Game table and games for play thereupon

Abstract

A game for table-type play is disclosed that may incorporate and bring together the skills, predictive challenges, planning, accuracy, requirements of measured force over distance, challenges in the form of traps, hazards, and other topographical complexities, and low friction play, loosely drawn from games such as golf, hockey, and billiards. Game-playing area surface features may comprise selected ones of holes, tees, islands, topographical features, peripheral borders, scribe lines, numbering, and the like. A puck-like element for each player may be supported upon the game-playing surface for interaction with the game playing surface in accordance with pre-established rules of play.

1 . An apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising:
 a table top;   said table top defining a boundary;   said boundary defining a course; and   said course comprising one or more game playing element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said game playing element is selected from the group consisting of holes, tees, resting zones, islands, traps, roughs, obstructions, barriers, hazards, topographical features, depressions, roughly finished surface areas, bounded areas, bas-relief features, through-holes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a puck-like element. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising means for initiating movement of said puck-like element upon said table top within said boundary. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said means for initiating movement of said puck-like element upon said table top within said boundary is a cue stick. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said puck-like element comprises a bottom surface for sliding upon said table top. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said puck-like element comprises bumper means. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means for decreasing a coefficient of friction of said table top within said boundary. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said means for decreasing a coefficient of friction of said table top within said boundary is selected from the group consisting of particulate wax, particulate silicone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said boundary is non-rectangular. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said course comprises a plurality of holes, each said hole being associated with a unique indicia, and a tee associated with each said hole. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said course further comprises a plurality of impediments, each said impediment precluding movement of a puck-like element from one section of said course to another section of said course. 
     
     
         13 . A method for playing a game, the game comprising a table top, said table top defining a boundary, said boundary defining a course, and said course comprising a plurality of game playing elements in the form of holes and tees; and a puck-like element for movement upon said course; the method comprising:
 (a.) placing the puck-like element upon said course in a designated location; and   (b.) imparting a motive force to the puck-like element to move it across said course and toward a selected one of said plurality of holes;   (c.) wherein, if the puck-like element ends in position to score the selected hole, it is reset upon a successive tee and a motive force is imparted to the puck-like element to move it across the course and toward another selected one of said plurality of holes;   (d.) whereupon completion of each hole of the course, the game is ended.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising preplacement of an obstruction upon said course to limit movement of the puck-like element upon the course. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the motive force is imparted by use of a cue stick. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, before game play begins, a means for decreasing a coefficient of friction of the table top within the boundary is applied to the course. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said means for decreasing a coefficient of friction of said table top within said boundary is selected from the group consisting of particulate wax, particulate silicone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said puck-like element is used to block an opponent's attempt to score a hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a first player to complete the course by scoring each hole in indicated succession is declared the winner. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a rules set, the rules set comprising rules for beginning play, for making a hole, for landing in the wrong hole, for knocking another player into a game hole, and for taking additional turns. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising:
 a playing surface comprising a playing boundary, said playing boundary defining a playing course, said playing course comprising:
 a plurality of tees and a corresponding plurality of holes, each said tee associated with one of said plurality of holes; 
 an optional reserve tee not associated with a specific hole; and 
 at least one island or other course obstacle; and 
   a puck-like element for use by a player of the game, said puck-like element configured to interact with the apparatus during game play.