FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to equipment to afford entertainment and relaxation and more particularly to equipment which involves a simulation of putting on a golf green.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Putting in golf is an activity which can be done by almost anyone and the degree of success achieved can never be forecast with accuracy. This is largely due to the fact that putting greens are stoped, the slopes often forming undulations.

This is the fascination of it as well as the opportunity for competition with or without stakes to the winner.

Not everyone has the opportunity of putting on actual golf greens and these greens themselves are subject for their use to weather conditions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide equipment which will afford users the activity of putting a ball into a hole or different holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided entertainment equipment comprising a surface simulating a putting green which has a series of holes formed therein and a striking area set away from the area having the holes.

A further feature of this invention provides for the surface to be undulating; and for the undulations to be randomly situated on the surface.

The invention also provides for the surface to be provided on a stand with a ball collection mechanism located below the surface and extending from each of the holes and means for delivering collected balls to the striking area.

Yet another feature of this invention provides a collection point in the surface to which any ball on the surface will gravitate for collection.

Another aspect of this invention provides for programmed electronic control of the equipment enabling monetary payouts to be associated with successful putting strokes of a ball effected across the surface and into a hole and for the payouts to be predetermined through a programmed computer.

The invention further provides for the electronic control to include a sensor at each hole, for each sensor to be energised by selection means and operated by a ball falling into a hole, for recording and display means to be similarly activated and for the operation of a sensor to include a programmed calculator having an output to vary the recording and display means.

Still further features of this invention provide for the calculator to be money orientated to divide predetermined amounts into collections and payouts and to vary the payouts according to the regularity with which the sensor in a hole is operated in comparison to the sensors in other holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features of this invention will become apparent from the following description of one example wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1 is an oblique view of the equipment; FIGS 2 and 3 show details of a ball retrieval mechanism ; FIG 4 shows a detail of the surface configuration means; and FIG 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the electronic controls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS As illustrated the equipment shows a surface (1) pear shaped in plan which is supported on a suitable stand (2). The stem end of the pear shape of surface (1) also extends laterally to a non-playing surface (3) where a person using the equipment can stand.

A peripheral wall (4) is provided around the surface (1) and the latter is provided by a material which will enable a ball to be putted smoothly over it. The felt-type cloth used on a pool table has been found suitable.

The surface (1) has a series of holes (5) formed therein in different places and the surface (1) is made to slope randomly in a similar manner to a golf green so that a ball will have to be struck at a particular speed and particular direction to fall into a particular hole. A special hole (6) is positioned at the lowest level located such that a ball placed anywhere on the surface will gravitate into that pocket.

By means of a golf ball and a putter a person using the equipment will endeavour to strike the ball to roll into one of the holes (5). With a new stroke and ball he will try for the same or a different hole and may follow a predetermined sequence until he has putted a ball into each hole (5).

Any ball which fails to fall in the hole particularly chosen for that stroke will gravitate into the lowest hole (6) and off the putting surface.

It will be appreciated that it is possible that a ball can be struck and fall into a hole that is not the intended hole. This ball will also be gathered by the collection system described below. It will not however operate the sensor associated with the hole as described below.

Beneath the surface is a collection system of ducting to direct balls falling into any of the holes to a collection point for return to the part of the stand where it is accessible to the player. One suitable mechanism is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Suitably sized ducting (7) extends in downwardly incline fashion from the bottom of each hole to a collection basin (8) the bottom of which is located above a conveyor screw (9). This screw (9) can conveniently be in the form of a rotatably supported rod (10) with a band (11) of resilient material with rubber- like qualities helically wound thereon. A motor (12) is provided to rotate the rod (10) in a casing (13) so that the rod and band will move a ball (14) up the length of the rod (10).

This conveyor (9) will deposit the ball (14) in a chute (15) (see Figure 3) where it will collect against the lifting mechanism (16) shown. This mechanism may be manually operated or by a motor and cam assembly (17) controlling the lever (18) and plunger (19) may be provided.

The plunger (19) can be operated as desired to make a ball (14) available to be struck by a player.

In a particular application the equipment may be controlled by suitable coin operated mechanisms which may also enable the player to play against the equipment for reward. Alternatively the equipment may be controlled by an operator and in either case the electronics can be computerised to continually adjust the reward payable to a player as circumstances arise during use of the equipment.

In one embodiment of the play for reward a player will be required to pay for each shot played and the amount charged will be divided into a charge by the operator, a contribution to the reward to the player and a reserve fund. The latter can be utilised to ensure that a minimum payout is always available even though a successful series of shots are made into a nominated hole.

Figure 5 shows a diagram of controls (30) for the equipment. Sensors (31) are located in each hole and energised through means (32) which may be

automatic or manual and dependant on the paying of a charge to use the equipment.

Displays (33) reflect the particular situations of the equipment and particularly on the receipt of signals from a computer actuated by calculator (34) the operation of sensors (31) when a ball drops into a hole. Payout and credit displays (35) will also be dependant on the operation of the sensors (31).

More particularly on first installation of the equipment the operator is required to invest the initial prize money as opening balances to initiate play. From that point onwards the players determine the prize money through contributions and winnings, and the operator's earnings are determined as a percentage commission for each credit unit played. This means the players in fact compete amongst each other and not against the operator. Because of this prize values vary all the time. To illustrate the workings of these allocations, if a player plays one credit unit to the value of $1.00 for example, the operator earns for example 10% thereof which is 10 cents. Of the remaining 90 cents, 60 cents are allocated to the accumulated prize units, and the remaining 30 cents are added as reserve prize units.

Accumulated prize units are the displayed units which the player will win in the event of putting a ball into a nominated hole. The reserve prize units are buffers that are not visible, and a percentage thereof is used to top-up the prize units of a hole in the event of a nominated putt. The primary function of the reserve prize units thus is to avoid nil values on the hole.

The hardware components of the computerised controls will be displays indicating values at each hole at any particular time, a display for the credit of a player, and collection and payout mechanisms. These can vary very widely and this variation will depend to a large degree on the sophistication of equipment required. This can of course be extended to the automatic

operation of ball collection and presentation of balls for putting.

Payments and payouts can be automated or controlled through tokens and equipment operators.

The choice of putting surface material can be made to approximate to a greater or lesser extent the texture actually encountered on golf course greens. The equipment thus presents the opportunity for properly executed putting strokes to be practised and, if desired, played in an effort to receive a monetary reward.

Many other modifications to the embodiment described can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The stand or other means (20) may be included to enable the surface vertical configuration to be changed and the equipment may be made portable or collapsible for storage for example. In particular it has been found to be advantageous to cover the surface with a transparent sheet (21) which may be domed so that balls which are struck hard will not fly off the surface and over the wall (4). The domed sheet (21) may be supported from the top of the side wall (4) surrounding the surface (1). The side wall (4) will also support a peripheral cushion around the surface. This could be made from the rubber-like material used for similar purpose in pool tables.

The invention provides equipment to simulate the execution of a proper golf putting stroke and the equipment also affords the opportunity of competitive conditions under which the putting strokes are executed.