In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a game apparatus forming a target comprising: a body member having a window in the form of a target passage defined therethrough, the window being dimensioned to prevent travel therethrough of a ball having a diameter above a threshold size, the threshold size being at most 100mm; and a support arrangement fast with the body member, for supporting the target in an operatively upright condition on a support surface, the target having an operatively upright condition in which the target passage is elevated relative to the support arrangement.

The operatively upright condition may be such that opposite ends of the target passage face in opposite directions across and over a said support surface, which will typically be more or less horizontal. Opposite ends of the target passage may be circular, the target passage being of circular cross-section, which is conveniently constant.

The support arrangement may be integrally formed with the body member, for example of plastics material, so that the target is of more or less unitary or monolithic construction.

The support arrangement may comprise an anchoring arrangement, for removable insertion into a support surface such as the soil or ground, which may be grassed, thereby to support the target in its operatively upright condition with the target passage elevated relative to the support surface, the anchoring arrangement comprising at least one peg, each peg being provided by a leg fast with the body member.

The anchoring arrangement may comprise a pair of laterally spaced pegs forming tapered spikes, projecting, alongside each other, away from the body member and having pointed free ends directed away from the body member.

The target may comprise a high-impact-resistant plastics material, so that damage caused-by impacts from powerfully struck golf balls is avoided or at least reduced.

The body member may have a display surface having indicia thereon for indicating a value associated with the target, for use in a game involving the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise a handle opening defined in the body member, on the opposite side of the passage from the support arrangement.

The threshold size may be in the range 40 to 100mm.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a game apparatus forming a target having at least two windows in the form of target passages defined therethrough, each window being dimensioned to permit travel therethrough of a ball having a diameter of at most 100mm and the target comprising: a body member having at least one of the target passages defined therethrough; and a support arrangement fast with the body member, for supporting the target in an operatively upright condition on a support surface, one of the target passages being defined in the support arrangement and having a gap in its periphery which interrupts its periphery, the target having an upright condition in which the target passages are vertically spaced from each other or one another and in which at least one of the target passages is at an elevated position relative to a said support surface supporting the support arrangement, and in which condition opposite ends of at least one target passage face in opposite directions across and over the support surface, the target passage defined by the support arrangement being the lower or lowermost passage.

In the operatively upright condition, the opposite ends of each target passage may face in opposite directions across and over a said support surface.

The support arrangement may be integrally formed with the body member.

The support arrangement may comprise an anchoring arrangement, for removable insertion into a support surface, thereby to support the target in its operatively upright condition with at least one target passage elevated relative to the support surface, the anchoring arrangement comprising a pair of laterally spaced pegs, the pegs being provided by legs fast with the body member, and the lowermost target passage being defined between the legs.

The target may comprise an impact-absorbing material. Instead, the target may comprise a high-impact-resistant plastics material. In either case, whether the material is impact-absorbing and typically soft and resiliently flexible, or whether it is high-impact-resistant and typically hard and rigid, the material will be selected to reduce or avoid damage caused by impacts from powerfully struck golf balls.

The apparatus may include at least one pocket-defining element, each element being in register with a said target passage spaced above the lowermost passage, the pocket-defining element defining, at one end of the associated passage, a pocket for holding a ball which has travelled through the passage from the opposite end of the passage.

The body member may have a display surface having indicia thereon for indicating a value associated with the target.

105 The apparatus may comprise a handle opening defined in the body member, on the opposite side of the passages from the support arrangement.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a game set which includes at least two targets, each target being a target as 110 hereinbefore defined with reference to either the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention.

At least one of the targets may be a target as hereinbefore described with reference to the second aspect of the invention.

115 Each target opening may be dimensioned to admit therethrough a ball having a diameter of at most 50mm.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a 120 kit for practising golf, which includes: at least one game apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the first aspect and the second aspect of the invention; and at least one golfing accessory which is a member selected from the group consisting of golf clubs, golf balls, golfing air balls, ball position markers, golf tees, 125 game instructions, and score cards.

The golfing accessory may be selected from golf clubs, the golf clubs being wedges.

The kit may include a play-zone-defining member, for defining a play zone in which one or more game apparatuses are to be placed during a game of golf.

The play-zone-defining member may be a rope.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic front elevation of a game apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic side elevation of the game apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional side elevation, taken at III-III in Figure 1, of the game apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a kit for practising golf in accordance with the invention, the kit including a game apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows a schematic front elevation of another game apparatus according to the invention; Figure 6 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of the apparatus of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a further game apparatus according to the invention.

With reference to Figures 1-4 of the drawings, a game apparatus in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The game apparatus 10 comprises a target which includes a flattened elongated body member 12 having a circular window in the form of a short target passage 14 therethrough. The game apparatus 10 further includes a support arrangement in the form of two laterally spaced legs 16,18 integrally formed with and projecting from an operatively lower end 19 of the body member 12. The apparatus 10 of Figures 1-4 is smoothly contoured.

Free ends of the legs 16,18 are tapered in spiked-fashion, respectively to define pointed pegs 20,22, which pegs 20,22 together form an anchoring formation forming part of the game apparatus 10. In use (Figure 4), the pegs 20,22 are urged into a support surface 24, such as the ground, and, by virtue of their points, they penetrate the support surface 24, such that the game apparatus 10 is supported, on said support surface 24, in operatively upright condition. The pegs 20, 22 are thus removably insertable into the support surface 24. When the game apparatus 10 is supported in its operatively upright condition, opposite ends of the target passage 14 face in opposite directions across and over the support surface 24, which is usually substantially horizontal.

Furthermore, when the game apparatus 10 is supported in its operatively upright condition, the legs 16,18, the lower end 19 of the body member 12, and the support surface 24 together form another window in the form of a target passage 28.

The shape of the target passage 28 depends on the depth of insertion of the pegs 20, 22, into the surface 24, and opposite ends of the passage 28 also face in opposite directions across the support surface 24. In use, the target passage 14 and the target passage 28 are vertically spaced, the target passage 28 being located below the target passage 14. Although, in this example, the game apparatus 10 has only the two target passages 14,28, it can, in other examples (not shown) have more than two target passages, arranged in an upwardly extending series or row in use, with a passage such as the passage 28 lowermost, and two or more passages 14 above the passage 28.

The game apparatus 10 is of unitary plastics construction and is manufactured of a high-impact-resistant hard plastics material, for withstanding impact blows imparted thereto by powerfully struck balls hitting the apparatus 10, as will become more apparent hereinafter. Advantageously, the high-impact-resistant plastics material from which the apparatus 10 is manufactured is relatively lightweight material, to permit easy one-handed handling of the apparatus 10. In other embodiments, the apparatus 10 can be made of impact-absorbing material such as cloth or canvas, or resiliently flexible plastics foam material.

The game apparatus 10 further comprises an elongated elliptical or oval handle opening 30 defined in the body member 12, the handle opening 30 extending

through the body member 12 in window fashion familiarly to the target passage 14.

The handle opening 30 is provided adjacent the operatively upper end 32 of the body member 12, so that the target passage 14 is located intermediate the handle opening 30 and the target passage 28.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the body member 12 has two oppositely outwardly facing more or less flat major faces 34, providing display surfaces for displaying indicia (not shown) thereon, the purpose of which indicia will become more apparent hereinafter. Upper-and side edge regions of the body member 12, as well as those parts of the body member 12 surrounding the target passage 14 and the handle opening 30, are slightly thicker than the rest of the body member 12, so that said slightly thickened parts of the body member 12 form beads 35 which stand proud of the remainder of the body member 12. Said beads 35 of the body member 12 thus provide the target passage 14 and the handle opening 30 with frames, while said upper and side edge regions of the body member 12 are also provided with a thickened frame. Said beads 35 are, as can be seen particularly in Figure 3, convex in cross-section.

In use, as hereinbefore described, the game apparatus 10 of Figures 1- 3 is supported in its operatively upright condition, and a ball (not shown), typically a golf ball, which rests, at a distance spaced from the game apparatus 10, on the support surface 24, can then be struck, by means of a golf club, typically a wedge, (not shown), at either one of the target passages 14,28. The game apparatus 10 can thus advantageously be employed in improving an individual's golfing skills, more particularly the individual's chipping skills.

230 Referring now in particular to Figure 4 of the drawings, a kit, in accordance with the invention, for practising golf is generally indicated by reference numeral 40.

The kit 40, in this example, includes a plurality of the targets 10, one of 235 which is shown, and a playing zone-defining member in the form of an elongated rope 42 laid out flat on the surface 24 to extend around the targets 10, to define a playing zone 44 around the targets 10. A course of the targets 10 will be laid out in spaced relationship on the surface 24 in the zone 44, by removably inserting the pegs 20,22 of the legs 16,18 in the surface 24. The playing zone 44 will typically be formed on 240 a horizontal grassed area of soil, such as part of a driving range, golf course or other playing field, or indeed a domestic lawn in a garden. In use, a player locates a ball on the support surface 24 in the zone 44, and, aiming at one of the target passages 14, 28, of a target 10, tries to hit the ball, by means of a golf club, through either one of the target passages 14,28. Naturally, two or more players can compete against each 245 other or one another, in which case scores can be kept. Typically, when a player successfully hits a ball through either one of the target passages 14,28, a pre- determined number of points will be awarded to such player, a successful stroke through the target passage 14, typically, affording the player a greater number of points than a successful stroke through the target passage 28. Naturally, the scoring 250 system can be more complex as hereinbefore described. For example, the number of strokes required by each player successfully to hit the ball once through one of the target passages 14,28 can be taken into account. Further, points may be added or deducted, depending on the scoring rules, from a player's score when the player hits 255 a ball out of the play-zone 44, i. e. out of bounds; and, naturally, a series of targets 10 can be arranged in the form of a miniature golf course, or in the fashion of croquet hoops, extending from a start to a finish.

In Figures 5 and 6 the same reference numerals are used as in Figures 1 260-4, unless otherwise specified, to designate the same or essentially similar parts. In the case of Figures 5 and 6 the body member 12 is of impact-absorbing canvas sheet material which extends between the upper parts of the legs 16,18 which form part of a support frame 46 comprising also a cross-bar 48 extending between the upper ends of the legs 16,18 to provide an inverted U-shape. The frame 46 is unitary, 265 being formed from a single bent metal rod. The window 14 has a diameter of about 60mm, the remainder of the apparatus 10 being illustrated more or less to scale.

The body member 12 has a seam 50 along its top and side edges defining a sleeve removably receiving the rod of the frame 46. The apparatus 10 also 270 includes a pocket-defining element 52 in the form of a string bag defining a pocket 54 for holding a ball received through the window 14, the bag being stitched to the body member 12 along the periphery of the window 14.

Turning to Figure 7, once again the same reference numerals are used for 275 the same or similar parts, unless otherwise specified, as are used in Figures 5 and 6.

The apparatus 10 of Figure 7, similarly to that of Figures 5 and 6, has a support frame 46 providing the legs 16,18 and cross-bar 48. A pair of finger-like projections or limbs 56 project in side-by-side parallel relationship respectively from 280 the legs 16,18, perpendicular to said legs 16,18. The body member 12 is removably received on the projections 56 which are respectively inserted into the opposite ends of the seam or sleeve (see 50 in Figure 5), in use to provide the target window 14 in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the upright plane containing the legs 16,18. A panel, provided by a pouch-like slip 58, is removably received over the 285 cross-bar 48 and over the upper parts of the legs 16,18, above the projections 56.

The panel provided by the slip 58 is about the same size and shape as the body member 12, and provides a rebound surface, perpendicular to the body member 12, from which a ball can rebound towards the window 14. In the apparatus 10 of Figure 7, the pocket 54 is omitted.

290 A game set (not shown) in accordance with the invention thus typically includes a plurality of targets 10, which targets 10, in use, are spaced from each other or one another, and are supported on the support surface 24 in their operatively upright conditions to form a course. Those skilled in the art of golf will appreciate 295 that said plurality of targets 10, together with the support surface 24 on which they are supported, constitute a course. In one particular example, the set comprises nine targets 10, which are, as hereinbefore described, spaced in series from one another in successive relationship. A tee position can be established for each target 10, by positioning a tee-off marker (not shown) on the support surface 24 at a position 300 spaced from each target 10. Each target 10 together with an associated tee-off

position and an associated part of the support surface 24, thus constitutes one"hole" of the course. It is to be appreciated that the tee-off marker associated with each target 10 can be constituted by the immediately preceding target 10 of the course, which preceding target 10 thus fixes the tee-off position for the succeeding target 10. The apparatus 10 of Figures 5-6 is used in essentially the same way as that of Figures 1-3, while the apparatus 10 of Figure 7 is used similarly, except that attempts are made to hit the ball downwardly through the window 14, rather than horizontally as in the case of Figures 1-3 and 5-6, while the panel provided by the slip 56 of Figure 7 provides a rebound surface, allowing the ball to rebound therefrom towards the window 14. Naturally, in the case of Figures 5-6, the pocket 54 will hold a ball which has been struck through the associated window 14.

Typically, as is the case with conventional golf and miniature golf, the distance between each tee-off marker and the associated target 10 will vary from one target 10 to the next. Furthermore, the targets 10 will, typically, be arranged such that obstacles, such as natural hazards including water hazards (swimming pools, ponds or other bodies of water), trees, flower-beds, or the like, are located between certain of the tee-off markers and their associated targets 10. Thus, the number of strokes required to reach a target 10 and to pass a ball such as a golf ball or golfing airball through one of its target passages 14,28, as well as the degree of difficulty associated therewith will, as is the case with conventional golf and miniature golf, vary from one target 10 to the next along the course. As with the previously described example, players can then compete against each other on the course, by keeping score. It will be appreciated that the degree of difficulty in striking a ball

through the elevated window 14 will typically be greater than striking it through the ground-level window 28.

Reverting to the flat faces 34,36 of the game apparatus 10 which are provided with indicia, the indicia typically comprise a number, which will range from 1 to 9 when the kit 40 includes nine targets 10. The nine targets 10 are numbered in sequence, such that when the course is formed, they can be spaced in sequence in accordance with their numbers, to indicate the number of an associated"hole". The indicia can also indicate a par value for the target in question and/or bonus points to be added to a player's score on successfully striking the ball through either the window 14 or the window 28.

Naturally, when players play the course, there are numerous ways in which score can be kept. The insert is thus a scorer can be nominated at the start of a game to keep each player's score as they play the game, with the object of each player's chipping around the course through each of the nine targets 10 in turn. For example, bonus points can be awarded to a particular player if the player chips a ball though the target passage 14. It will be appreciated that a game played on the course can played in accordance with any conventional golf rules and score-keeping methods, e. g. match play, stroke play, Stableford, or the like, or in accordance with any other desired rules and score-keeping methods. A number of score-keeping possibilities are briefly described below.

In one example, a par value for each target 10 is three and a player passing a ball through the target 10 in three strokes is credited with two points. A single stroke will earn a player four points, two strokes will earn the player three 355 points, and four strokes will earn the player a single point. An additional bonus point is awarded for each successful stroke through the target passage 14. After having played the course, the player with the greatest number of points thus wins.

In a stroke play variation, the number of strokes played by each player to 360 complete the course are added up, and one stroke is deducted from each player's total number of strokes for a successful stroke through each target passage 14.

Naturally, as with conventional golf, the player with the lowest number of strokes during a game thus wins.

365 In a match play variation, two or more players comprise a team and compete against another team of two or more players on a target-by-target basis in terms of the above stroke play variation, to determine a winning team for each target.

Points are awarded for each"hole"won, and naturally the team with the highest number of points wins.

370 After all the players have teed off from the appropriate tee, play can proceed in a similar manner to conventional golf, with the player whose ball is first from the target 10 playing ahead of the player whose ball in next furthest from the target 10 and ending with the player whose ball is closest to the target 10, markers 375 being used to mark the respective positions of balls removed from the field of play when they are obstructive. In one example, each target 10 can be spaced from its associated tee-off marker in accordance with its par value as follows : For a par value of two-at least six full paces or metres; 380 For a par value of three-at least nine full paces or metres; For a par value of four-at least twelve full paces or metres; and For a par value of five-at least fifteen full paces or metres.

The ball should be chipped during play and not pushed, or flung, unless it 385 is decided to putt through the window 28. A ball coming to rest on or alongside any obstacle during play may be lifted and dropped back into play. For a lost or irretrievable ball a further ball may be dropped into play and a penalty incurred. A penalty can also be levied when a player strikes a ball other than his own.

390 The invention as described and illustrated thus provides a way of improving a player's golf skills, in particular a player's chipping skills. It furthermore, in use, provides an entertaining pastime which is a less time-consuming, alternative to conventional golf, and can be played by young and old alike.

395