Golf computer game

Abstract

A computerized golf game to be played on a computer and including information relating to at least one golf course. The golf course information can be displayed on a display screen in the form of a map of the course, and the player can select an appropriate club and mark the spot at which he intends the ball to land. The player then executes a stroke, and the game determines where the ball actually lands. The computerized golf game can also include statistical information relating to the player's game on actual golf courses, and it is programmed to calculate the result of the player's strokes on the basis of the statistical information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computerized golf game to be played on a computer and including golf course layout information, said game comprising: 
 a) data storage means for storing golf course layout information for an actual golf course and for storing statistical information concerning a golf player's game and results of his execution of golf strokes using different golf clubs based upon the golfer's previous performance on actual golf courses;    b) display means for displaying the layout of a selected actual golf course and for receiving a desired ball position input from the golf player;    c) indicator means for indicating on the display means the player's desired ball position input;    e) means for selecting a particular golf club and for executing a golf stroke; and    f) calculating means for calculating a result of a player's golf stroke based upon the stored statistical information.    
     
     
         2 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 1 , including means for receiving result data from an apparatus that records results of different strokes previously made by the player on an existing golf course, wherein the result data are utilized in the computerized golf game to calculate results of strokes executed by the player in the computerized golf game.  
     
     
         3 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 1 , including random number generating means for obtaining a natural spread of results when calculating results achieved by the player.  
     
     
         4 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 1 , wherein the data storage means includes information relating to a player's golf handicap; and wherein the handicap information is utilized to calculate results of golf strokes executed by the player in the computerized golf game.  
     
     
         5 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 1 , wherein the data storage means includes additional information relating to play of other players, and wherein in the additional information is utilized to calculate results of golf strokes executed by the player in the computerized golf game.  
     
     
         6 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 1 , wherein the data storage means includes information relating to layouts of different golf courses, to enable display of different course layouts on the display means.  
     
     
         7 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 6 , including data entry means for receiving golf course layout information carried on a data carrier means and for entering golf course layout information carried on a data carrier means.  
     
     
         8 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 6 , wherein golf course layout information is obtained from a server via a network for entry into the data storage means.  
     
     
         9 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 6 , wherein the golf course layout information includes maps of respective holes on the golf course.  
     
     
         10 . A computerized golf game according to  claim 9 , wherein the maps include three-dimensional images of the golf course.  
     
     
         11 . A method for playing a computerized golf game said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a computer having a data storage means, data entry means, calculating means and a display means;    b) storing in the data storage means golf course layout information for an actual golf course and statistical information concerning a golf player's game and results of his execution of golf strokes using different golf clubs based upon the golfer's previous performance on actual golf courses;    c) executing a golf stroke based upon a particular golf club selected by the player for playing a particular stroke on a particular hole of a particular golf course; and    d) calculating a result of a player's golf stroke based upon the stored golf course layout information and the stored statistical information.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , including the steps of receiving and storing result data from an apparatus that records results of different strokes previously made by the player on an existing golf course, and utilizing the result data to calculate results of strokes executed by the player in the computerized golf game.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of obtaining from a random number generating means a natural spread of results when calculating results achieved by the player.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the steps of storing in the data storage means information relating to a player's golf handicap, and calculating results of golf strokes by the player by utilizing the player's handicap information.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of adding to the data storage means additional information relating to play of other players, and utilizing the additional information to calculate results of golf strokes executed by the player.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of storing in the date storage means information relating to layouts of different golf courses, to enable display of different course layouts on the display means.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , including the step of receiving golf course layout information carried on a data carrier means.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , including the step of receiving golf course layout information from a server via a network.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the golf course layout information includes maps of respective holes on the golf course.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the maps include three-dimensional images of the golf course.