing water to pass into an exit hole 83 by means of a skillful shot by the player or random luck due to hydrodynamics.
Hole 86 may be more advantageously approached after the water tunnel of exit hole 83 deposits the ball on the green, or less advantageously approached if the ball entered a different one of the plurality of exit holes/tunnels.
FIG. 9 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, in which fountains operate continuously. Water feature 91 is across fairway 92 to from tee 94 to hole 96 on green 98, but a putt which is not straight will hit the fountains.
FIG. 10 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, featuring a plurality of water cannons which act to shoot the ball from the fairway area to the green area. Water cannon 1001 may be automatically programmed to shoot a golf ball, entrained in water, over an intervening obstacle and onto the green area 1008. Note that the proximity to hole 1006 may be determined by which water cannon of the plurality of water cannons the ball first enters.
FIG. 11 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features which leave the fairway area to the green area.
Water course 1101 is one of a plurality of water courses into which the player may direct the ball. Separator (island) 1103 may entirely prevent the waters of the plurality of streams or cascades from mixing, or it may allow them to mix to a limited or unlimited degree. At the end of the water courses, the position of the ball will be partially or wholly determined by the skill of the player in choosing the water course into which to putt their ball and the success of that effort to do so.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a twelfth embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features of different types: one type, a jet 1206, if hit by a ball will loft the ball over a ridge or curb 1207 into a favorable position near the hole while the other type, a water flow 1201, will carry the ball to a less favorable position below a lower slope 1203.
FIG. 13 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, possibly suitable for use as a final hole which removes the balls from play. Water feature (a shallow pond) 1301 may have a platform (floating/solid) 1303 which may in turn have a wall 1305 about the entire rim, part of the rim, or the wall 1305 may be absent. Hole 1306 is in the platform.
In use, players will have to hit their balls onto the platform with great care in order to not lose their balls into the water. If the wall 1305 is employed, the balls may instead remain on the platform. A wave maker may be employed to cause waves to break upon the platform or to even cause the platform to rock, as will be discussed below in regard to a barrel bridge embodiment.
FIG. 14A is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention having a fancy, multi-level, decorative fountain feature which is able to take the ball to different parts of the green area. This is also a preferred embodiment of the invention. The shape of the fountain feature may be much different from that depicted.
The main principle of the invention is in fact the use of pressurized water in fountains, Ramp 1401 may loft a putted ball toward the fountain, which has fountain (upper level) 1403 as well as other levels, partitions, areas, divisions or flows. The chute 1405 from upper level 1403 will direct the ball by means of water flow C into one area of the green, either closer or further away from the hole than other parts of the fountain would deliver the ball.
FIG. 14B is a side view of a decorative fountain feature according to FIG. 14A, showing the multi-level nature of the fountain feature. Water flow A and B may be seen as may chute/trough from mid-level 1409, which leads to a less desirable part of the green.
FIG. 15 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, having a “rain forest” area in a lower elevation part of the hole's fairways/greens. The tree features of the invention embodiment may rain, spray or mist players who must enter below the trees.
Rain trees 1501 may be located so as to wet those entering low area 1503. Since the golf ball tends to obey gravity and roll to low area 1503, the player is likely to find themselves being forced to endure the rain to make their shot.
The bump may be provided to add to the merriment and difficulty level of the hole. Note that “trees” 1501 may be a roof, or decorations, an arbor, etc.
FIG. 16 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, in which the water flow continues while the ball is caught on a grate.
FIG. 17 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, in which the green area having the hole therein is subject to adverse water flow.
Adverse flow 1701 will quickly slow a ball after it leaves fairway area 1702, water from adverse flow 1701 may exit by way of grating/outlet 1709.
FIG. 18 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighteenth embodiment of the invention in which the players may all hit their balls into an extended water feature of the river type, then walk beside their balls, even past other holes of the miniature golf course, to reach the green area. Long water feature about park 1801 has a path built into or near it, so that after player's balls enter stream 1801 from tee area 1802, they may follow or walk beside their balls. Obviously players may be warned to shoot all of their first shots from the tee area 1802 so that they may stay closer together as they pursue the balls.
The length of the water feature 1801 is quite long compared to most miniature golf course holes. It may even pass about normal length golf holes, or even circumnavigate the entire water park, before coming to green area 1808.
FIGS. 19 a thru 19 d are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, in which jumping jets, roman arches or “water snakes”, i.e. timed, brief, angled spurts of water pass over the fairway/green area. Water snake style jet 1901 is of the type which shoots a very precisely aimed and controlled spurt of water 1905, which looks much like a snake (made of water) jumping from a first hole (the jet 1901) into a second hole, water acceptor 1903 as shown in FIG. 19 b and FIG. 19 c and FIG. 19 d. These can be arranged in sequence, so that single water snake 1905 appears to be leaping about the course from hole to hole, always passing over the course but posing a threat to players who stand in its way. The spurts may be multiple or individual, may be random or timed or even actuated by another player, etc.
FIG. 20 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twentieth embodiment of the invention, similar to the second embodiment, in which a vertical feature is matched with a water feature which can carry the ball over the vertical feature (obstacle), however, a second vertical feature can be traversed in a single stroke if the players are accurate enough. FIG. 26 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in particular, a side view of a the twentieth embodiment of FIG. 20.
First vertical water feature, middle feature 2001, propels a ball all the way upward from fairway area 2002/2602 to the green area (2008, 2608). For example, if the second vertical feature, middle 2003/2603, is a second hump, the first feature 2001 might propel the ball directly into the flow of a second feature, or might itself be strong enough or arranged so as to propel the ball all the way up.
However, first vertical water feature, side, 2005/2605 does not extend all the way to the upper level of the course. It extends only to intermediate grating outlet 2020/2620, and does not propel the ball into the second vertical water feature, side, 2007/2607. Thus here it functions as the first step in a two stage water-elevator, forcing the player to putt the ball again from intermediate grating, side, 2020/2620, into the second side water feature, 2007/2607, to finally reach grating 2009/2609.
FIG. 21 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-first embodiment of the invention, in which the player may use an angled wall to select which of a plurality of watercourse type water features to use to reach the green.
Double angled obstacle 2101 allows a player to ricochet their ball, banking it in a selected direction, into either first water feature 2103 or second water feature 2105. These then deliver the ball to different parts of green area 2108, due to arriving at different water outlets.
FIG. 22 is a side view of a miniature golf course hole according to a twenty-second embodiment of the invention in which the player putts the ball over a waterfall and down to the green area. Waterfall 2201 allows a straight shot or may be provided with angles, curves etc, but in any case the player is offered the opportunity to literally have their ball receive extra velocity from the motion of the water at the lip of the waterfall. The ball may even be carried by the water and end up on the outlet at the base of the waterfall.
Players of course will have the opportunity to walk down a set of steps beside the waterfall.
FIG. 23 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-third embodiment of the invention, in which the players must wade in shallow water if their ball does not very accurately hit the green.
Water feature (wading pool) 2301 surrounds the green area. The green area in turn is partially or wholly made up of sloped section of green 2305 with hole 2306 disposed therein. A ramp may be provided from the fairway area toward the hole or not.
FIG. 24 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature.
Water feature 2401 has multiple underwater tunnels such as underwater tunnel 2403 which arrive at different parts of the green area.
FIG. 25 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which a low area of the fairway has water passing across it periodically. Trough 2501 allows water to flow across or over the fairway area, the tee area or the green area. Intermittent water feature 2503 may flow within the low area. The intermittent nature of the water flow may be timed, random, spasmodic, controlled by other players or otherwise arranged.
FIG. 27 is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which a water-wheel arrangement lifts balls out of a water feature and deposits them at a higher level on a green or a trough leading to a green.
Water feature 2701 accepts balls from the fairway area 2702, which is actually lower than the green area. Waterwheel 2703 may rotate and carry along with it bucket 2705, which fills with water at a low position, and with it brings the ball into the bucket. At a higher level the bucket may tilt and empty, allowing the ball to approach or enter hole 2706.
FIG. 28 is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention, in which a new style of wind-mill has blades which enter the water feature.
New style windmill 2801 may be situated by or over water feature 2803 with blade entering water 2805, which in turn may be used to alter the motions of the ball as it is carried along by the water flow depicted by the arrow.
FIG. 29A is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to twenty-ninth embodiment of the invention in which one or more buckets are supported in an off-set manner so that as they fill they eventually empty onto the green.
FIG. 29B is a side view of the off-set bucket of FIG. 29A. Water feature 2901 has bucket 2903 with a tilt mechanism such as an offset support, or an offset water receptacle 2905 allowing it to tip and empty when it becomes full enough.
The bucket may empty water and balls into green area 2908. With several buckets available, the ball may be delivered to several different parts of the green area 2908 depending on which bucket it entered.
FIG. 30 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirtieth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature in a manner similar to the twenty-fourth embodiment, of FIG. 24, but with dry caves 3003 on the later side of the water feature 3001.
FIG. 31 is a frontal view, from a player's perspective, showing a series of intermittent fountains which operate to produce a “wave” or other synchronized water effect as the player putts the ball. “Wave” of water jets 3101 thus may block fairway 3102, unless the player works out the pattern and/or timing of the synchronized wave or other pattern and putts properly in response.
FIGS. 32 a and 32 b are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-second embodiment of the invention in which one player has a control which they may use to activate water features which spray onto the fairway when another player is attempting to shoot. This may have a main purpose to deflect the ball.
Water feature, geyser/fountain 3201 may wet fairway area 3202 and players thereon.
Manuel control of water 3203 (FIG. 32 b) is provided at a location convenient for a player other than the one in the wet zone, so players may wet one other during the course of play.
FIGS. 33 a and 33 b are a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-third embodiment of the invention in which the fairway is mounted upon a floating, pontoon-style, bridge which is free to move somewhat under the weight of the players and the action of an optional wave making machine.
Water feature 3301 may support fairway area 3302 on a floating pontoon bridge 3303. Pontoon/float 3305 may provide the support for the for the bridge.
As the bridge will bob in response to players of various weights stepping upon it and moving about, and as the balls on the fairway on the bridge may roll about as a result.
Wave maker 3307 as shown in FIG. 33 b may also be used to cause additional motions of the floating bridge.
FIG. 34 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to thirty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which an offset supported bucket fills and empties itself onto the fairway, thus periodically flooding the fairway area.
Water bucket 3401 is located so as to douse fairway area 3402 and thus alter the course of a ball in motion, thus encouraging players to attempt to time their putts during the time the water feature fills the bucket.
Offset support or mechanism 3403 may be provided to allow the bucket to empty.
FIG. 35 is a planform view of a waver-type sprinkler of an alternative embodiment of the invention having obstacles 3502 impeding the advance of the ball while the intermittent sweep of the sprinkler 3501 wets the green.
FIG. 36 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between walls, or through a framework, arbor, gazebo or the like which jets, sprays or mists the players from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources, and yet further in which players may be given an alternative route to the hole which allows them to avoid getting wet but which may not be advantageous otherwise.
For added amusement effect, the nozzles or misters may be concealed inside of foliage, decorations, etc.
Water feature, sideways jet/mister/geyser/nozzle 3601 may obviously be any of a variety of mechanisms. Fairway area 3602 thus becomes a zone in which a person is highly likely to become wet during the course of play. Wall/framework/arbor/gazebo/decoration 3603 may support both the water mechanism, as well as light sensor/light source 3605. Sensor 3605 may detect the ball and cause the jets to begin firing either intermittently, in a pattern, or otherwise.
An alternative (dry) path may optionally be provide a dry route to the hole, for those who do not wish to get wet. This alternative embodiment may be applied to any hole of the invention. However, it is anticipated that players and golf course designers will desire holes which do engage the players with the pressurized water features as actively as possible, so this is merely an alternative embodiment.
FIG. 37 is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as seen in side view in FIG. 28, showing the twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention. Water feature 3701 has therein a number of windmills 3703 which as discussed in relation to the earlier FIG. 28 may dip their blades into the water and thus create obstacles to the ball.
FIG. 38 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which any missed putt by the player results in the ball entering water features 3801 which move the ball to an earlier part of the green.
FIG. 39 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the ball must be putted from fairway 3902 across water 3903 which is “boiling” and bubbling to reach green 3908. (The term “boiling” as used herein does not refer to high temperature of the water but to the specific type of vertical motion associated with the same word in water sports. Water boiling due to high temperature would be extremely undesirable and is not part of the invention as claimed.)
Kayakers and other water sports fans know that a “boil” of water in a river, also called a “haystack” or other names, may cause extremely unpredictable motions of objects passing through.
FIG. 40 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-fifth embodiment of the invention, in which extremely turbulent shallow water is present around the hole of the green area or in other parts of the hole.
Water feature 4001 on fairway 4002 may make play across the fairway area 4002 while water feature 4003 on green 4008. This feature may use swirling or turbulent water to make a ball hit into the water move in extremely unpredictable ways.
FIG. 41 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which players are not restrained by walls but which leaves the players little choice but to enter a fairway 4102 crossed by horizontal water jets 4101 which may be (but are not necessarily) activated by sensors 4105, or by a timer or randomly, etc. The jets may be at ground level as seen in FIG. 36, previously, or at ball level/ground level, as seen in FIG. 42 below.
FIG. 42 is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a ball may be impacted by water jets from the side of the course, rather than vertical jets. Ball 4200 is seen to be deflected by contact with a horizontal, ground level jet such as jet 4201 across fairway 4202. Optional wall 4203 (not seen in the embodiment previously, FIG. 41) may constrain player's ability to avoid having the ball deflected. An alternative dry path may be provided (4222) either in this embodiment or the in embodiment of FIG. 36.
FIG. 43 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-third embodiment of the invention in which a ridge down the middle of a fairway area may divert balls into a water feature, and including backing walls.
Water feature 4301 cooperates with mid-fairway slope 4303 which may cause balls to enter the water feature 4301 if balls are hit slowly, however, by making use of banking wall 4305.
Outlet 4309 may be positioned so that allowing the water feature 4301 to carry the ball will leave the ball in a less desirable position then if the player makes the shot.
FIG. 44 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which a gate may be present in a water feature, the gate opening when players successfully pass their balls across a light sensor/laser arrangement, such as in a tunnel, thus opening the gates for a more direct route toward the hole. In alternative embodiments there may be no sensor, just a timed gate, a randomly timed gate, a gate which opens or closes depending some action or input by players and so on and so forth.
Tunnel 4401 may have light sensor/source 4403 such as a laser and a light sensitive cell, which when actuated may change gates (in closed position) 4405 to gates (in open position) 4407.
FIGS. 45 a and 45 b are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which the players shoot their balls off a ramp and into a water feature having nets instead of holes therein.
Ramp 4501 (FIG. 45 a) leads players to shot into a pond 4505 (FIG. 45 b). Instead of holes, the pond may have nets 4503. This feature is also useful as a final hole which retrieves balls from the players for re-use by the course.
FIG. 46 is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according a forty-sixth embodiment of the invention in which the players stand on a platform 4609 and actually shot their balls away from the hole. The ball enters a water feature 4601 which then carries the ball back toward the green 4602, for example, under the platform 4609 or around the player. Stairs 4607 may be provided for player convenience and safety in platform embodiments.
FIG. 47 is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which the players actually pass sideways under a flowing waterfall provided by an extended overhang, with a side water feature should balls leave the dry area.
Water feature (sideways waterfall) 4701 has a walkable tunnel 4701 (number not correct) passing underneath overhang 4703 from which water feature (side river) 4705 flows toward the green area.
The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An improved miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play in which a player is putting the golf ball about a tee-off area, a fairway area and a green area, wherein the improvement comprises:

providing pressurized water and using the pressure of the water to alter the motion of such ball during such course of play.

2. A miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball by a player, the golf course hole comprising:

a water feature, the water feature having pressurized water, the golf course hole having a layout, the layout designed so that while moving, the ball will enter the pressurized water and the pressurized water will alter the moving of the ball,

the water feature having pressurized water being one member selected from the group consisting of: jets, sprayers, misters, cascades, waterfalls and combinations thereof.

3. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the alteration of the moving of the ball further comprises:

one member selected from the group consisting of: retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, providing alternative water routes of advancing the ball, and combinations thereof.

4. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature comprises: a stream which moves such ball in a manner selected from the group consisting of: advancing the ball, retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, moving the ball to a first portion of such green area.

5. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein such ball further comprises: a floating ball, and the water feature further comprises an outlet which allows the water to depart but strands the ball out of such water feature, the outlet further comprising: a grating, a net, and combinations thereof.

6. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises: a fountain having a first water-filled level with water flowing out of the first level, the water flowing out of the fountain in at a first direction.

7. The miniature golf course hole of claim 6, wherein the fountain further comprises a second water-filled level with water flowing out of the second level in a second direction, such ball flowing out of the fount in the first direction if the player hits such ball into the first level and flowing out of the fountain in the second direction if the player hits such ball into the second level.

8. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: a waterfall which such ball must be hit through, a waterfall which such player must pass through, cascades which alter the motion of such ball by passing it across a plurality of obstacles within the cascade, terraces down which the water carries such ball, and combinations thereof.

9. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature comprises: one member selected from the group consisting of: a portion of the fairway which is afloat, a portion of the green which is afloat, a barrel bridge, a wave maker and combinations thereof.

10. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises:

a stream carrying such ball for a first distance, with a walking path beside the stream for the first distance, so that such player may walk beside such ball as it is carried.

11. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises:

at least one water tunnel which such ball passes through while in such water.

12. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the hole further comprises:

a vertical obstacle over which the water feature propels such ball.

13. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises:

a trigger mechanism which actuates the water feature upon one member selected from the group consisting of: random actuation, timed actuation, actuation by entry of such ball into a first part of the water feature, actuation by entry of such player into a first part of such hole, and combinations thereof.

14. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises:

a waterwheel having at least one bucket disposed so that the bucket may move to a low position in which the bucket retrieves such ball from the water feature and a high position in which the bucket releases the ball out of such water feature.

15. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises:

at least one member selected from the group consisting of: buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the fairway, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the green, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to advance the ball and combinations thereof.

16. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises: a mechanism which shoots the ball using water.

17. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, wherein the water feature further comprises: at least one water gate which has a first position in which the water gate allows water to flow through and a second position in which the water gate prevents water from flowing through.

18. A miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play by a player putting such golf ball into a cup, the golf course hole comprising:

a water feature which wets the player during such course of play and not after putting such golf ball into such cup.

19. The miniature golf course hole of claim 18 for further use by a second player, wherein the wetting of the player during the course of play further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: requiring the player to wade in water, triggering fountains to wet such player, triggering sprayers to wet such player, wetting such player when the player follows their ball into an area of spraying, requiring such player to pass through a waterfall, requiring such player to pass by a water feature controlled by such second player, allows such player to choose between a dry route to the green and a wet route to the green, and combinations thereof.

20. The miniature golf course hole of claim 2, further comprising:

a second water feature, such player having the choice to attempt to hit such ball into either of such water feature or such second water feature, the second water feature altering the motion of such ball in a manner different from the first water feature.