WO2006007175A1 - Game for the rules of golf - Google Patents

Abstract

A game that teaches the rules of golf by presenting questions of hypothetical situations to the players. Each player attempt to answer a question. If the player answers the question correctly, the player receives a score ranging from par to several strokes below par. If the player incorrectly answers the question, the player receives a score ranging from par to several strokes above par. The player's actual score for each hole may be predetermined according to the complexity of the question or may be in part dictated by chance such as by rolling a dice. The player records his score on a scorecard. The game continues until a number of holes or rounds have been played. The score for each player are tallied. The winner is the one who obtains the lowest score.

Description

GAME FOR THE RULES OF GOLF

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent application is based on and claims priority on United States of America provisional patent application no. 60/582358 having a filing date of 23 June 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field.

This invention generally relates to games and methods for learning and competing. This invention more specifically relates to golf games using cards, dice, or other media, in which one or more teams/players are asked questions regarding the Rules of Golf.

2. Prior Art.

There currently are various games on the subject of sports and entertainment, including on golf. A brief sampling of these games are disclosed in US Patent No. 6409171 to Schultz, US Patent No. 5497999 to Stewart, US Patent No. 6530571 to McWilliams, US Patent No. 6761358 to Hallett, and US Patent No. 6672590 to Olsen. Based on the popularity of games, sports, and entertainment, there always is a need for a new game, and it is to such a new game that this patent application is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention generally is a game which teaches the Rules of Golf (or any sport for that matter) in a game setting. The Rules of Golf are written, interpreted and maintained by The United States Golf Association® (USGA®) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews®. As any golfer w,ho has reviewed the Rules can attest, the Rules are complex and can be intimidating to memorize, even for the professional. The present invention is a game that teaches the Rules in a fun, yet educational, method involving questions and hypothetical scenarios which illustrate the Rules. In a preferred embodiment, a variety of questions are organized into one of several categories. Sample categories could be: order of play, the putting green, relief situations and procedures, etc. Preferably, the category is selected at random by rolling a die, though it may be selected in any manner including a fixed predetermined sequence or other means. The question from the chosen category also preferably is selected at random, though it too may be selected by other means. Other components may include a die or dice or other random number generator for scoring/selecting the category, a scorecard and a container for holding the cards and/or other game pieces.

Initially the player or players are split into teams consisting of one or players per team, though the game may also be played by a single player. The team/player name(s) are then entered onto a scorecard. The game is begun when one team/player chooses, preferably randomly, a question from one of the several categories. A question is then read from that category. Although the invention is described using cards wherein a person reads the question and answer from the card, it is also within the scope of the invention to have the questions read aloud by an electronic device, to have the question presented on a video display, or to have the question/answer otherwise communicated to the team/player.

Each question preferably is provided with a relevant Rule number corresponding to the actual Rules of golf number, a brief description of the category, and a hypothetical situation in which a golfer may find himself or herself. For example, one question could be: "A player makes a practice swing in the rough and dislodges a concealed ball. Is there a penalty?" The team/player then attempts to answer the question.

The corresponding answer to the question, which may be found on the card, preferably on the back, then is compared with the team/player's answer. An appropriate answer for the question above could be: "No. Since the player had no intention of striking the concealed ball, his swing remained a practice swing and was not a stroke. Consequently, there is no question of his having played either a practice stroke (Rule 7-2) or a stroke with a wrong ball (Rule 15)." The answer also may refer to the applicable rule, Rule 7-2.7 in this case. Depending on whether the question was answered correctly or not, the team/player is given a score for the question/hole. In order to introduce an element of chance, it is preferred that the score for a given question/hole be determined by using a die or similar random number generating means. It is preferred that the score be based on typical golf scores, such as par, birdie, bogie etc. such that an "average" score for a hole is par. If the question is answered correctly, the team/player has a chance to get a below par score, i.e., one or two below par ("-1 "/"birdie" or "-27"eagle"). On the other hand, if the team/player gets the question wrong, then the team/player will receive a score of par, or over par, i.e., single or double bogie ("+1 "/"bogie" or "+27"double bogie", respectively).

Thus, after a player/team answers a question, they roll a scoring die. After they roll the die, their score is whatever score is shown on the die. The team/player then looks at the scorecard to see what "par" was for the hole and then adjusts his score for the hole accordingly. Thus, if the team/player gets the answer correct, they roll a first die, termed a "birdie" die that includes one or more sides indicating "par", one below par ("-1" or "birdie"), and two below par ("-2" or "eagle"). According to the previous example, assuming the team/player correctly answered the question, if the birdie die came up with a "-1" or "birdie" score and if "par" for the hole was 4, then the score recorded for that team/player for the hole would be a "3". If instead of answering the question correctly, the team/player answered incorrectly, they would roll a second die, termed a "bogie" die that includes one or more sides indicating "par", one above par ("+1" or "bogey"), and two above par ("+2" or "double bogey"). According to the previous example, assuming the team/player incorrectly answered the question, if the bogey die came up with a "+1" or "bogey" score and if "par" for the hole was 4, then the score recorded for that team/player for the hole would be a "5".

Similar to the actual game of golf, the scorecard for the present invention preferably resembles an actual scorecard and is designed and laid out similarly. After eighteen "holes", the scores are tallied and the team/player with the lowest total score wins. The game may be played with any number of individual players or teams and the number of holes can be selected by the teams/players. These features, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which like reference numerals represent like components throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box containing cards according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a spinner to generate random numbers.

FIG. 3 is a die according to the present invention for use in selecting a question category.

FIG. 4A is perspective view of an illustrative question card according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an illustrative answer card according to the present invention.

FIGs. 5A and 5B are dice according to the present invention for use in scoring according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an illustration of the front of a scorecard according to the present invention.

FIG. 6B is an illustration of the back of a scorecard according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the surfaces of a die according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the present invention is a game preferably including a plurality of cards presenting questions and answers, one or more random number generators (i.e., dice, spinners, roulette wheels or other means), and a method of tracking the scores for the various teams/players. The following paragraphs and drawings will describe the invention in greater detail. FIG. 1 illustrates a foundation or box 10 which preferably includes bottom 12 and sides 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. Though shown without a lid, box 10 may include a lid. Box 10 contains a plurality of cards 30 which may be grouped into several categories by category indicators 32. Box 10 may also be configured in any manner such as oversized to hold additional game pieces, such as die or dice, scorecards and writing instruments (not shown).

The object of the game is to score the lowest number of "strokes" through a predetermined number of "holes" of play, for example eighteen (18) holes, by correctly answering the most questions. The game begins when the players or teams are divided up and a first team selects a category for their first question. Representative categories, which represent various categories of the Rules of golf, include:

In a preferred embodiment, an element of chance is introduced in selecting the category by the use of a means of randomly generating the category. Preferred randomizing means including rotatable wheels or spinners such as rotatable wheel 40 in FIG. 2 or preferably a multi-sided die as shown in FIG. 3, though other means are equally suitable. Further, the cards themselves may be organized randomly or in a predetermined order. FIG. 2 illustrates a rotatable wheel 40 which includes category designators 42 and a spinner 44. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a twenty-sided category die 50 which includes two (2) sets of category designators 52 numbered 1-10 to correspond to the predetermined number of categories.

Although other means of selecting the category are available, twenty-sided category die 50 is preferred as it simulates that round nature of a golf ball and it can be of any suitable coloring, such as white, green, red and black. It is further preferred that twenty-sided category die 50 is of a diameter similar in size to that of a golf ball. For games with fewer or greater than ten categories, dice with fewer or greater numbers of sides, respectively, can be used. The preferred color of the category die is white with black numbers to simulate a typical golf ball.

Upon selecting a category, a question is then communicated to the team/player. The preferred method is to utilize a plurality of cards wherein each card includes a question on one side of the card and the answer to the question on the back. FIG. 4A illustrates a representative question side 62 of card 60 and FIG. 4B illustrates answer side 64 of card 60. Note that although cards 60 are a preferred method of communicating the question to the team/player, it is anticipated that the questions may be communicated through oral (such as via audio tape for example) and video media (such as through computer and digital media or videotapes/video discs for example).

The card 60 of FIG. 4A preferably includes a question or answer indicator 66, a reference to the corresponding USGA® published Rule for the question 68, a question heading 70, a detailed question 72 and the question category 74. FIG. 4B illustrates a representative answer 76. Although representative answer 76 is preferably on the reverse side of the card with the corresponding question, it is also permissible for the answer to be in other locations, i.e., on the same side of the card, or on another card.

The cards 60 may be placed loosely in a drawer or box 10 as shown in FIG. 1 , attached to a rotating card file (similar to a ROLODEX®), or otherwise collected or assembled. In such instances, it is preferred that tabs or other means be utilized to partition the various categories (see FIG. 1 for example wherein category indicators 32 separate the various categories). It is further preferred that some of the larger categories, such as Playing the Ball and Relief Situations and Procedure be split into two or more sections because there may be an inordinate number of golf Rules for such categories.

If cards 60 are not used, such as in an electronic version of the game, the questions and answers can be stored and retrieved electronically via a computer form an electronic (digital) database. The questions and answers in such situations can be read from screens (cathode ray tubes or CRTs, liquid crystal displays or LCDs, thin film transistors or TFTs, and the like).

Scoring is preferably based on a par system similar to golf. In a preferred embodiment, a team/player rolls one die if the question was answered correctly, and rolls an alternate die if the question was answered incorrectly. FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate preferred scoring dice. FIG. 5A illustrates a "birdie" die 80 with various scoring faces 82. Birdie die 80 preferably includes at least one side which designates a "par" score, at least one side which designates a "birdie" score (i.e., "-1" or one below par), and at least one side which designates an "eagle" score (i.e., "-2" or two below par). It is further preferred that the number of die surfaces designating par is six (6) times the number of sides designating eagle, and double the number of surfaces designating birdie. Thus, if a twenty-sided (20) die is used, twelve (12) surfaces would designate par, six (6) would designate birdie, and two (2) would designate eagle, based on actual golf where par is more common than birdie and both par and birdie are more common than eagle, at least among tournament and scratch players. When a team/player answers a question correctly, the team/player may roll the birdie die 80 to determine their score for the hole relative to the par for the hole. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5A, the team/player may receive a score of par, birdie, or eagle. The team/player then simply looks at the par value of the hole found on the scorecard, adjusts his or her score as appropriate, and records his or her score.

Bogie die 90 preferably includes at least one side which designates a par score, at least one side which designates a bogie score (i.e., "+1" or one above par), and at least one side which designates a double bogie score (i.e., "+2" or two above par). It is further preferred that the number of die surfaces designating par is six (6) times the number of sides designating double bogie, and double the number of surfaces designating bogie. Thus, if a twenty-sided (20) die is used, twelve (12) surfaces would designate par, six (6) would designate bogie, and two (2) would designate double bogie, based on actual golf where par is more common than bogey and both par and bogey are more common than double bogey, at least among tournament and scratch players. When a team/player answers a question incorrectly, the team/player may roll the bogey die 90 to determine their score for the hole relative to the par for the hole. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5B, the team/player may receive a score of par, bogey, or double bogey. The team/player then simply looks at the par value of the hole found on the scorecard, adjusts his or her score as appropriate, and records his or her score.

FIG. 6A and 6B illustrate a preferred scorecard including places for the team/player names, the score for the corresponding hole, and the total score. Thus, if the team/player answered the question correctly and rolled the birdie die 80 such that a "-1 birdie" resulted, the team/player's score for a hole with a par value of 4, would be a "3". Similarly, if the team/player had answered incorrectly and rolled a "+2 double bogie" on bogie die 90, the team/players' score would be a "6" based on a par 4 hole.

In a preferred embodiment, the three (3) dice (category die 50, birdie die 80 and bogie die 90) are approximately golf-ball sized. It may further be desired to have the die each of a different color, i.e., the category die 50 may be white, the birdie die 80 may be red and the bogie die 90 may be black. Such color variations make it easy to distinguish between the various die and thus more user-friendly. As mentioned above, it is preferred that the category die be white with black letters to simulate an actual golf ball. It also is preferred that the birdie die be red to correspond to the red score numbers on a golf Scoreboard for scores under par. It further is preferred that the bogey die be black to correspond to the black score numbers on a golf Scoreboard for scores over par. Other colors, of course, can be used.

Note, however, that a single die may be used wherein each "side" of the die may include a designator for both a category and a score. FIG. 7 illustrates the surfaces of a combination die. Note that twenty surfaces are shown as it is preferred that a twenty-sided die be used as it more closely approximates the surface of a golf ball than other die. Of course the number of sides on any of the above-referenced dice can be varied to be higher or lower. Further, the number of categories can be increased or decreased without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Following are some example rules for playing the game.

1. Divide the players up into teams of one or more players each.

2. The first Team/player rolls a die or otherwise chooses a category. As discussed above, it is preferred that the category be randomly selected to introduce chance into the game.

3. The team/player reads the question from the card (or alternatively, another player or team reads the question to the team/player attempting to answer the question).

4. The team/player attempts to answer the question.

5. a. If the team/player answered the question correctly, they roll the "birdie" die. If the die comes up par, then the value of par for the hole is recorded for the appropriate hole for that team/player. If the die comes up "-1" or birdie, then the value recorded is par minus one. If the die comes up "-2" or eagle, then the value recorded is par minus two. b. If the team/player answered the question incorrectly, they roll the "bogie" die. If the die comes up par, then the value of par for the hole is recorded for the appropriate hole for that team/player. If the die comes up "+1" or bogie, then the value recorded is par plus one. If the die comes up "+2" or double bogie, then the value recorded is par plus two.

6. After the score is entered for the first team/player, the above steps 2-5 are repeated for the remaining teams/players.

7. Steps 2-6 are repeated for each team/player, and for each hole, until eighteen "holes" have been played for all of the teams/players and then the scores are counted for the game. The team/player with the lowest total score wins. Although described utilizing one or more dice, it is equally acceptable to use a rotatable wheel as described above, including a roulette wheel which may include an array of numbered compartments referred to as "pockets". The pockets preferably include the name (or a designator) of a category and a scoring number (i.e., "0" for par, "-1" for birdie, "-2" for eagle, "+1" for bogie and "+2" for double- bogie). Alternatively, the pockets may simply include a 0, 1 or 2 such that 0 stands for par, and then the 1 or 2 are either positive (bogey and double bogey) or negative (birdie or eagle) depending on whether the question was answered incorrectly or correctly, respectively. If the team/player answered correctly, the worst score they could get for the question is par, whereas the worst score that a person could get if they missed the question is "+2".

Other preferred embodiments include assigning par values based on the difficulty of the question as opposed to using a random number generator (i.e., dice). Although described as including eighteen (18) "holes", the teams/players may agree at the beginning of play how many "holes" will be played (i.e., 3 holes, 9, holes, 18 holes). Also, the categories of rules can be selected at will, and there can one or more categories, and not just the ten mentioned above in the examples. For a simpler version of the game, there can be a single category, that being the entire Rules of Golf. With a single category, the category die is not required. Additionally, for the more adventurous, the birdie die can include sides for double eagle, etcetera, and the bogey die can include sides for triple bogey, etcetera, while for the less adventurous, the birdie die can include sides only for par and birdie and the bogey die can include sides only for par and bogey. Any combination of par, birdie, eagle, double eagle, bogey, double bogey, and/or triple bogey can be used and are contemplated. Further, additional sides for water hazard and out of bound penalties can be included.

As the Rules of Golf are frequently amended and changed, it is anticipated that regular updates may be necessary. In such an instance, cards may be issued that replace the original cards to reflect the current Rules.

It also is contemplated that the game of this invention can be supplied in a television game show format in which a category is chosen by the contestant, by a competing contestant, by the game show host or randomly; the contestant is read the question; the contestant answers; and the score is tallied based on the par value of the question, whether the answer is correct or incorrect, and the plus or minus par value. The plus or minus par value also can be determined by the contestant, by a competing contestant, by the game show host or randomly by using dice, spinners, or other random number generators. Further, rather than reading a situation, the question can be a video, audio or audio/video clip of a situation and the contestant then would provide an answer based on the clip.

The foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended figures have been presented only for illustrative and descriptive purposes and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were selected and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many variations can be made to the invention disclosed in this specification without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is Claimed is:

1. A method for teaching the rules of golf comprising the steps of: a. randomly selecting one of a plurality of questions related to one or more golf rules by using a selecting means, wherein the questions are divided into a predetermined number of categories; b. communicating the one of a plurality of questions to a player; c. having the player provide an answer; d. comparing the player provided answer with a predetermined answer corresponding to the one of a plurality of questions; and e. assigning a score to the player based on whether or not the question was answered correctly or incorrectly wherein the assigned score is at least partially randomly determined.

2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the questions are presented on a medium selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cards, a video monitor, or a booklet.

3. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the answers are on the reverse side of the card containing the corresponding question.

4. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the selecting means is selected from the group consisting of dice, roulette wheels, electric random number generators, electronic random number generators, cards, or spinners.

5. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the question is assigned a par score and if the question is answered correctly, the player rolls a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned the par score or the par score minus a number showing on the rolled die.

6. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the question is assigned a par score and if the question is answered incorrectly, the player rolls a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned the par score or the par score plus a number showing on the rolled die.

7. A method for teaching the rules of golf comprising the steps of: a. randomly selecting one of a plurality of questions related to one or more golf rules by using a selecting means, wherein the questions are divided into a predetermined number of categories; f. communicating the one of a plurality of questions to a player; g. having the player provide an answer; h. comparing the player provided answer with a predetermined answer corresponding to the one of a plurality of questions; and i. assigning a score to the player based on whether or not the question was answered correctly or incorrectly wherein the assigned score is at least partially randomly determined, wherein the question is assigned a par score and (i) if the question is answered correctly, the player rolls a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned the par score or the par score minus a number showing on the rolled die, or (ii) if the question is answered incorrectly, the player rolls a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned the par score or the par score plus a number showing on the rolled die.

8. The method of Claim 7, wherein the questions are presented on a medium selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cards, a video monitor, or a booklet.

9. The method of Claim 7, wherein the answers are on the reverse side of the card containing the corresponding question.

10. The method of Claim 7, wherein the selecting means is selected from the group consisting of dice, roulette wheels, electric random number generators, electronic random number generators, cards, or spinners.

11. A game for teaching the rules of golf comprising: a. a plurality of display means having at least one question related to one or more golf rules thereon, wherein the questions are divided into a predetermined number of categories; b. a first selection means for selecting the category of question to be asked; c. a second selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for correctly answering the question or the par score minus a number shown on the second selection means; and d. a third selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for incorrectly answering the question or the par score plus a number shown on the third selection means.

12. The game of Claim 11 , wherein the plurality of display means are selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cards, a video monitor, or a booklet.

13. The game of Claim 11 , wherein the display means are two-sided cards with the at least one question on a first side and an answer to the at least one question on a reverse side of the card containing the corresponding at least one question.

14. The game of Claim 1 , wherein the selecting means are selected from the group consisting of dice, roulette wheels, electric random number generators, electronic random number generators, cards, or spinners.

15. The game of Claim 11 , wherein the first selection means is a multi- sided die having at least one side with a designator for each of the predetermined categories printed thereon.

16. The game of Claim 11 , wherein the second selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score minus a number showing on the die.

17. The method of Claim 11 , wherein the third selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score plus a number showing on the die.

18. A game for teaching the rules of golf comprising: a. a plurality of display means having at least one question related to one or more golf rules thereon, wherein the questions are divided into a predetermined number of categories; b. a first selection means for selecting the category of question to be asked, wherein the first selection means is a multi-sided die having at least one side with a designator for each of the predetermined categories printed thereon; c. a second selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for correctly answering the question or the par score minus a number shown on the second selection means, wherein the second selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score minus a number showing on the die; and d. a third selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for incorrectly answering the question or the par score plus a number shown on the third selection means, wherein the third'selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score plus a number showing on the die.

19. The game of Claim 18, wherein the display means are two-sided cards with the at least one question on a first side and an answer to the at least one question on a reverse side of the card containing the corresponding at least one question.

20. A game for teaching the rules of golf comprising: a. a plurality of display means having at least one question related to one or more golf rules thereon, wherein the questions are divided into a predetermined number of categories; b. a correct answer score selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for correctly answering the question or the par score minus a number shown on the second selection means, wherein the correct answer score selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score minus a number showing on the die; and c. an incorrect answer score selection means for determining whether a player will be assigned a par score for incorrectly answering the question or the par score plus a number shown on the third selection means, wherein the incorrect answer score selection means is a multi-sided die having numbers or number equivalents located on each side to determine whether the player will be assigned a par score for the question or the par score plus a number showing on the die.