Methods, systems and apparatus relating to golf games

Abstract

Golf game to practice putting and pitching. Pitching unit extends vertically from putting unit or can be separated. Multiple units represents multiple playing holes. Upper tier receives pitched ball and lower tier receives putted ball. Indoor or outdoor use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multi-tiered golf game comprising: 
 a substantially vertical support,    a lower tier connected at ground level to the substantially vertical support, the lower tier comprising a lower box comprising a forward facing open side sized to receive a golf ball that has been putted or chipped; and    an upper tier connected to the substantially vertical support at a level high enough to permit the golf ball to be chipped into the upper tier, the upper tier comprising an upper box sized to receive and retain the golf ball that has been chipped and is on the fly.    
     
     
         2 . The golf game of  claim 1  wherein the lower box comprises a first zone that is centrally located in the lower box and comprises indicia indicating a first award value for the golf ball striking such area and at least two second areas comprising indicia indicating a second award value for the golf ball striking such areas.  
     
     
         3 . The golf game of  claim 1  wherein the upper box comprises a raised back and a pliant material able to retain the golf ball on the fly with a reduced opportunity that the golf ball will bounce out.  
     
     
         4 . The golf game of  claim 3  wherein the upper box comprises netting.  
     
     
         5 . The golf game of  claim 3  wherein the upper box comprises soft foam.  
     
     
         6 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 5  wherein the lower box comprises a beveled front edge.  
     
     
         7 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 6  wherein the substantially vertical support comprises a wall.  
     
     
         8 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 6  wherein the substantially vertical support comprises a panel connected to the lower tier such that the lower tier provides a base for the substantially vertical support such that the substantially vertical support and the upper tier connected thereto form a free standing structure.  
     
     
         9 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 6  wherein the substantially vertical support comprises at least two vertical support legs each attached to the lower tier such that the lower tier provides a base for the substantially vertical support such that the substantially vertical support and the upper tier connected thereto form a free standing structure.  
     
     
         10 . The golf game of any one of claims  7 - 9  wherein the substantially vertical support comprises wood, steel or plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 10  wherein the upper box comprises indicia indicating a third award value for the golf ball landing in the upper box.  
     
     
         12 . The golf game of  claim 11  wherein the third award value is greater than the first award value and the second award value.  
     
     
         13 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 12  wherein the game further comprises a middle tier connected to the substantially vertical support at a level high enough to permit the golf ball to be chipped into the middle tier, the middle tier comprising a middle box sized to receive and retain the golf ball that has been chipped and is on the fly.  
     
     
         14 . The golf game of  claim 13  wherein the lower box, the middle box and the upper box are substantially the same size.  
     
     
         15 . The golf game of  claim 13  wherein the middle box and the upper box are about one-half the size of the lower box, and the middle box and the upper box are in staggered relation.  
     
     
         16 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 15  wherein the middle box comprises indicia indicating a fourth award value for the golf ball landing in the middle box.  
     
     
         17 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 16  wherein the golf game further comprises a funnel between the upper box and that lower box, the funnel sized to collect the golf ball from the upper box and transmit the golf ball to the lower box.  
     
     
         18 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 17  wherein the lower box further comprises an automatic return mechanism that ejects the golf ball from the lower box.  
     
     
         19 . The golf game of any one of claims  1 - 18  wherein the game further comprises the golf ball and a golf club.  
     
     
         20 . The golf game of  claim 19  wherein the golf ball is a soft, light golf ball comprising at least one of foam or perforated plastic.  
     
     
         21 . A method of playing a golf game comprising chipping or putting a golf ball into any one of the boxes in the golf game of any one of claims  1 - 20 .  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the method further comprises 
 providing each of a plurality of players with a set number of points;  
 having each player attempt to pitch or putt the golf ball into any one of the boxes;  
 adding at least one point to a player's score for each miss;  
 subtracting at least three points from the player's score for each pitch into the upper box;  
 subtracting a lesser number of points from the player's score for each pitch into the substantially vertical support; and,  
 subtracting a still lesser number of points from the player's score for each pitch or putt into the lower box.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the method further comprises declaring a winner when a first of the player's scores reaches 0.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  or  23  wherein the players alternate shots.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  or  23  wherein the players hit shots consecutively.  
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claims 21  to  26  wherein the method further comprises attempting pitches or putts at a plurality of different golf games of any one of claims  1 - 17 .  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the method further comprises 
 selecting a plurality of locations around the golf game of any one of claims  1 - 17 ;  
 attempting chips or putts from each of the locations until each player makes the chip or putt; and,  
 designating as a winner the player that requires the least number of chips or putts to make a chip or putt from each of the locations.  
 
     
     
         28 . A kit comprising a lower box comprising a forward facing open side sized to receive a golf ball that has been putted or chipped, an upper box sized to receive and retain the golf ball that has been chipped and is on the fly, and attachment devices suitable to attach the lower box and the upper box to the side of a wall, desk or table.  
     
     
         29 . The golf game of  claim 28  wherein the game further comprises a middle box sized to receive and retain the golf ball that has been chipped and is on the fly.