KIT AND METHOD FOR PLAYING A GAME

Abstract

A game played on a golf course using a tennis racquet, a putter and a ball. The game may involve a player generally following the rules of golf, but using a tennis racquet to hit a ball on the golf course towards a green, and then putting the ball once on the green. Also, equipment for playing the game. The equipment may include a tennis racquet, a golf putter and a ball. Preferably, the ball is a specially designed ball that is distinct from a tennis ball or a golf ball.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/389,008, filed on Oct. 1, 2010. The entire contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/389,008 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to the field of recreational games and to equipment for playing them. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a game played with a racquet, e.g., a tennis racquet, and a club, e.g., a putter, on a course, e.g., a golf course, with a ball, e.g., a rubber ball designed for this new game.

BACKGROUND

The game of golf has been played for years. However, for most players, the game of golf requires special skill in order to enjoy the game. A new game that allows players to use a golf course provides a new challenge for skilled golfers, and a new experience for unskilled golfers. Such a new game will allow increased play, and accordingly increased revenue, for golf courses. Further, such a new game will allow for new equipment manufacturing opportunities.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the disclosure relates to a game played on a golf course using a tennis racquet, a putter and a ball. In an embodiment, the game may involve a player generally following the rules of golf, but using a tennis racquet to hit a ball on the golf course towards a green, and then putting the ball once on the green.

The game may involve a grouping of players only playing the new game on a course. Alternative, the game may involve a mixture of golfers and players playing the new game as part of a grouping playing simultaneously on a golf course.

A second aspect of the disclosure relates to equipment for playing the game. In an embodiment, the equipment may include a tennis racquet, a golf putter and a ball. Preferably, the ball is a specially designed ball that is distinct from a tennis ball or a golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a preferred embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of playing a game comprising providing a player with a racquet, a putter and a ball, and the player then hitting the ball on a course with the racquet. Preferably, the course is a golf course. However, the course may be a field of play otherwise suitable for playing the game. For example, course may be specifically built and/or designed for the game. A preferred course includes an initial hitting area and a putting area. On a golf course, the initial hitting area is preferably a tee box, and the putting area is preferably a green.

In playing the game, a player uses the racquet to hit the ball from the initial hitting area. A goal of the game is to get the ball into the hole with a minimum number of hits, and with a minimum number of penalty hits. A penalty hit may be applied as in the rules of golf, such as for hitting the ball out of the area of the course, e.g., out-of-bounds, or into a body of water water, e.g., a pond, lake, stream, or river. Preferably, a player is also assessed a penalty hit for hitting into a sand trap, preferably only sand traps in an area directly surrounding a green.

In an embodiment, the initial hitting area may be the tee box of a golf course. Alternatively, the initial hitting area may be any area designated for a hole to begin.

In an embodiment, the racquet comprises a shaft and a large, preferably flat hitting surface. In a preferred embodiment, the racquet is a tennis racquet. The racquet may be modified from a standard tennis in various aspects, such as the string material, winding pattern of the string, and tension of the string. Alternatively, the racquet may have a solid hitting surface, and may comprise grooves. Preferably, a tennis racquet is used with strings that are strung at a tension that is at the lightest end of the recommended range.

In hitting the ball the player may use any suitable swing to hit the ball. For example, the player may use an overhead swing, as is typical with a serve in tennis. For example, the player may use a forehand swing, as is typical in a return in tennis. Preferably, the ball is tossed in the air and hit prior to reaching the ground. Alternatively, the ball may be bounced against the ground, or a mat or similar surface placed on the ground, and hit while in the air. Further, the ball may be hit while suspended in the air on a tee, or similar device, or even while on the ground.

Once the ball is hit from the initial hitting area, the ball may be in an area of the course besides the putting area. For example, on a golf course, the ball may be in the fairway, rough or a sand trap. In playing the game, when the ball is in an area of the course besides the putting area, the player uses the racquet to again hit the ball in an attempt to advance the ball onto the putting area, preferably in the hole. When hitting the ball after the initial hit, the player may hit the ball with any of the suitable swings and ball placements described above. In a sand trap, the player hit from where the ball came to rest within the sand trap, or may be directed to hit from an area outside the sand trap, for example, further from the hole than the original position of the ball along a line from the original position of the ball and the hole.

A hit may result in the ball being advanced into the hole. In such a situation the ball is retrieved from the hole and taken to a subsequent initial hitting area on the course in order to play a new hole. This may be continued until a game is complete, e.g., for nine or eighteen holes. A winner may be determined based on the total score, hits plus penalty hits, or may be determined in a match play format where each hole has a winner and the total number of holes won is used to determine a winner. If player is playing a game according an embodiment of this disclosure against a golfer, the player may be given certain advantages, such as hitting from an initial hitting area that is closer to the hole than the initial hitting area used by the golfer. For example, the player may use forward tees, such as senior, ladies or junior tees while the golfer uses a set of tees resulting in a longer set of holes. Further, in an embodiment the player may be allowed an extra hit when playing a golf hole longer than, for example, 400 yards. That is, a hole measuring, for example, 410 yards may have a par of four for a golfer, but a par of five for a player playing a game according an embodiment of this disclosure.

A hit may result in the ball being advanced onto the putting area. Once on the putting area, the ball is preferably hit with a club. Preferably, the hit is intended to roll the ball along the surface of the putting area. The club is preferably a golf putter. Preferably, the club comprises a shaft with a grip on one end and a head on the other. The grip is intended to be gripped by the player when hitting the ball, and the head is intended to strike the ball. In embodiments, the club may be used when the ball is off the putting area.

In a preferred embodiment, a player may switch to a different ball upon reaching the putting area. The different ball may be a golf ball.

In an embodiment, the putting area may be the green of a golf course. Alternatively, the putting area may be any area with a relatively smooth surface that is designed for a ball to be rolled thereon, such as a mown area or an artificial surface.

Preferably, a player follows the rules of golf, with the exception of using the racquet instead of a typical golf club for advancing the ball to the putting area. More preferably, a player also uses a special ball designed to be distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball.

The ball may be of a similar diameter and weight as a standard golf ball. For example, the ball preferably has a weight of 30-50 g, more preferably 41-43 g. For example, the ball preferably has a diameter of 30-50 mm, more preferably 43-45 mm. Preferably, the ball has at least the same bounce (ability to rebound) as a standard golf ball, and more preferably the ball will bounce 10% more than a standard golf ball, measured at room temperature and standard humidity from a hard surface. In an embodiment, when dropped from a height of 7 ft, the ball will rebound at least 5 ft, more preferably 5.5 ft, measured at room temperature and standard humidity from a hard surface. In an embodiment, when dropped from a height of 6 ft, the ball will rebound at least 3.5 ft, more preferably 4 ft, measured at room temperature and standard humidity from a hard surface.

In an embodiment, the ball may have dimples, e.g., as with a standard golf ball. In a preferred embodiment, the ball is a solid core structure, without a cover layer. In a preferred embodiment, a cover layer may be used, for example, to create a design a effect, but the cover layer preferably has the same level of hardness or elasticity as the core, or is less hard than the core. In a preferred embodiment, the ball is a solid rubber ball. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ball is solid-core, dimpled ball, without a cover layer, with half the ball being yellow, for example, the color of a tennis ball, and the other half being white, for example, the color of a golf ball. Solid-core indicates a that one general type of material is used for the construction of the ball, recognizing that design elements and color additives may vary and that the ball may be manufactured as two halves pressed or glued together.

The ball is preferably sufficiently dense, strong, flexible, resilient, compressible and durable so as to withstand repeated impact. However, any material capable of producing a ball achieving an appropriate diameter and weight while being able to bounce an appropriate amount may be used.

The ball may also have various colors or designs. For example, the ball may also be manufactured with glow-in-dark materials. Such a ball may enable the game to be played at night or in early dawn or dusk situations.

In an embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of playing a game comprising providing a player with a racquet, a putter and a ball, and hitting a ball on a course with the racquet. Further, the method may further comprise hitting the ball with a club. The course may be a golf course, the racquet may be a tennis racquet and the club may be a putter.

In an embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of playing a game on a course, the course comprising an initial hitting area and a putting area with a hole, the method comprising hitting a ball with a racquet from the initial hitting area towards the putting area, and putting the ball with a club on the putting area towards the hole. The course may be a golf course, the initial hitting area may be a tee, the putting area may be a green, the racquet may be a tennis racquet and the club may be a putter.

In an embodiment, the disclosure includes equipment for playing various embodiments of the above described game. The equipment may be in a kit comprising a racquet and a ball, the ball being distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball. Preferably, the racquet is a tennis racquet. The kit may also comprise a club, preferably a putter.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game comprising:

providing a player with a racquet, a putter and a first ball,

hitting a first ball on a golf course with the racquet, and

hitting a second ball with the putter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the racquet is a tennis racquet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball is distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball, and wherein the first and second ball are the same ball.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball is distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball, and wherein the second ball is a golf ball.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball can rebound 5 ft when dropped from 7 ft onto a hard surface.

6. A method of playing a game on a course, the course comprising an initial hitting area and a putting area with a hole, the method comprising:

hitting a first ball with a racquet from the initial hitting area towards the putting area;

putting a second ball with a club on the putting area towards the hole.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the course is a golf course, the initial hitting area is a tee box, and the putting area is a green.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the racquet is a tennis racquet and the club is a putter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball is distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball, and wherein the first and second ball are the same ball.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball is distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball, and wherein the second ball is a golf ball.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ball can rebound 5 ft when dropped from 7 ft onto a hard surface.

12. A kit comprising:

a tennis racquet and a first ball,

wherein the first ball is distinct from a tennis ball and a golf ball

13. The kit of claim 12, the kit further comprising a club.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the club is a putter.

15. The kit of claim 12, wherein the first ball is a solid-core ball without a cover.

17. The kit of claim 12, the kit further comprising a golf ball.

18. The kit of claim 12, the kit further comprises a putter and a golf ball.