Patent Publication Number: US-7717430-B2

Title: Golf game and method of playing

Description:
PRIORITY NOTICE 
   The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/980,685 filed on Oct. 17, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   COPYRIGHT &amp; TRADEMARK NOTICE 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
   Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and shall not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates in general to a golf game, and more particularly, to a method of gameplay which follows the career of a selected golf professional, as each game participant attempts to attain victories in the selected golf professional&#39;s career by selecting game pieces from a stack at random. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   While all board games function as a means of entertainment, they may vary in other characteristics. Though some board games involve a complex set of rules and procedures, others involve a simple card flip or random selection. Additionally, board games may vary in theme and number of players. While some games may not appeal across the spectrum to many different audiences, there may be large demand in smaller target groups. As such, irrespective of the varying styles, functionality and characteristics, there is a demand for board games. 
   In recent years, electronic games have seen a huge rise in popularity. While board games retain their appeal and will most certainly remain popular in the future, their electronic counterparts open up games to a wider audience. Additionally, electronic embodiments of popular games are desirable because they allow for gameplay when utilizing the physical game may not be appropriate (for example, playing the card game solitaire while at work). Therefore, there is a demand for games that can be offered in a plurality of mediums, whether they are physical or electronic. 
   Golf is a sport that has been played and celebrated around the world for centuries. With the advent of international broadcasts and advertising, golf&#39;s popularity continues to increase. Consequently, there has been a surge in demand for golf merchandise and other products. As such, it is desirable to utilize golf statistics and other golf qualities within board and electronic games because golf enthusiasts demand it. 
   There is a need in the art for a golf game which will combine competitive game aspects and entertainment with the career history of a selected golf professional to simulate the victories in professional golf major tournaments. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention relates to a method for playing a golf game designed to simulate a selected golf professional&#39;s career by selecting random game pieces from a stack. 
   The game board comprises of an array wherein the rows represent the years of professional golfer&#39;s career, and the columns represent the four majors of the golf season. The game also includes a plurality of game pieces equal to the number of elements in the array. Each game piece has a label corresponding to one element on the array, thereby representing a select golf professional&#39;s results at the major tournament of the selected year. During game play, players take turns selecting a game piece, thereby awarding them the corresponding results in the array. Gameplay ends when a player has satisfied a pre-game selected victory condition. 
   It is an objective of the present invention to create interest in the game of golf. 
   It is another objective of the present invention to provide entertainment. 
   It is yet another objective of the present invention to educate game players about professional golf tournament results. 
   Finally, it is yet another objective of the present invention to simulate a select golf professional&#39;s tournament career. 
   These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates exemplary embodiments of the game system provided by the present invention, including an array and a plurality of game pieces. 
       FIG. 1(   b ) illustrates a flow chart depicting the present invention wherein the game method is demonstrated. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, where depictions are made, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   Turning to the first figure,  FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the game system provided by the present invention, including a two-dimensional array and a plurality of game pieces.  FIG. 1(   a ) shows game system  100 , which includes a two-dimensional array  102 , rows  104 , columns  106 , elements  108 , tournament result  110 , game piece  112 , and game piece labels  114  and  116 . Game system  100  is designed to be utilized in the method of gameplay described in the present invention. 
   Broadly viewed, game system  100  contains array  102  and a plurality of game pieces  112 . Array  102  represents the major tournament results of a select golf professional. In accordance with the particular game system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1(   a ), array  102  may represent the career tournament results of Tiger Woods. However, array  102  may also represent the career tournament results of any select golf professional. For example, without limiting the scope of the present invention, array  102  may include the career tournament results of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, or any other current or former golf professional that participated in a major golf tournament on the professional circuit. 
   In one embodiment, array  102  may be presented upon a game board and be created from a variety of materials. These materials include cardboard, wood, metal, fiberglass or any other rigid type material which can sustain the wear and tear of frequent use. For example, in one embodiment, game system  100  may be physically embodied with array  102  printed upon a foldable cardboard game board. It should be noted, however, that the list of materials aforementioned is in no way exhaustive and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. 
   In another embodiment, game system  100  may be digitally represented, with array  102  and game pieces  112  virtually generated. Each element of gameplay may be embodied digitally, allowing for user interaction and control through graphical representation of the array and game pieces on a screen. For example, in an embodied designed for the personal computer, a graphical representation of the game system  100  may be displayed on the monitor, wherein user selects game pieces  112  and interacts with array  102  through a mouse, keyboard or any known game control device. 
   Each game piece  112  may be randomly generated on the screen at each player&#39;s turn. When the game piece  112  is randomly generated, it flashes intermittently on random elements of the array  102 . The random positioning of the game piece  112  allows the player the option of selecting a “WIN” should the game piece  112  intermittently flash over an element of the array  102  containing a “WIN.” Each player&#39;s turn may be timed, in increments such as 15, 20 or 30 seconds, for the purpose of testing the player&#39;s hand-eye coordination as well as reaction time. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments, array  102  may comprise of three dimensional objects and need not be limited to the two dimensional or digital embodiments described. 
   In array  102 , each individual row  104  may represent a year of a selected golf professional&#39;s career. For example, if the selected golf professional competed in major tournaments in 2005, the row containing tournament results from that year would be labeled 2005. Each individual column  106  may represent a major golf tournament on the professional golf circuit. The four columns may be labeled “Master&#39;s,” “PGA Championship,” “British Open,” and “U.S. Open.” 
   Array  102  contains a plurality of elements  108 . The number of elements  108  contained in array  102  equals the product of the number of rows  104  multiplied by the number of columns  106 . For example, should array  102  contain six rows and four columns, then array  102  would contain twenty-four elements. 
   Element  108  may be identified by the labels of row  104 &#39;s particular year and column  106 &#39;s major golf tournament. Each element  108  contains a unique tournament result  110  for a selected golf professional in a single major golf tournament in a given year. Tournament result  110  represents the tournament result of a selected golf professional in element  108 &#39;s row  104  and column  106 . 
   The number of game pieces  112  is equal to the number of elements  108  in array  102 . While the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates game piece  112  as a square shaped chip, this in no way should limit the scope of the invention. The game pieces provided can be shaped or embodied by any number of physical or digital means. 
   Game pieces  112  may be composed from a variety of materials. For example, in one embodiment, game pieces  112  may be composed of small, wooden chips. In another embodiment, game pieces  112  may be either composed of cardboard, metal, fiberglass, or even digitally represented. It should be noted, however, that the aforementioned examples should not be interpreted so as to limit the scope of the present invention. 
   The face of every game piece  112  may include game piece labels  114  and  116 . Game piece labels  114  and  116  identify a specific element  108  in array  102 . Game piece label  114  corresponds to a specific row  104 , meaning that game piece label  114  will identify a year of a selected golf professional&#39;s career. Game piece label  116  corresponds to a specific column  106 , meaning that game piece label  116  will identify a major golf tournament on the professional golf circuit. Thus, game piece  112  will correspond to a particular element  108 , thus identifying tournament result  110  through game piece labels  114  and  116 . 
   Should a selected golf professional complete another year, or part thereof, on the professional golf circuit, game system  100  may be modified to stay up to date. Consequently, additional rows  104  may be added to array  102  for each new year played by a selected golf professional. Accordingly, new tournament results  110  may be added to array  102  corresponding to new elements  108  in new row  104 . New game pieces  112  may be added to game system  100  to correspond to the new elements  108 . 
     FIG. 1(   b ) illustrates a flow chart of method  150  depicting the present invention wherein the game method is demonstrated. Method  150  is explained in the order shown below; however, the following steps may be taken in any other conceivable sequence without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Further, additional steps may be taken during gameplay without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
   At step  152 , depending upon the game mode selected, to be discussed below, the array  102  (see  FIG. 1(   a )) may be provided for each player, or for the group of players as a whole. For example, should the players decide to each use their own game board, array  102  may be provided to each player. However, if the players decide to only use one game board, array  102  may be provided to the group as a whole. 
   The statistics in array  102  provided represent the tournament results for a selected golf professional. For example, in one embodiment, array  102  is printed upon a game board and follows the career of a selected golf professional, such as Tiger Woods. For every year of Tiger Wood&#39;s career, his tournament results of the four major golf tournaments are printed on the game board in the array. Thus, for example, because Tiger Woods won the 1997 Master&#39;s, tournament result  110  in element  108  (see  FIG. 1(   a )) under the 1997 Master&#39;s championship is labeled “WIN.” However, the tournament result  110  in the element  108  under the 2002 British Open is labeled “T28,” because Tiger Woods tied for 28 th  place in the 2002 British Open. 
   At step  154 , depending upon the game mode selected, a plurality of game pieces  112  (see  FIG. 1(   a )) may be provided for each individual player, or for the group of players as a whole. Should the players decide to each use their own game board, a plurality of game pieces  112  may be provided to each player. However, if the players decide to only use one game board, a plurality of sets of game pieces  112  may be provided to the group as a whole. 
   If using one game board, each player will receive a set of game pieces  112 , each set having a particular color, such as red, blue, green and yellow. Thus, when each player takes his or her turn, all of the other players will be able to distinguish each of the other player&#39;s game pieces  112  on the array  102 . 
   The number of game pieces  112  corresponds to the number of elements  108  in array  102 . Each game piece  112  individually corresponds to a particular tournament result  110  by matching game piece labels  114  and  116  to row  104  and column  106  in array  102 . For example, a game piece labeled 2002 U.S. Open would correspond to the element in array  102  in the row labeled 2002 and column labeled U.S. Open. 
   At step  156 , the game mode is determined. There are three different game modes. Each game mode has a different victory condition. The three game modes are scoring mode, grand slam mode, and career win mode. Note that the three game modes and victory conditions described do not comprise of an exhaustive list and in no way should limit the scope of the present invention. 
   In scoring mode, each player&#39;s score is tallied throughout gameplay by first designating one of the players as a scorekeeper. At the outset of gameplay, each player begins with a score of zero. Each player&#39;s score is adjusted throughout gameplay. After a player&#39;s turn, depending upon the game piece  112  selected, the player&#39;s score may be adjusted. Gameplay is concluded when a player has accumulated every tournament victory in the selected golf professional&#39;s career. At the conclusion of gameplay, the player with the lowest cumulative score is declared winner. 
   In grand slam mode, there are two types of gameplay that may be employed in order to result as the winning player. First, the first player to accumulate at least one element  108  containing a tournament result  110  of “WIN” in all four columns of array  102  is declared winner. Thus, in grand slam mode, gameplay is concluded when a player accumulates at least one victory in the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. Similarly, grand slam mode may be played by accumulating at least one element  108  containing a tournament result  110  of “WIN” in each of the rows of array  102  in order to win. 
   In career win mode, the first player to accumulate all elements  108  in array  102  with tournament results  110  of “WIN” is declared winner. Thus, the first player to accumulate every win in a selected golf professional&#39;s career is the winner. Alternatively, the player to accumulate the most elements  108  in array  102  with tournament results  110  of “WIN” is declared winner. In this embodiment, the player with the most wins in a selected golf professional&#39;s career is the winner. 
   After a game mode is selected, gameplay begins at step  158 . In step  158 , a player selects a game piece  112 . Game piece  112  should be selected at random from the plurality of game pieces provided in step  154 . 
   At step  160 , game piece  112  is placed on array  102  at element  108  corresponding to the row  104  and column  106  identified by game piece labels  114  and  116 . For example, should game piece  112  selected be labeled the 2000 Masters, game piece  112  is placed in array  102  at element  108  corresponding to the 2000 Masters. If the game is being played in scoring mode, play proceeds to step  162 . If, however, the game is being played in grand slam or career win mode, gameplay proceeds to step  166 . 
   At step  162 , if the game is being played in scoring mode, the adjustment to a player&#39;s score is determined. Depending upon the corresponding tournament result  110  to the selected game piece  112 , the player&#39;s score may remain the same, be reduced by one point, or increased by one point. When the game piece  112  selected corresponds to element  108  containing a winning tournament result  110 , the player&#39;s score should be reduced by one point. For example, if the selected game piece  112  was labeled 2004 British Open, and the selected golf professional, whose career tournament results are portrayed by array  102 , won the 2004 British Open, the player&#39;s scoring should be reduced by one. 
   When the game piece  112  selected corresponds to an element  108  containing non-winning tournament result  110 , and the row  104  containing element  108 , identified by the selected game piece label  114 , does not contain a single major tournament win by the selected golf professional, the player&#39;s score should be increased by one point. For example, a player&#39;s score should be increased by one point when the selected game piece  112  corresponds to the 1999 U.S. Open, but the selected golf professional, whose career tournament results are portrayed by array  102 , did not win any major golf tournaments in 1999. 
   Finally, when the game piece  112  selected corresponds to an element  108  containing non-winning tournament result  110 , but the row  104  containing element  108 , identified by the selected game piece label  114 , contains major tournament win by the selected golf professional, the player&#39;s score should remain the same. For example, a player&#39;s score should remain the same and not be adjusted when the selected game piece  112  corresponds to the 2002 PGA Championship and the selected golf professional, whose career tournament results are portrayed by array  102 , did not win the 2002 PGA Championship, but the selected golf professional won the 2002 Masters. 
   After the score adjustment is determined, the player&#39;s score should be adjusted at step  164 . Step  164  should only be performed if the game is played in scoring mode. In step  164 , the score adjustment determined in step  162  is applied to the player&#39;s score. For example, should a player have a score of 3 points, and the score adjustment determined in step  162  was to subtract 1 from the player&#39;s score, the player would have a new adjusted score of 2 points. Once the player&#39;s score has been adjusted, the player&#39;s turn is over. 
   At step  166 , it is determined whether a victory condition has been met. Step  166  is performed in all game three modes. If a victory condition has been met, game play is over and a winner is declared. If, however, a victory condition has not been met, play proceeds back to step  158 . 
   In scoring mode, a victory condition is met if all winning tournament results have been accumulated by a player. When a player has accumulated all winning tournament results, the player with the lowest score is declared winner. 
   In grand slam mode, the victory condition is met if the player has accumulated at least one win in all four major tournaments. A player is declared winner in grand slam mode if they accumulate at least one win in all four columns of array  102 . 
   In career win mode, the victory condition is met if a player has accumulated every victory in a selected golf professional&#39;s career. A player is declared winner in career win mode if they accumulate every winning tournament result in array  102 . 
   If a victory condition has not been met, the player&#39;s turn is over. Once a player&#39;s turn has ended, and no victory conditions have been met, it is the next player&#39;s turn, returning to step  158 . Play rotates in a clockwise fashion, but this in no way limits the scope of the present invention. Players may choose their own method of determining order of turns. Should a victory condition be met, the winner is declared based upon the victory conditions of the selected game mode. 
   A golf game and method of playing has been described. The foregoing description of the various exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and disclosure. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims.