Golf putting game

Abstract

A golf putting game using a mat is shown and described. The mat is visually demarcated into a center penalty zone, two surrounding penalty zones, and two outermost reward zones, with a simulated hole in the center penalty zone. In a first phase of play, players attempt to propel golf balls across nearly the entire mat, from one outermost reward zone towards an opposed reward zone. Success elicits point awards. After a predetermined number of award points is attained, each player attempts to propel a golf ball into the simulated hole. Failure results in deductions from previously accumulated awards. That player having the highest score after deductions may be declared the winner.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for at least one golf player playing a putting game using a golf ball and a putting iron for striking and propelling the golf ball, the apparatus comprising a mat visually demarcating:
 a starting region from which a golf ball is to be struck;   a ball reception region into which the golf ball is to be struck and in which the ball is to remain;   a penalty area between the starting region and the ball reception region, the penalty area intended to apply a scoring penalty for balls propelled from the starting region towards the ball reception region, wherein propelled balls fail to reach the ball reception region and come to rest within the penalty area; and   a target on the penalty area between the starting region and the ball reception region, wherein
 the starting region is smaller in area than the penalty area, and the target is smaller in area than the starting region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the starting region is one of two different starting regions, the ball reception region is one of two different ball reception regions, thereby accommodating two competing players who play by propelling the golf ball in opposed directions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a starting region for a first one of the two competing players serves as the ball reception region of a second one of the two competing players, and the starting region for the second one of the two competing players serves as the ball reception region of the first one of the two competing players. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the mat is bilaterally symmetrical about the target, and the starting regions, the ball reception regions, and the penalty area are arrayed linearly. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ball reception region is visually subdivided into a first ball reception section corresponding to a first attainable score and a second ball reception section corresponding to a second attainable score different from the first attainable score. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each said penalty area is visually subdivided into a proximal penalty area relatively close to the target and two distal penalty areas surrounding the proximal penalty area, thereby enabling a first penalty to be applied to a player propelling a golf ball into the proximal penalty area and a second penalty to be applied to a player propelling a golf ball into one of the two distal penalty areas. 
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a putting game using a mat visually demarcating a proximal penalty area in a center of the mat, a target in the proximal penalty area, a first distal penalty area and a second distal penalty area, wherein the first distal penalty area and the second distal penalty area collectively sandwich the first distal penalty area therebetween, and a first ball reception region and a second ball reception region, wherein the first ball reception region and the second ball reception region collectively sandwich the first distal penalty area, the proximal penalty area, the target, and the second distal penalty area therebetween, and the first ball reception region of a first player serves as a starting area for a second player, and the second ball reception region of the second player serves as a starting area for the first player, the method comprising:
 in a first phase of the putting game, having the first player place a golf ball in the starting area for the first player and using a putter, propel the golf ball towards the first ball reception area;   awarding the first player a positive score upon propelling the golf ball into the first ball reception area;   having the second player place a golf ball in the starting area for the second player and using a putter, propel the golf ball towards the second ball reception area;   awarding the second player a positive score upon propelling the golf ball into the second ball reception area; and   in a second phase of the putting game, for each player, upon a player cumulatively attaining at least a minimum predetermined score in said first phase,   the player may attempt to propel a respective golf ball from his (her) respective starting area to the target.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the first phase, having each player successively propel a plurality of balls towards an associated ball reception area during that player's turn. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising awarding a scoring bonus to any player in the first phase who drives all of his (her) plurality of balls into a proximal associated ball reception area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising awarding a scoring bonus to any player in the first phase who drives at least one of his (her) plurality of balls into the proximal associated ball reception area and at least one other of his (her) plurality of balls into a distal associated ball reception area. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising awarding a scoring bonus to any player in the first phase who drives all of his (her) plurality of balls into the distal associated ball reception area. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein should any player propel a ball off the mat, having the propelled ball removed from play and rendered ineligible for any point award during a round in which the ball went off the mat. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the second phase, having a propelled ball stop within the proximal penalty area causes the player who propelled the ball to incur a deduction from the positive score. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the second phase, having a propelled ball stop within one of said distal penalty areas causes the player who propelled the ball to incur a deduction from the positive score. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the first phase, should a player propel a golf ball into another one of his golf balls, removing the struck ball from play and rendering the struck ball ineligible for scoring during that round when the ball was struck. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the first phase, should a player propel a golf ball onto a character of indicia on the mat, awarding that player an additional score. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the first phase, should a player propel a golf ball into a golf ball of an opponent, awarding an additional score to the opponent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the second phase, should a player propel a golf ball off the mat, removing that ball from play and rendering that ball ineligible for scoring during that round when the ball was propelled off the mat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, should a player strike with a golf club a ball of an opponent, awarding an additional score to the opponent and affording the opponent an additional opportunity to put the struck ball into the starting area and propelling the ball onto the mat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, in the second phase, should a player propel a golf ball into a golf ball of an opponent, applying no penalty to the player propelling the golf ball.