FIELD

The invention comprises a ball and games equipment for a golf-type game.

BACKGROUND

The game of golf is well known and is played with clubs and a small spherical ball. It is now conventional for the ball to have a dimpled exterior. A golf course consists of a number of "holes" each comprising a tee, fairway and green with the object of the game being to hit the ball from the tee into a hole or cup on the green for each hole, in a minimum number of strokes. A golf course comprises a dedicated area of land which may not be used for other applications. A golf course requires much ongoing maintenance to be kept m good order, and initial construction of a golf course generally involves significant earth works and capital.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an alternative golf ball which may be used m golf or a golf-type game. A further object of the invention is to provide games equipment for a golf-type game which need not be played on a conventional golf course

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel golf ball, game and games equipment.

In one aspect the invention comprises a golf ball having a diameter which is greater along one axis of the ball than the diameter of the ball along a perpendicular axis. The golf ball of the invention may be used in the golf game of the invention or mav be used on a conventional golf course.

In another aspect the invention comprises games equipment for a golf-type game, comprising at least one golf ball having a diameter which is greater along one axis of the ball than the diameter of the ball along a perpendicular axis; at least one golf club; at least one goal: wherein one of the balls may be propelled toward and into or over the goal(s) by a player swinging one of the golf clubs at the ball.

In a further aspect the invention comprises games equipment for a golf-type game, comprising at least one golf ball; at least one golf club; at least one net: at least one ground surface remote from the net forming a tee from which the ball may be propelled by a player toward the net; and a ground surface forming a fairway between the net and the tee for which subsequent shots may be played to propel the ball to be caught by the net. The golf game of the invention may be played utilising the golf ball of the invention or a conventional golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example and without intending to be limiting. In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view of the preferred form ball,

Figure 2 is a view of the preferred form ball in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another form of golf ball of the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the layout of a golf course according to the invention, and

Figure 5 shows one preferred form of net.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS

The golf ball of the invention is similar to a conventional golf ball except that it is oval in shape. The ball has a greater diameter along one axis than its diameter along a perpendicular axis, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the ball side-on to its longer axis and Figure 2 shows the ball end-on i.e. side-on to its shorter axis Preferably the diameter in one direction is in the range 30 to 45mm and the diameter in a perpendicular direction is in the range 45 to 60mm. For example in one case the ball may have a length of approximately 57mm and a width of approximately 40mm. Balls of the invention are not limited to these dimensions however.

Preferably the ball has a pattern of dimples on its exterior similar to a conventional spherical golf ball. Preferably as with a conventional golf ball, the ball has an exterior cover formed of a hard synthetic material, and an inner core which is relatively heavy but resilient, and may comprise a heavy ellipsoid or spherical centre part surrounded by rubber or a resilient synthetic material. Alternatively, the ball may be constructed entirely from a hard synthetic material with no separate inner core. The ball may be coloured white, yellow, orange or any other desired colour, so that the ball will be relatively visible in the grass during play.

Alternative to the pattern of dimples on its exterior as shown in Figures 1 and 2. the ball may have a pattern similar to that shown m Figures 1 and 2 but of small convex protrusions of a similar size to the dimples shown. Alternatively again the ball may have on its exterior a pattern of spiral grooves, around the greater diameter axis of the ball, which may cause the ball to spin or spiral around its longer axis as it flies through the air.

Referring to Figure 3, in another form the ball may have an attached streamer 1 formed of lightweight ribbon material which may be brightly coloured, or tail shown in phantom outline which may be formed of rigid plastic material or a softer synthetic foam material for example, and may be attached in a slit on the end of the ball for example.

The ball may also incorporate devices in the ball to create an audible whistling sound as the ball flies through the air. For example a cavity may extend through the ball along its longitudinal axis through which air will pass as the ball flies, over a whistling device within the cavity.

The ball may be used for playing the game of the invention, or for playing otherwise conventional golf on a conventional golf course. Because of the ball's shape, it will fly relatively straight when positioned upright on its vertical axis and hit, resisting swing to the left or right as is common with a conventional golf ball when any side-spin is imparted by the club face striking the ball. The ball can also be made to swing to the left or right in flight by the degree to which it is lent over on its horizontal axis before hitting, on a tee for example. This is not possible with a conventional golf ball where the ability to purposely turn the ball in the air is solely determined by the ability of the player to impart the correct spin to the ball with the club. Because of the oval ball's directionality, it is well suited to play in more constrained topography where it must be hit straight in order

to avoid loss or where hazards need to be negotiated by the use oi a curving flight path. Generally it is an easier ball for less experienced golfers to control while providing a large number of interesting positions and flight paths of which the more experienced golfer may make advantage.

The game of the invention is a club and ball game, which may be played on a course arranged over an area of land preferably where natural hazards or obstacles exist, or alternatively on a sports field, driving range, or similar. Typically a course may be arranged over farmland, where the grass has been kept low by grazing stock. In a preferred form of the invention the course is arranged over ungroomed land, being land which has not been prepared m the known way for playing golf. The object of preferred forms of the game is for each player to play the ball from a starting point or tee (which does not necessarily need to be specially mown or prepared), to a vertically suspended net in as few strokes as possible. The ball is played in successive strokes from the tee area into the goal, and may be positioned where it lies in order to take advantage of its directionality. For example rules may allow positioning the ball by a player but not by more than 300mm and only away from the goal mouth.

The course is laid out with any number of tees and nets each forming a goal, equivalent to a hole in conventional golf, but preferably between 9 and 22 goals with each goal being set typically anything from 50 to 500 metres from the tee area for that goal (although mini golf versions are also possible), and sited in such a way that natural hazards such as trees, ponds, streams, fences, farm animals or other features of the terrain or surroundings where the game is being played will impede and penalise inaccurate shots. Each goal is surrounded by a yard, somewhat like a green in conventional golf. Each yard may vary in shape and size but is preferably between 10 to 25 metres from the goal mouth around its perimeter which may be demarcated in any number of ways such as

with smooth painted rocks set at intervals round the outside of the yard, in order that players can determine whether their ball lies within or outside the yard. Preferably, within the yard, some form of marker is used to clearly indicate the direction players must leave the net in after playing that goal.

Figure 3 shows by way of example a layout of three tees, three goals and three yards in a course for the game of the invention. There are three teeing areas 2,4,6 each indicated for example by numbered signs 8 or similar and in the drawing as a region withm broken lines adjacent the signs 8. There are also three yards 10, 12.14 of different shapes around each goal, indicated in the drawing with solid lines around each goal position. A player tees off from the first tee 2 towards the goal in yard 10 with the object of hitting the ball into the goal, without hitting the trees 16 on either side of a line between the tee 2 and the goal or going into the stream 18. The player tees off from the second tee 4 to hit over the fence 20 and into the goal in yard 12, without landing the player's ball in the watering trough 21. In the third goal 14 the player tees off from area 6 to hit the ball into the goal in yard 14 avoiding trees 16, the stream 18, a rusting vehicle 22, and a fallen log 24.

One preferred form of goal with attached net 25 is shown in Figure 4. The vertical posts 26 which form the goal mouth 27 are approximately 1.8m apart and approximately 3m high but may be larger or smaller. The netting 25 which is approximately 2m high is attached from its edges to posts 26 and to five poles 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 which comprise a V-shaped frame 38 that extends back approximately 2.5m along both sides of the vertical goal mouth 27 in order to form a V trap for the ball. Vertical posts 26 are removably attached to poles 34 and 36 at points 42 and 44 respectively.

The netting 25 is extended across the poles 34 and 36 in order to hold the ball in the net but made looser at this point in order to ensure the ball does not bounce out. The

bottom of the frame 38 is also sloped down and away from the goal mouth to further ensure that the ball remains in the net once hit in. The design of the frame 38 allows it to be folded up along with the vertical posts 26 for ease of transportation.

The V-shaped frame 38 is supported elevated above the ground ( approximately 1.25m for example) by support 46. In a preferred form of the invention the frame 38 may rotate relative to support 46. The frame 38 is attached to sleeve 48 which is fitted over support 46. Rotation of frame 38 is controlled by stabiliser arm 50, spring 52 and nut 54. Spring 52 is compressed as it is wound down on a threaded section on sleeve 48. The net may therefore be turned in a variety of directions in order to enable the player to hit towards it from less oblique, more front-on. angles.

Vertical posts 26, support 46 and sleeve 48 are of a light colour, preferably white, in order to allow them to stand out while the netting 25 and its frame 38 are of a dark colour, preferably black, to enable it to blend in with the background. Flags 54 are fitted at the top of each vertical post 26 to increase the visibility of the goal from a distance and also enable players to check wind direction and velocity at the goal mouth.

In an alternative but less preferred arrangement a net may simply be loosely suspended between two posts fixed into the ground, in which case the net will not rotate.

Once the ball has landed within the yard the player may turn the goal mouth 27 to one of a number of positions, in order to present a larger target area for his or her shot. Rules may provide that the player whose ball is furthest from the goal plays first but if a player's ball is in the yard but further away from the other player's ball which is outside the yard, the player whose ball is within the yard has the right to ask the other player to play first. If a player's ball comes to lie hard up against a yard marking stone then the

player may move it not more than a club length away from the goal mouth 27. If the ball lands at a distance deemed to be too close to the goal mouth 27. the player mav move it a prescribed distance further away from the goal mouth 27 before attempting to play it into the goal again.

After playing the ball from the tee. a player's ball may be teed up again i.e. placed on a tee of some sort, by the player until it is within the yard and then it may be picked up and replaced but not teed up again until it is outside the yard.

In a variation, dogs may be used in playing the game, to assist in locating balls in the grass. Each player may have one dog, and that player may wipe his or her ball with a specially scented cloth to give the ball a scent which that player's dog will use to locate the ball after the player has hit it.

In another form the game of the invention may be played as above using equipment described as above, except that each goal instead of comprising a net may simply comprise goal posts consisting of two upright posts with a cross-bar at a height above the ground, similar to rugby goal posts, over which the ball must be hit by each player to complete the hole. Alternatively again the goal may simply comprise a defined area of ground marked as a target. Alternatively again the game may simply be played at a driving range comprising a single "hole" or number of adjacent single "holes" to be used by more than one person simultaneously, each comprising a tee area, and a goal at the end which may be an elevated net, goal post, or target area or other form of goal, as described above.

.Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the following claims.