Patent Document

[0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone 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 copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to golf games, and specifically to miniature golf games having interesting course layouts and features. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
       [0004]    This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Miniature golf courses in modern times tend toward exciting decorations. Most modern miniature golf courses have lush planting, ponds, and outré additions like volcanoes and pirate ships, especially themes for courses, parts of courses or holes: pirate themes, wilderness themes, and other fantastic themes. 
         [0006]    However, most modern miniature golf courses have in fact got quite old fashioned play of the holes. Most modern miniature golf courses have holes which feature some fairly traditional arrangements of geometric obstacles, walls, tunnels, hills and valleys. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,738 in fact mentions this exact issue, stating, “ . . . such modern miniature golf courses courses have been analyzed to be generally stagnant in design of the individual hole in play, and innovations of late have been essentially made only in the décor and environs of the course layout—such as jungle motifs, space motifs, etc. But, by and large, the design of the hole continues to be conservative, if changed at all.” 
         [0008]    What is relatively rare however, is to see water used as part of a modern miniature golf course hole. In general water is kept to the sides of the holes and is used essentially as decoration. Thus the players will likely find themselves playing a fairly tame hole while walking beside a pond, the pond having fish or a faux pirate ship, or perhaps walking over a bridge from the green of one hole to the tee-off area of another hole. 
         [0009]    Rarely, a golf course hole might have water used as a passive obstacle. In the passive water obstacle hole, the players may find the hole looping around a puddle of water, or might have to putt the ball across a narrow bridge which itself spans a very narrow body of water. If the player accidentally hits the ball into the water, the player then does nothing more than fishing the ball out of the water and placing it back on the course. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,076 to Desjardins (Dec. 26, 1995) at least attempts to enliven the proceedings by providing a modern miniature golf course cup which detects the entry of a ball when a player has successfully sunk a putt. It then activates sprinklers, as a surprise, for laughter inducement. It is worth mentioning that this device does not actually alter the play of the overall hole in any way, as the mechanics of putting remain the same: the sprinklers come on only after a putt is sunk into the cup. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,105 to Benevento (Oct. 10, 2006) is similar in that regard: it detects entry of a ball into the cup, which can then activate a pachinko game, and which might in turn activate a water sprayer. Again, the actual play of the hole is not implicated at all. 
         [0012]    The history of water, in both full sized and miniature golf has always been to use the water as an obstacle to be avoided. A penalty is always assessed if water is encountered in play on a full-sized golf course. It would be preferable to provide a miniature or full sized golf course that changes that mentality and usage. It would be preferable to provide water features that are used not just as obstacles to be avoided, but also as an ally to be used strategically to accomplish the goal of minimizing golf stroke counts, which in turn makes the course more enjoyable and memorable. 
         [0013]    It would be preferable to enliven the actual golf play of the game by providing courses which use water in an interactive manner, not just a passive manner. 
         [0014]    It would further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses water not just to retard the ball&#39;s progress but to change its motion or even advance the ball. 
         [0015]    It would further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses the actual pressure of water, hydraulically, to influence the play of the hole in terms of actual golfing experience of selecting routes and shots and attempting to make accurate shots. 
         [0016]    It would yet further be preferable to provide a golf course hole which uses spraying or misting of players during the course of the play of the hole not just for amusement but also to impact the golf strategy choices made by the player (again: routes chosen, shots to attempt, and accuracy) during play, for example, to cause players to attempt to avoid getting wet. 
         [0017]    It would even further be preferable to provide a modern miniature golf course which as to a degree features of a water park, that is, which invites players to get wet while playing the game of miniature golf. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     General Summary 
       [0018]    The present invention teaches that water may be used interactively during play of a golf course hole. The hydraulic pressure of water, created by gravity, by pumping, by nozzles, jets, misting, flow and more may be used to alter the course of play of a golf hole. Water is not used as a passive obstacle, or for retrieval of balls, but rather is used to alter the trajectory of a ball when it is putted, or to cause a player to have to make choices about playing a hole knowing that they may get wet themselves, or to provide a more active, exciting play of the hole. 
         [0019]    The features may take the form of water jets, streams, waterfalls, cascades, swirling turbulent water, water tunnels, triggers, alternative routes to the green, alternative parts of the green reached by different water features, fountains, gratings, nets, floating fairways and greens, ramps, waterwheels, water cannons, and combinations thereof. 
       Summary in Reference to Claims 
       [0020]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an improved miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play in which a player is putting the golf ball about a tee-off area, a fairway area and a green area, wherein the improvement comprises: 
         [0021]    providing pressurized water and using the pressure of the water to alter the motion of such ball during such course of play. 
         [0022]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball by a player, the golf course hole comprising: 
         [0023]    a water feature, the water feature having pressurized water, the golf course hole having a layout, the layout designed so that while moving, the ball will enter the pressurized water and the pressurized water will alter the moving of the ball, 
         [0024]    the water feature having pressurized water being one member selected from the group consisting of: jets, sprayers, misters, cascades, waterfalls and combinations thereof. 
         [0025]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the alteration of the moving of the ball further comprises: 
         [0026]    one member selected from the group consisting of: retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, providing alternative water routes of advancing the ball, and combinations thereof. 
         [0027]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature comprises: a stream which moves such ball in a manner selected from the group consisting of: advancing the ball, retarding the ball, randomly altering the moving of the ball, moving the ball to a first portion of such green area. 
         [0028]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein such ball further comprises: a normal sinking ball or a floating ball, and the water feature further comprises an outlet which allows the water to depart but strands the ball out of such water feature, the outlet further comprising: a grating, a net, and combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: a fountain having a plurality of water-filled levels with water flowing out of each level, the water flowing out of the fountain in at least one directions depending upon where in the fountain such player hits such ball. 
         [0030]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole further comprising: 
         [0031]    a second water feature, such player having the choice to attempt to hit such ball into either of such water feature or such second water feature, the second water feature altering the motion of such ball in a manner different from the first water feature. 
         [0032]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: waterfalls which such ball must be hit through, waterfalls which such player must pass through, cascades which alter the motion of such ball by passing it across a plurality of obstacles within the cascade, terraces down which the water carries such ball, and combinations thereof. 
         [0033]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature comprises: one member selected from the group consisting of: a portion of the fairway which is afloat, a portion of the green which is afloat, a barrel bridge, a wave maker and combinations thereof 
         [0034]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: 
         [0035]    a stream carrying such ball for a first distance, with a walking path beside the stream for the first distance, so that such player may walk beside such ball as it is carried. 
         [0036]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: 
         [0037]    at least one water tunnel which such ball passes through while in such water. 
         [0038]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the hole further comprises: 
         [0039]    a vertical obstacle over which the water feature propels such ball. 
         [0040]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: 
         [0041]    a trigger mechanism which actuates the water feature upon one member selected from the group consisting of: random actuation, timed actuation, actuation by entry of such ball into a first part of the water feature, actuation by entry of such player into a first part of such hole, and combinations thereof 
         [0042]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: 
         [0043]    a waterwheel having at least one bucket disposed so that the bucket may move to a low position in which the bucket retrieves such ball from the water feature and a high position in which the bucket releases the ball out of such water feature. 
         [0044]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: 
         [0045]    at least one member selected from the group consisting of: buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the fairway, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to flood the green, buckets which periodically fill and tip over to advance the ball and combinations thereof. 
         [0046]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole, wherein the water feature further comprises: a mechanism which shoots the ball using water. 
         [0047]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole wherein the water feature further comprises: at least one water gate which has a first position in which the water gate allows water to flow through and a second position in which the water gate prevents water from flowing through. 
         [0048]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for use with a golf ball during a course of play by a player putting such golf ball into a cup, the golf course hole comprising: 
         [0049]    a water feature which wets the player during such course of play and not after putting such golf ball into such cup. 
         [0050]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide miniature golf course hole for further use by a second player, wherein the wetting of the player during the course of play further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: requiring the player to wade in water, triggering fountains to wet such player, triggering sprayers to wet such player, wetting such player when the player follows their ball into an area of spraying, requiring such player to pass through a waterfall, requiring such player to pass by a water feature controlled by such second player, allows such player to choose between a dry route to the green and a wet route to the green, and combinations thereof 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0051]      FIG. 1  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a first embodiment of the invention, having geysers or fountains erupting from the fairway of the miniature golf course hole. 
           [0052]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a second embodiment of the invention, having a vertical feature which can be traversed by using hydraulic water pressure to advance the ball up over the obstacle. 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a third embodiment of the invention, having a slanted fairway, a river type water feature which advances the ball to a grate upon which the ball automatically is retrieved and deposited back onto the green. 
           [0054]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a tunnel or cave with a waterfall and for which the ball is shot either into or out of, or both, during the play of the hole. 
           [0055]      FIG. 5  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, having a tricky shot which must be made in order to send the ball straight to the area of the hole and avoid having the ball enter the water feature. 
           [0056]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, having a cascade (non-vertical waterfall) in turn having obstacles or rocks which simulate action of a pinball as the ball bounces down the cascade carried by the water. 
           [0057]      FIG. 6B  is front view of the cascade of the sixth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 7  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, in which balls pass down a series of terraces or water covered plateaus. 
           [0059]      FIG. 8   a  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighth embodiment of the invention, in which the balls enter a bowl and exit by one of multiple different exits leading to different parts of the green. 
           [0060]      FIG. 8   b  is a side view in cross-section of the eighth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 9  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a ninth embodiment of the invention in which the fountains operate continuously. 
           [0062]      FIG. 10  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, featuring a plurality of water cannons which act to shoot the ball from the fairway area to the green area. 
           [0063]      FIG. 11  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features which leave the fairway area to the green area. 
           [0064]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a twelfth embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features of different types: one type, a jet, if hit by a ball will loft the ball over a ridge or curb into a favorable position near the hole while the other type, a water flow, will carry the ball to a less favorable position below a slope. 
           [0065]      FIG. 13  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, possibly suitable for use as a final hole which removes the balls from play. 
           [0066]      FIG. 14A  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention having a fancy, multi-level, decorative fountain feature which is able to take the ball to different parts of the green area. 
           [0067]      FIG. 14B  is a side view of a decorative fountain feature according to  FIG. 14A , showing the multi-level nature of the fountain feature. 
           [0068]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, having a “rain forest” area in a lower elevation part of the hole&#39;s fairways/greens. The tree features of the invention embodiment may rain, spray or mist players who must enter below the trees. 
           [0069]      FIG. 16  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, in which a flow of water passes through a grate which returns a mis-hit ball to a player while the flow continues. 
           [0070]      FIG. 17  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, in which the green area having the hole therein is subject to adverse water flow. 
           [0071]      FIG. 18  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighteenth embodiment of the invention in which the players may all hit their balls into an extended water feature of the river type, then walk beside their balls, even past other holes of the miniature golf course, to reach the green area. 
           [0072]      FIGS. 19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c ,  19   d  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, having one member selected from the group consisting of nozzles providing timed, brief, angled spurts of water which pass over the fairway/green area, jumping jets, roman arches and combinations thereof. 
           [0073]      FIG. 20  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twentieth embodiment of the invention, similar to the second embodiment, in which a vertical feature is matched with a water feature which can carry the ball over the vertical feature (obstacle), however, a second vertical feature can be traversed in a single stroke if the players are accurate enough. 
           [0074]      FIG. 21  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-first embodiment of the invention, in which the player may use an angled wall to select which of a plurality of watercourse type water features to use to reach the green. 
           [0075]      FIG. 22  is a side view of a miniature golf course hole according to a twenty-second embodiment of the invention in which the player putts the ball over a waterfall and down to the green area. 
           [0076]      FIG. 23  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-third embodiment of the invention, in which the players must wade in shallow water if their ball does not very accurately hit the green. 
           [0077]      FIG. 24  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature. 
           [0078]      FIG. 25  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which a low area of the fairway has water passing across it periodically. 
           [0079]      FIG. 26  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in particular, a side view of a the twentieth embodiment of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0080]      FIG. 27  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which a water-wheel arrangement lifts balls out of a water feature and deposits them at a higher level on a green or a trough leading to a green. 
           [0081]      FIG. 28  is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention, in which a number of new style of wind-mills have blades which enter the water feature, creating an obstacle. 
           [0082]      FIG. 29A  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to twenty-ninth embodiment of the invention in which one or more buckets are supported in an off-set manner so that as they fill they eventually empty onto the green. 
           [0083]      FIG. 29B  is a side view of the off-set bucket of  FIG. 29A . 
           [0084]      FIG. 30  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirtieth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature in a manner similar to the twenty-fourth embodiment, of  FIG. 24 , but with dry caves on the later side of the water feature. 
           [0085]      FIG. 31  is a frontal view, from a player&#39;s perspective, showing a series of intermittent fountains which operate to produce a “wave” or other synchronized water effect as the player putts the ball. 
           [0086]      FIGS. 32   a  and  32   b  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-second embodiment of the invention in which one player has a control which they may use to activate water features which spray onto the fairway when another player is attempting to shoot. 
           [0087]      FIGS. 33   a  and  33   b  are a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-third embodiment of the invention in which the fairway is mounted upon a floating, pontoon-style, bridge which is free to move somewhat under the weight of the players and the action of an optional wave making machine. 
           [0088]      FIG. 34  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to thirty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which an offset supported bucket fills and empties itself onto the fairway, thus periodically flooding the fairway area. 
           [0089]      FIG. 35  is a planform view of a waver-type sprinkler of an alternative embodiment of the invention having obstacles impeding the advance of the ball while the intermittent sweep of the sprinkler wets the green. 
           [0090]      FIG. 36  is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a ball may be impacted by water jets from the side of the course, rather than vertical jets. 
           [0091]      FIG. 37  is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as seen in side view in  FIG. 28 , showing the twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0092]      FIG. 38  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which an missed putt by the player results in the ball entering water features which move the ball to an earlier part of the green. 
           [0093]      FIG. 39  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the ball must be putted across water which is “boiling” and bubbling. (The term “boiling” as used herein does not refer to high temperature of the water but to the specific type of vertical motion associated with the same word in water sports.) 
           [0094]      FIG. 40  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-fifth embodiment of the invention, in which extremely turbulent shallow water is present around the hole of the green area or in other parts of the hole. 
           [0095]      FIG. 41  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between sprays or mists from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources. 
           [0096]      FIG. 42  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-second embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between walls, or through a framework, arbor, gazebo or the like which sprays or mists the players from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources, and yet further in which players may be given an alternative route to the hole which allows them to avoid getting wet but which may not be advantageous otherwise. 
           [0097]      FIG. 43  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-third embodiment of the invention in which a ridge down the middle of a fairway area may divert balls into a water feature, and including banked walls. 
           [0098]      FIG. 44  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which a gate may be present in a water feature, the gate opening when players successfully pass their balls across a light sensor/laser arrangement, such as in a tunnel, thus opening the gates for a more direct route toward the hole. 
           [0099]      FIGS. 45   a  and  45   b  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which the players shoot their balls off a ramp and into a water feature having nets instead of holes therein. 
           [0100]      FIG. 46  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according a forty-sixth embodiment of the invention in which the players stand on a platform and actually shot their balls away from the hole. The ball enters a water feature which then carries the ball back toward the hole, for example, under the platform or around the player. 
           [0101]      FIG. 47  is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which the players actually pass sideways under a flowing waterfall provided by an extended overhang, with a side water feature should balls leave the dry area. 
       
    
    
     INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         Water feature: geysers  11   
         Fairway area  12   
         Tee area  14   
         Hole  16   
         Green area  18   
         Ball  20   
         Water feature: ball jet  21   
         Lower fairway area  22   a    
         Upper fairway area  22   b    
         Vertical feature (bump)  23   c    
         Hole  26   
         River water feature  31   
         Slope  33   
         Flow direction  35   
         Hole  36   
         Tunnel  37   
         Outlet  39   
         Waterfall water features in/out  41 ,  43   
         Tunnel  45   
         Hole  46   
         Stream  51   
         Angled wall  53   
         Hole  56   
         Gratings  59   a ,  59   b    
         Water flow  61   
         Upper fairway area  62   
         Cascade  63   
         Obstacle  64   
         Outlet  69   
         Water flow  71   
         Upper fairway area  72   
         Terrace  73   
         Green  76   
         Grating  79   
         Water flow  81   
         Exit hole  83   
         Hole  86   
         Water feature  91   
         Fairway  92   
         Putting area  94   
         Hole  96   
         Green  98   
         Hole  1006   
         Green area  1008   
         Water course  1101   
         Separator (island)  1103   
         Water feature, less desirable route  1201   
         Fairway with bowl  1202   
         Lower slope  1203   
         Grating  1205   
         Jet mechanism  1206   
         Ridge/curb  1207   
         Hole  1208   
         Water feature (shallow pond)  1301   
         Platform (floating/solid)  1303   
         Wall  1305   
         Hole  1306   
         Ramp  1401   
         Fountain (upper level)  1403   
         Chute from upper level  1405   
         Water flow A, B, C 
         Chute/trough from mid-level  1409   
         Rain trees  1501   
         Hole  1506   
         Adverse flow  1701   
         Fairway area  1702   
         Grating  1709   
         Long water feature about park, with path  1801   
         Tee area  1802   
         Green area  1808   
         Water snake style jet  1901   
         Water acceptor  1903   
         Water snake  1905   
         First vertical water feature, middle  2001   
         Fairway area  2002   
         Second vertical feature, middle  2003   
         First vertical water feature, side  2005   
         Second vertical water feature, side  2007   
         Grating  2009   
         Intermediate grating, side  2020   
         Double angled obstacle  2101   
         First water feature  2103   
         Second water feature  2105   
         Green area  2108   
         Waterfall  2201   
         Water feature (wading pool)  2301   
         Sloped section of green  2305   
         Hole  2306   
         Water feature  2401   
         Underwater tunnel  2403   
         Trough  2501   
         Intermittent water feature  2503   
         Fairway  2602   
         First vertical obstacle  2605   
         Second vertical obstacle  2607   
         Green  2608   
         Grating  2609   
         Water jet  2610 ,  2612   
         Grating  2620   
         Water feature  2701   
         Fairway area  2702   
         Waterwheel  2703   
         Bucket  2705   
         Hole  2706   
         New style windmill  2801   
         Water feature  2803   
         Blade entering water  2805   
         Water feature  2901   
         Bucket  2903   
         Offset support  2905   
         Green area  2908   
         Water feature  3001   
         Dry caves  3003   
         “Wave” of water jets  3101   
         Fairway  3102   
         Water feature, geyser/fountain  3201   
         Fairway area  3202   
         Manuel control of water  3203   
         Water feature  3301   
         Fairway area  3302   
         Bridge  3303   
         Pontoon/float  3305   
         Wave maker  3307   
         Water bucket  3401   
         Fairway area  3402   
         Offset support  3403   
         Hole  3406   
         Ball, deflected  3600   
         Horizontal jet  3601   
         Fairway  3602   
         Wall  3603   
         Sensor  3605   
         Water feature  3701   
         Windmill  3703   
         Water feature  3801   
         Fairway  3902   
         Water feature (bubbling, boiling)  3903   
         Green  3908   
         Water feature on fairway  4001   
         Fairway area  4002   
         Water feature on green  4003   
         Green  4008   
         Water jet  4101   
         Fairway  4102   
         Sensor  4105   
         Water feature, sideways jet/mister/geyser/nozzle  4201   
         Wall/framework/arbor/gazebo/decoration  4203   
         Light sensor/light source  4205   
         Alternative (dry) path  4222   
         Water feature  4301   
         Mid-fairway slope  4303   
         Banking wall  4305   
         Grating  4309   
         Tunnel  4401   
         Light sensor/source  4403   
         Gates (in closed position)  4405   
         Gates (if open position)  4407   
         Ramp  4501   
         Net for hole  4503   
         Water feature (pond)  4505   
         Water feature  4601   
         Green  4602   
         Stairs  4607   
         Platform  4609   
         Water feature (sideways waterfall)  4701   
         Walkable tunnel  4701   
         Overhand  4703   
         Water feature (side river)  4705   
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0270]      FIG. 1  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a first embodiment of the invention, having geysers or fountains erupting from the fairway of the miniature golf course hole. In a preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the invention water feature  11  is a set of geysers or fountains. These fountains are shown to span the fairway area  12  of the miniature golf course, however, they may in fact be located upon green area  18 , tee-off area  14  or the like. 
         [0271]    The geysers or fountains may be constant, requiring players to get their ball through them or suffer having the motion of the ball altered by the motion of the water, or the water features  11  may be spasmodic in operation. They may erupt randomly, or may be triggered by the presence of the ball or player in a first area of the course, and so on. They may also erupt in a pattern, such as a ripple pattern from one side of the fair way  12  to the other, forcing the players to successfully time their shots through the water. 
         [0272]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it has features of a water park: the players may be required to bring swim wear or the like to gain admission, and to secure all electronics before playing, as the water features  11  may be arranged to douse the players as well as the ball. Alternatively, the players may have to pass the ball through but may have a dry path past the hazard, or the ball may stay dry but the players may get soaked, misted, sprayed, rained upon or the like. 
         [0273]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a second embodiment of the invention, having a vertical feature which can be traversed by using hydraulic water pressure to advance the ball. Ball  20  is pictured in flight after being launched by the water feature, in this case, a skewed fountain which makes a “ball jet”  21 . While the ball is depicted above the water it may simply flow with water which is being forced by hydraulic pressure to flow UPWARD, from lower fairway area  22   a  to upper fairway area  22   b.    
         [0274]    Vertical feature (bump)  23   c  may be seen in profile, and it will be understood that for safety reasons this vertical feature may have alternative dry path which is a set of steps, so as to minimize the risk of accidents to people attempting to step on a wet sloped surface. Customers will not normally be allowed to walk on obstacles presenting tricky footing. 
         [0275]    Hole  26  may be seen in profile. 
         [0276]      FIG. 3  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a third embodiment of the invention, having a slanted fairway, a river type water feature which advances the ball to a grate upon which the ball automatically is retrieved. 
         [0277]    River water feature  31  may be used with a ball which is able to float, that is which is lighter than water. While a standard PGA competition ball sinks, floating balls allow a stream to meander along carrying the ball easily visible to the player, who may not even have the end of the stream in view and thus may find themselves wondering where they are going to end up. 
         [0278]    Alternatively, with clean water of shallow depth a player may see a ball which is heavier then water being rolled along the (clean, smooth) stream bed to its final destination. 
         [0279]    Arrow  35  depicts the flow direction, which in this embodiment is toward the hole  36 , not away from it. Thus, the water feature of the present invention is not necessarily classed as a water obstacle or water hazard, which renders it completely opposite in effect from passive water hazards. 
         [0280]    Slope  33  adds an exciting element of skill to this process. If a player manages to hit the ball hard enough to avoid the problem of having the slope  33  roll it sideways into the stream  31 , they may keep their ball on an advantageous track toward the hole  36 . 
         [0281]    Water tunnel  37  further increases the interest of the course as the ball may disappear from view for a moment passing under a decoration or in this case, under the fairway area. In addition, water tunnel  37  allows for a broader arrangement of courses with more interesting and varied terrain. 
         [0282]    Outlet (grating)  39  is one example of a mechanism which may remove water (a water outlet) but which leaves the ball back in play, even on dry land. In addition to a grating, outlet  39  may be a netting, an artificial turf with no backing which allows water to pass between the blades of greed grass, a water permeable carpet, etc. 
         [0283]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a tunnel or cave with a waterfall and for which the ball is shot either into or out of, or both, during the play of the hole. Waterfall water features in/out  41 ,  43 , allow the ball to pass through a land tunnel  45 . The player may also be allowed, or required, to pass through the tunnel in alternative embodiments. Hole  46  may be inside of the tunnel or outside of the tunnel. There may be a waterfall “in” or a waterfall “out” or both as shown. 
         [0284]      FIG. 5  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, having a tricky shot which must be made in order to send the ball straight to the area of the hole and avoid having the ball enter the water feature. 
         [0285]    Stream  51  has angled wall  53 , by hitting the bank shot off the angled wall the player avoids having their ball land in the water and the ball as a result stays on a fairly straight path toward the hole  56 . 
         [0286]    If the ball falls into the water feature, it will end up at areas  59   a ,  59   b  of the green area, which are depicted to be gratings or other water outlets. These areas  59   a ,  59   b  may not be as advantageous for the next putt as if the player had hit the angled wall  53 . 
         [0287]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, having a cascade (non-vertical waterfall) in turn having obstacles or rocks which simulate action of a pinball as the ball bounces down the cascade, carried along by the gravitationally supplied pressure of the water. Water flow  61  down the cascade  63  may be seen to carry the ball from upper fairway area  62  to the lower fairway area, passing about and/or over obstacle  64  for amusing effect as players attempt to shoot so as to have the ball land in an advantageous location on the lower fairway area. 
         [0288]    Outlet  69 , such as a mesh or screen, allows the ball to remain in play. 
         [0289]    Plumbing arrangements for the golf holes of the invention may be carried out by a wide variety of means, such as gravity fed plumbing, pump pressurized conduits and the like. Such pumps may recirculate the water in areas having little water. 
         [0290]    Water of the course of the invention may be chlorinated and otherwise treated as swimming pool water is treated, so as to render the invention a combination of golf course hole and water attraction. This of course may be an optional embodiment of the invention and may not necessary unless it is required by regulation or ordinance. 
         [0291]      FIG. 6B  is front view of the cascade of the sixth embodiment of the invention, showing more of the pinball like nature of the invention. 
         [0292]      FIG. 7  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, in which balls pass down a series of terraces or water covered plateaus. Water flow  71  carries the ball from the upper fairway area  72  down a series of terraces such as terrace  73  to green  76  to come to rest at grating  79 . 
         [0293]      FIG. 8   a ,  8   b  is a planform and side view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighth embodiment of the invention, in which the balls enter a bowl and exit by one of multiple different exits leading to different parts of the green. Water flow  81  may swirl, or may be smooth, or turbulent, but it allows the balls entrained with the flowing water to pass into an exit hole  83  by means of a skillful shot by the player or random luck due to hydrodynamics. 
         [0294]    Hole  86  may be more advantageously approached after the water tunnel of exit hole  83  deposits the ball on the green, or less advantageously approached if the ball entered a different one of the plurality of exit holes/tunnels. 
         [0000]      FIG. 9  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a ninth embodiment of the invention, in which fountains operate continuously. Water feature  91  is across fairway  92  to from tee  94  to hole  96  on green  98 , but a putt which is not straight will hit the fountains. 
         [0295]      FIG. 10  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, featuring a plurality of water cannons which act to shoot the ball from the fairway area to the green area. Water cannon  1001  may be automatically programmed to shoot a golf ball, entrained in water, over an intervening obstacle and onto the green area  1008 . Note that the proximity to hole  1006  may be determined by which water cannon of the plurality of water cannons the ball first enters. 
         [0296]      FIG. 11  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features which leave the fairway area to the green area. 
         [0297]    Water course  1101  is one of a plurality of water courses into which the player may direct the ball. Separator (island)  1103  may entirely prevent the waters of the plurality of streams or cascades from mixing, or it may allow them to mix to a limited or unlimited degree. At the end of the water courses, the position of the ball will be partially or wholly determined by the skill of the player in choosing the water course into which to putt their ball and the success of that effort to do so. 
         [0298]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a twelfth embodiment of the invention, having multiple water features of different types: one type, a jet  1206 , if hit by a ball will loft the ball over a ridge or curb  1207  into a favorable position near the hole while the other type, a water flow  1201 , will carry the ball to a less favorable position below a lower slope  1203 . 
         [0299]      FIG. 13  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, possibly suitable for use as a final hole which removes the balls from play. Water feature (a shallow pond)  1301  may have a platform (floating/solid)  1303  which may in turn have a wall  1305  about the entire rim, part of the rim, or the wall  1305  may be absent. Hole  1306  is in the platform. 
         [0300]    In use, players will have to hit their balls onto the platform with great care in order to not lose their balls into the water. If the wall  1305  is employed, the balls may instead remain on the platform. A wave maker may be employed to cause waves to break upon the platform or to even cause the platform to rock, as will be discussed below in regard to a barrel bridge embodiment. 
         [0301]      FIG. 14A  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention having a fancy, multi-level, decorative fountain feature which is able to take the ball to different parts of the green area. This is also a preferred embodiment of the invention. The shape of the fountain feature may be much different from that depicted. 
         [0302]    The main principle of the invention is in fact the use of pressurized water in fountains, Ramp  1401  may loft a putted ball toward the fountain, which has fountain (upper level)  1403  as well as other levels, partitions, areas, divisions or flows. The chute  1405  from upper level  1403  will direct the ball by means of water flow C into one area of the green, either closer or further away from the hole than other parts of the fountain would deliver the ball. 
         [0303]      FIG. 14B  is a side view of a decorative fountain feature according to  FIG. 14A , showing the multi-level nature of the fountain feature. Water flow A and B may be seen as may chute/trough from mid-level  1409 , which leads to a less desirable part of the green. 
         [0304]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, having a “rain forest” area in a lower elevation part of the hole&#39;s fairways/greens. The tree features of the invention embodiment may rain, spray or mist players who must enter below the trees. 
         [0305]    Rain trees  1501  may be located so as to wet those entering low area  1503 . Since the golf ball tends to obey gravity and roll to low area  1503 , the player is likely to find themselves being forced to endure the rain to make their shot. 
         [0306]    The bump may be provided to add to the merriment and difficulty level of the hole. Note that “trees”  1501  may be a roof, or decorations, an arbor, etc. 
         [0307]      FIG. 16  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, in which the water flow continues while the ball is caught on a grate. 
         [0308]      FIG. 17  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, in which the green area having the hole therein is subject to adverse water flow. 
         [0309]    Adverse flow  1701  will quickly slow a ball after it leaves fairway area  1702 , water from adverse flow  1701  may exit by way of grating/outlet  1709 . 
         [0310]      FIG. 18  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an eighteenth embodiment of the invention in which the players may all hit their balls into an extended water feature of the river type, then walk beside their balls, even past other holes of the miniature golf course, to reach the green area. Long water feature about park  1801  has a path built into or near it, so that after player&#39;s balls enter stream  1801  from tee area  1802 , they may follow or walk beside their balls. Obviously players may be warned to shoot all of their first shots from the tee area  1802  so that they may stay closer together as they pursue the balls. 
         [0311]    The length of the water feature  1801  is quite long compared to most miniature golf course holes. It may even pass about normal length golf holes, or even circumnavigate the entire water park, before coming to green area  1808 . 
         [0312]      FIGS. 19   a  thru  19   d  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, in which jumping jets, roman arches or “water snakes”, i.e. timed, brief, angled spurts of water pass over the fairway/green area. Water snake style jet  1901  is of the type which shoots a very precisely aimed and controlled spurt of water  1905 , which looks much like a snake (made of water) jumping from a first hole (the jet  1901 ) into a second hole, water acceptor  1903  as shown in  FIG. 19   b  and  FIG. 19   c  and  FIG. 19   d . These can be arranged in sequence, so that single water snake  1905  appears to be leaping about the course from hole to hole, always passing over the course but posing a threat to players who stand in its way. The spurts may be multiple or individual, may be random or timed or even actuated by another player, etc. 
         [0313]      FIG. 20  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twentieth embodiment of the invention, similar to the second embodiment, in which a vertical feature is matched with a water feature which can carry the ball over the vertical feature (obstacle), however, a second vertical feature can be traversed in a single stroke if the players are accurate enough.  FIG. 26  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in particular, a side view of a the twentieth embodiment of  FIG. 20 . 
         [0314]    First vertical water feature, middle feature  2001 , propels a ball all the way upward from fairway area  2002 / 2602  to the green area ( 2008 ,  2608 ). For example, if the second vertical feature, middle  2003 / 2603 , is a second hump, the first feature  2001  might propel the ball directly into the flow of a second feature, or might itself be strong enough or arranged so as to propel the ball all the way up. 
         [0315]    However, first vertical water feature, side,  2005 / 2605  does not extend all the way to the upper level of the course. It extends only to intermediate grating outlet  2020 / 2620 , and does not propel the ball into the second vertical water feature, side,  2007 / 2607 . Thus here it functions as the first step in a two stage water-elevator, forcing the player to putt the ball again from intermediate grating, side,  2020 / 2620 , into the second side water feature,  2007 / 2607 , to finally reach grating  2009 / 2609 . 
         [0316]      FIG. 21  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-first embodiment of the invention, in which the player may use an angled wall to select which of a plurality of watercourse type water features to use to reach the green. 
         [0317]    Double angled obstacle  2101  allows a player to ricochet their ball, banking it in a selected direction, into either first water feature  2103  or second water feature  2105 . These then deliver the ball to different parts of green area  2108 , due to arriving at different water outlets. 
         [0318]      FIG. 22  is a side view of a miniature golf course hole according to a twenty-second embodiment of the invention in which the player putts the ball over a waterfall and down to the green area. Waterfall  2201  allows a straight shot or may be provided with angles, curves etc, but in any case the player is offered the opportunity to literally have their ball receive extra velocity from the motion of the water at the lip of the waterfall. The ball may even be carried by the water and end up on the outlet at the base of the waterfall. 
         [0319]    Players of course will have the opportunity to walk down a set of steps beside the waterfall. 
         [0320]      FIG. 23  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-third embodiment of the invention, in which the players must wade in shallow water if their ball does not very accurately hit the green. 
         [0321]    Water feature (wading pool)  2301  surrounds the green area. The green area in turn is partially or wholly made up of sloped section of green  2305  with hole  2306  disposed therein. A ramp may be provided from the fairway area toward the hole or not. 
         [0322]      FIG. 24  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature. 
         [0323]    Water feature  2401  has multiple underwater tunnels such as underwater tunnel  2403  which arrive at different parts of the green area. 
         [0324]      FIG. 25  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which a low area of the fairway has water passing across it periodically. Trough  2501  allows water to flow across or over the fairway area, the tee area or the green area. Intermittent water feature  2503  may flow within the low area. The intermittent nature of the water flow may be timed, random, spasmodic, controlled by other players or otherwise arranged. 
         [0325]      FIG. 27  is a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which a water-wheel arrangement lifts balls out of a water feature and deposits them at a higher level on a green or a trough leading to a green. 
         [0326]    Water feature  2701  accepts balls from the fairway area  2702 , which is actually lower than the green area. Waterwheel  2703  may rotate and carry along with it bucket  2705 , which fills with water at a low position, and with it brings the ball into the bucket. At a higher level the bucket may tilt and empty, allowing the ball to approach or enter hole  2706 . 
         [0327]      FIG. 28  is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention, in which a new style of wind-mill has blades which enter the water feature. 
         [0328]    New style windmill  2801  may be situated by or over water feature  2803  with blade entering water  2805 , which in turn may be used to alter the motions of the ball as it is carried along by the water flow depicted by the arrow. 
         [0329]      FIG. 29A  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to twenty-ninth embodiment of the invention in which one or more buckets are supported in an off-set manner so that as they fill they eventually empty onto the green. 
         [0330]      FIG. 29B  is a side view of the off-set bucket of  FIG. 29A . Water feature  2901  has bucket  2903  with a tilt mechanism such as an offset support, or an offset water receptacle  2905  allowing it to tip and empty when it becomes full enough. 
         [0331]    The bucket may empty water and balls into green area  2908 . With several buckets available, the ball may be delivered to several different parts of the green area  2908  depending on which bucket it entered. 
         [0332]      FIG. 30  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirtieth embodiment of the invention in which the ball passes through one of multiple underground tunnels in the water feature in a manner similar to the twenty-fourth embodiment, of  FIG. 24 , but with dry caves  3003  on the later side of the water feature  3001 . 
         [0333]      FIG. 31  is a frontal view, from a player&#39;s perspective, showing a series of intermittent fountains which operate to produce a “wave” or other synchronized water effect as the player putts the ball. “Wave” of water jets  3101  thus may block fairway  3102 , unless the player works out the pattern and/or timing of the synchronized wave or other pattern and putts properly in response. 
         [0334]      FIGS. 32   a  and  32   b  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-second embodiment of the invention in which one player has a control which they may use to activate water features which spray onto the fairway when another player is attempting to shoot. This may have a main purpose to deflect the ball. 
         [0335]    Water feature, geyser/fountain  3201  may wet fairway area  3202  and players thereon. 
         [0336]    Manuel control of water  3203  ( FIG. 32   b ) is provided at a location convenient for a player other than the one in the wet zone, so players may wet one other during the course of play. 
         [0337]      FIGS. 33   a  and  33   b  are a side view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-third embodiment of the invention in which the fairway is mounted upon a floating, pontoon-style, bridge which is free to move somewhat under the weight of the players and the action of an optional wave making machine. 
         [0338]    Water feature  3301  may support fairway area  3302  on a floating pontoon bridge  3303 . Pontoon/float  3305  may provide the support for the for the bridge. 
         [0339]    As the bridge will bob in response to players of various weights stepping upon it and moving about, and as the balls on the fairway on the bridge may roll about as a result. 
         [0340]    Wave maker  3307  as shown in  FIG. 33   b  may also be used to cause additional motions of the floating bridge. 
         [0341]      FIG. 34  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to thirty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which an offset supported bucket fills and empties itself onto the fairway, thus periodically flooding the fairway area. 
         [0342]    Water bucket  3401  is located so as to douse fairway area  3402  and thus alter the course of a ball in motion, thus encouraging players to attempt to time their putts during the time the water feature fills the bucket. 
         [0343]    Offset support or mechanism  3403  may be provided to allow the bucket to empty. 
         [0344]      FIG. 35  is a planform view of a waver-type sprinkler of an alternative embodiment of the invention having obstacles  3502  impeding the advance of the ball while the intermittent sweep of the sprinkler  3501  wets the green. 
         [0345]      FIG. 36  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-sixth embodiment of the invention, in which players pass between walls, or through a framework, arbor, gazebo or the like which jets, sprays or mists the players from the side, and in which such action may be controlled for example by light sensors and lasers or similar light sources, and yet further in which players may be given an alternative route to the hole which allows them to avoid getting wet but which may not be advantageous otherwise. 
         [0346]    For added amusement effect, the nozzles or misters may be concealed inside of foliage, decorations, etc. 
         [0347]    Water feature, sideways jet/mister/geyser/nozzle  3601  may obviously be any of a variety of mechanisms. Fairway area  3602  thus becomes a zone in which a person is highly likely to become wet during the course of play. Wall/framework/arbor/gazebo/decoration  3603  may support both the water mechanism, as well as light sensor/light source  3605 . Sensor  3605  may detect the ball and cause the jets to begin firing either intermittently, in a pattern, or otherwise. 
         [0348]    An alternative (dry) path may optionally be provide a dry route to the hole, for those who do not wish to get wet. This alternative embodiment may be applied to any hole of the invention. However, it is anticipated that players and golf course designers will desire holes which do engage the players with the pressurized water features as actively as possible, so this is merely an alternative embodiment. 
         [0349]      FIG. 37  is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as seen in side view in  FIG. 28 , showing the twenty-eighth embodiment of the invention. Water feature  3701  has therein a number of windmills  3703  which as discussed in relation to the earlier  FIG. 28  may dip their blades into the water and thus create obstacles to the ball. 
         [0350]      FIG. 38  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which any missed putt by the player results in the ball entering water features  3801  which move the ball to an earlier part of the green. 
         [0351]      FIG. 39  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the ball must be putted from fairway  3902  across water  3903  which is “boiling” and bubbling to reach green  3908 . (The term “boiling” as used herein does not refer to high temperature of the water but to the specific type of vertical motion associated with the same word in water sports. Water boiling due to high temperature would be extremely undesirable and is not part of the invention as claimed.) 
         [0352]    Kayakers and other water sports fans know that a “boil” of water in a river, also called a “haystack” or other names, may cause extremely unpredictable motions of objects passing through. 
         [0353]      FIG. 40  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a thirty-fifth embodiment of the invention, in which extremely turbulent shallow water is present around the hole of the green area or in other parts of the hole. 
         [0354]    Water feature  4001  on fairway  4002  may make play across the fairway area  4002  while water feature  4003  on green  4008 . This feature may use swirling or turbulent water to make a ball hit into the water move in extremely unpredictable ways. 
         [0355]      FIG. 41  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which players are not restrained by walls but which leaves the players little choice but to enter a fairway  4102  crossed by horizontal water jets  4101  which may be (but are not necessarily) activated by sensors  4105 , or by a timer or randomly, etc. The jets may be at ground level as seen in  FIG. 36 , previously, or at ball level/ground level, as seen in  FIG. 42  below. 
         [0356]      FIG. 42  is a planform view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a ball may be impacted by water jets from the side of the course, rather than vertical jets. Ball  4200  is seen to be deflected by contact with a horizontal, ground level jet such as jet  4201  across fairway  4202 . Optional wall  4203  (not seen in the embodiment previously,  FIG. 41 ) may constrain player&#39;s ability to avoid having the ball deflected. An alternative dry path may be provided ( 4222 ) either in this embodiment or the in embodiment of  FIG. 36 . 
         [0357]      FIG. 43  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-third embodiment of the invention in which a ridge down the middle of a fairway area may divert balls into a water feature, and including backing walls. 
         [0358]    Water feature  4301  cooperates with mid-fairway slope  4303  which may cause balls to enter the water feature  4301  if balls are hit slowly, however, by making use of banking wall  4305 . 
         [0359]    Outlet  4309  may be positioned so that allowing the water feature  4301  to carry the ball will leave the ball in a less desirable position then if the player makes the shot. 
         [0360]      FIG. 44  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fourth embodiment of the invention in which a gate may be present in a water feature, the gate opening when players successfully pass their balls across a light sensor/laser arrangement, such as in a tunnel, thus opening the gates for a more direct route toward the hole. In alternative embodiments there may be no sensor, just a timed gate, a randomly timed gate, a gate which opens or closes depending some action or input by players and so on and so forth. 
         [0361]    Tunnel  4401  may have light sensor/source  4403  such as a laser and a light sensitive cell, which when actuated may change gates (in closed position)  4405  to gates (in open position)  4407 . 
         [0362]      FIGS. 45   a  and  45   b  are a planform view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-fifth embodiment of the invention in which the players shoot their balls off a ramp and into a water feature having nets instead of holes therein. 
         [0363]    Ramp  4501  ( FIG. 45   a ) leads players to shot into a pond  4505  ( FIG. 45   b ). Instead of holes, the pond may have nets  4503 . This feature is also useful as a final hole which retrieves balls from the players for re-use by the course. 
         [0364]      FIG. 46  is a planform view of a miniature golf hole according a forty-sixth embodiment of the invention in which the players stand on a platform  4609  and actually shot their balls away from the hole. The ball enters a water feature  4601  which then carries the ball back toward the green  4602 , for example, under the platform  4609  or around the player. Stairs  4607  may be provided for player convenience and safety in platform embodiments. 
         [0365]      FIG. 47  is a front view of a miniature golf hole according to a forty-seventh embodiment of the invention in which the players actually pass sideways under a flowing waterfall provided by an extended overhang, with a side water feature should balls leave the dry area. 
         [0366]    Water feature (sideways waterfall)  4701  has a walkable tunnel  4701  (number not correct) passing underneath overhang  4703  from which water feature (side river)  4705  flows toward the green area. 
         [0367]    The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1