Abstract:
A two-handled club for use by two persons simultaneously for striking a ball toward a target and a game for using same. The club is such that one handle or grip is oriented as a left-handed club, while the opposite handle is oriented as a right-handed club. A team comprising of two members, each grasps a club handle and simultaneously strikes the ball towards a target. A winner may be determined, for example, by the team requiring the fewest strokes to get to the target.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non provisional application is based upon provisional Ser. No. 60/108,892 filed Nov. 17, 1998, and hereby claims the benefit of the filing date thereof. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The history of the game of golf has been well documented and to this day it is properly characterized as a single player sport in which each player is totally responsible for his or her own play. Each player is the only one who touches his own ball or plays it. Except for scoring and conversation on the tees and greens, it is truly in individual sport. Any action, speech or other activity on a part of another player during the time that a player is in action, addressing the ball or swinging, is considered as discourteous, at best, or a violation of the rules and, in either case, totally unacceptable. 
     We have viewed the game of golf has being a basic platform which can be modified in the certain extent, to allow dual player interaction in striking the ball, so that dual player cooperation is essential for successful play. The net result is a series of two party team competitions in which the individual skills of the players are subordinated to their degree of cooperation and in their willingness to allow one player to act as a team captain during the act of striking the ball. As a side issue to this team captain status, we have designed a number of games in which team captain status may shift from one player to another for individual strokes, resulting in a highly entertaining competition between teams and with little or no opportunity for serious golf. 
     Fundamental to the games is the principle that the players of a team switch sides periodically, e.g., after each stroke, so that skills connected with either left or right handedness between competing teams tends to be equalized. This game in fact forces communication between team members. 
     Since the use of long irons and wood clubs involves major exertion and the need for precise control of the swing to gain the necessary distance, we have instead selected the golf putter as the club for dual player use and the step of putting to a hole or target practice cup by a team as the game play. 
     One advantage of our golf putting game is that vast experience or skill in putting is not requirement for success. Rather, the cooperation of each two person team members allows even novice or non-golf players to participate and have an enjoyable time. Even if they are teamed with an experienced golfer, the game contemplates that each player may act as team captain alternately so the novice or non-golf partner may be responsible for an excellent putt if their command capability is effective. 
     The basic club employed in this competition is a two-shaft putter, with the shafts each extending upward and outward from each other in the normal angle and length of conventional putters, but the shafts are located at opposite top edge regions of the putter head. In play, each player may assume a normal putting stance and use a normal putting stroke after addressing a ball in normal mode, with the single exception that one player swings from a normal right hand position and the other player must simultaneously swing from a normal left hand position. This gives a degree of awkwardness for a right hand player putting left-handed and for left-handed putter putting right handed. However, the game procedure for switching sides after each stroke equalizes any advantage or disadvantage. Additionally, the two shafts must be swung simultaneously and evenly if the putter head is to strike the ball at the correct normal angle for successful putt. 
     The only additional items used in this game, in addition to the putters required, are a ball, a target or cup, an actual or simulated green, and a scorecard. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-person team employing a two-shafted putter, addressing a conventional golf ball putting towards a cup on a suitable putting green or substitute surface; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the preferred form of putter for this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the dual shaft putter of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment putter of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the putter head of FIGS. 1-5 with the shafts partly broken away; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the putter head of FIGS. 1-5 similar in size to FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now referring to the drawing, FIG. 1, in combination with FIGS. 2-6, a typical putting scene, in accordance with this invention, is shown with a pair of players constituting a two-player team of player A and player B. They are using a two-shafted golf putter of this invention, generally designated  10 , having a pair of shafts  11  and  12 , with its respective grip  13  and  14 . The shafts  11  and  12  are secured at their lower end either through a hosel, or as shown in FIGS. 1-6, directly to a putter head  15 . The head  15  may be of any normal putter configuration, including a flat ball striking face  1  SF. It is desirable that, with the exception of the second shaft, the shafts  11  and  12 , grips  13  and  14 , and head  15  have the appearance and feel of a conventional putter. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the players each face each other, each grasp the grip portion  13  or  14  of their shaft  11  or  12  and address a conventional golf ball  16  for putting into a cup or target  20  in a green  0  or a simulated putting green surface. 
     The act of putting, simply stated, is accomplished by players A and B simultaneously swinging the club  10  to the rear, a distance appropriate for the distance to the cup or target  20  with the appropriate line for the green surface PG to accommodate its break, surface conditions, wind, and the other factors normally considered by a serious golfer in putting. The games or contests possible with this club  10  may be played on a single green of an established golf course, on a practice green with multiple holes, indoors on any suitable putting surface, including carpeting, or in a sheltered location where most of the various variable factors mentioned above are not present. In such a case, the advantage of seasoned golfers is further eliminated as a factor in winning. 
     After a few practice strokes without the ball  16 , the players next in coordinated movement swing the putter  10  forward to strike the ball  16 B and hopefully sink the putt in cup  20 . If the players do not hole out in one stroke, in accordance with the rules of the various games or contests described below, the players A and B reverse sides after each stroke and continue putting. Player A, as shown in FIG. 1 using the left hand putter L shaft  11  and grip  13  shifts to use the right hand putter R shaft  12  and grip  14 . His team partner next uses the left hand putter L for the next shot. It will be apparent after the first or second practice swing that one of the players needs to be the team captain and direct the team effort, a factor not heretofore present in the play of the game of golf. 
     After the first team A, B completes their turn; the next team C, D, then places the golf ball at the starting position used by the first team and attempts their luck and skill in this cooperative putting cycle. 
     The object of the club and the various games or contests is to entertain and provide team building as well as mild competition between several teams in a principally social environment. 
     The preferred form of club  10 , which is shown in use in FIG. 1, namely a putter, may be better seen in FIGS. 2-6. The front elevational view of FIG. 2 shows the club as it might be viewed from the cup or target  20  in normal play. The front of striking surface  15 F of the head  15  is the only part of the head that is visible. The two shafts  11  and  12  and their grips  13  and  14 , which make up the rest of the club  10 , are clearly visible angled outward at opposite angles in the order of 18 degrees, and generally lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the striking surface of the club head. 
     The lengths of the shafts may vary from a standard men&#39;s length, woman&#39;s standard length or youth&#39;s lengths for the expected mix of players. We have found that the greatest likelihood of players includes a male of 5 foot 10 inches in height to 6 feet 2 inches, and his partner may be a female between 5 foot 2 inches and 5 feet 6 inches. The shafts  11  and  12  for adult should be at least 33 inches in length from the club head to and including any hosel and the grips  13  and  14  are of sufficient length, namely between 33 to 35 inches in length to accommodate both player of such different heights with a comfortable grip. 
     For ease of storage and transport, one of the shafts, preferably shaft  11 , is removable. A threaded connection between the left hand putter L shaft  11  and the head  15  makes this possible. 
     FIGS. 3-6 show the head  15  in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, head  15  may include a sight line common to many conventional putters extending from the center or “sweet spot” of the putter head rearward on the top surface of the head  15 . In FIG. 6 such an optional sight line may be seen as a pair of lines  21  forming a slight V in the top surface of the putter head  15 . 
     The Putting Contests 
     The putting contest format in accordance with this invention involves: 
     1. Two player teams with as many two player teams as desired. 
     2. In a round of play, each team is allowed two putts at each hole. 
     3. The first putt is from the standard starting distance, for example, 20 feet. 
     4. The second putt for each team may be a second try from 
     a) the same starting position or 
     b) from the stopping position of their first putt, depending upon the type of play, as described below. 
     5. After each putt, the members of a team switch sides of the putter for the next putt. 
     6. If only one team makes a putt, either on the first or second ball, they are the winner of the contest or, at least, that hole. 
     7. If more than one team makes their putt in the same number of strokes as the leading team, they will have a putt off. The contest is settled by sudden death putt off on a hole-by-hole basis. 
     8. If no team putts out in the first round, the starting position or the target are moved to a lesser distance, e.g., 15 feet. 
     9. If still no winner, the putting distance is next reduced to 10 feet and then to 5 feet until there is one winning team. 
     Stroke Play (by Total Score) 
     For stroke play of this invention; 
     1. Nine or eighteen holes are laid out or selected. 
     2. Foursomes or two player teams are selected. 
     3. Putting is commenced by each two-person team on each hole and each team scores its own putts for each hole. 
     4. All putts must be putted out. 
     5. The players switch sides of the putter after each putt. 
     6. The team with the lowest putting score, by strokes, of all teams playing, is the winning team. 
     7. In case of a tie, the leading teams have a sudden death playoff, hole by hole until one team wins the first hole. That team is declared the winner. 
     Match Play (by Holes) 
     1. The same as 1, above. 
     2. The same as 2, above. 
     3. The same as 3, above. 
     4. The same as 4, above. 
     5. The same as 5, above. 
     6. The team with the lowest score on any hole wins the hole. 
     7. The winning two-person team of the most holes is the contest winner. 
     Conclusion 
     For the first time a two-person variety of golf has in fact been developed. It is centered about a two-person golf club with both players constituting a team and a team, which must work together on each shot. The more skilled player may not be on the winning team if their efforts are not properly coordinated with their partner. Each player necessarily must play from their non-favored side, every other shot. 
     We have selected the putter and putting as the most feasible club to use, since it is difficult to predict the results of two persons simultaneously swinging a long iron or wood together. However, it is believed that players who have learned to play and enjoy two person putting, may, within the concept of this invention, apply these principles to other clubs than the putter with surprising and maybe exciting results. For that reason, this invention is believed not to be limited to putting. 
     The foregoing constitutes the best known embodiment of this invention. It is recognized that one of ordinary skill in the art of golf contests and golf clubs can conceive of variations on this invention, which do not depart from its spirit and concept. Therefore, this invention is not to be considered to be limited to the examples describe above and shown in the drawing, but rather to the invention as defined by the claims allowed in this application.