Ball tossing game and methods of play

Abstract

The present invention relates to games and methods of playing the games, as well as kits for playing such games, and more particularly to ball toss games played on a playing field surface, by way of non-limiting example on a surface such as a turf field, tennis court, sand field or sand beach, for example.

1 . A method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a court having a boundary that defines a playing surface;   providing at least one hole in the playing surface;   providing a game ball to a user located at a selected playing location on the court; and   allowing the user to take a turn, the turn comprising a toss, throw, or roll of the game ball toward the hole from the selected playing location, wherein the object is to score by landing the game ball in the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the court comprises at least one of sand or turf. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the court comprises at least two holes in the playing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least two of the holes are located at opposite ends of the court, and wherein at least one playing location is located at each of the opposite ends of the court. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises providing more than one user, and wherein each user alternates the taking of a turn. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises each user continuing to take a turn until any user has landed the game ball in the hole a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the game ball is selected from the group consisting of baseballs, softballs, tennis balls, racquet balls, handballs, playground balls, bocce balls, croquet balls, basketballs, volleyballs, beach balls, field hockey balls, and lacrosse balls. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further includes allowing a user to smooth the playing surface during a game. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein method comprises providing a hole apparatus for removably forming the hole in the playing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hole apparatus comprises a frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hole apparatus further comprises a sidewall protruding downward from the frame member, the frame member and sidewall configured and arranged to allow a user to press the apparatus into the playing surface, remove the playing surface enclosed by the frame member to a selected depth, and wherein the sidewall portion prevents collapse of the playing surface surrounding the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing a kit, the kit comprising game apparatus for executing the method of playing the game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the kit comprises apparatus for marking the boundaries of the court, and at least one hole apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus for marking the boundaries of the court comprise temporary marking apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temporary marking apparatus comprise at least 3 stakes, and at least one string element for interconnecting the stakes to form court boundaries. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hole apparatus of the kit comprises a frame member and a sidewall protruding downward from the frame member, the frame member and sidewall configured and arranged to allow a user to press the apparatus into the playing surface, remove the playing surface enclosed by the frame member to a selected depth, and wherein the sidewall portion prevents collapse of the playing surface surrounding the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the kit further comprises a game ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the kit further comprises a smoothing tool, and wherein the kit optionally includes a carry bag for enclosing all game apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for executing the method of playing the game of  claim 1 , the kit comprising at least one game ball, at least one hole apparatus, at least one apparatus for marking the boundaries of the court, at least one smoothing tool, and optionally a carry bag. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the kit comprises a carry bag, the carry bag made of permeable material that allows water, sand, and other contaminants to escape from the carry bag and its contents, such as by a user shaking the bag.