Game stick and game utilizing the same

Abstract

A game stick and game are disclosed. The game stick includes a shaft with a head at one end. A channel wide enough for a game ball is defined in the head. The ball is placed in the channel and when the game stick is swung, the ball rides along the channel and is released therefrom to fly through the air. The head may be adjustable to affect the way in which the ball is thrown. The game is similar to golf except that instead of hitting the ball, the ball is thrown toward a target location at the end of a fairway. When the target location is reached, the game stick may be used as a putter to push or putt the ball to sink it into a sunken cup in the ground.

1 . A game stick for use with a game ball, said stick comprising:
 a shaft having a first end and a second end;   a head provided at the second end of the shaft;   a channel defined in the head and adapted to receive the game ball therein and from which the game ball is thrown during play.   
     
     
         2 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , further including a striking surface for pushing or puffing the game ball when the ball is resting on a ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The game stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the striking surface is provided at an end of the stick opposite the channel; adjacent the channel, or on a side wall of the head. 
     
     
         4 . The game stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the striking surface is flat or concave. 
     
     
         5 . The game stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the striking surface is provided on the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The game stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the striking surface is selectively retractable and extendable relative to the region of the stick upon which the striking surface is provided. 
     
     
         7 . The game stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the striking surface is disposed substantially at right angles to the ground surface when the stick is positioned to push or putt the game ball across the ground surface. 
     
     
         8 . The game stick as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the stick further includes a region adjacent the striking surface that is disposed substantially parallel to the ground surface when the shaft is held in a plane substantially perpendicular to the ground surface and at an angle of from about 45° to about 90° relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is of a first length and the channel is of a second length; and wherein the first length is from about ten times to about fifteen times the second length. 
     
     
         10 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a width that is generally equal in diameter to a golf-ball. 
     
     
         11 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a first and a second side wall; and the channel is defined between an interior surface of the first side wall and an interior surface of the second side wall. 
     
     
         12 . The game stick as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second side walls are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel originates proximate the shaft of the game stick and extends for a distance forwardly toward a first end of the head. 
     
     
         14 . The game stick as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising an opening to the channel defined at the first end of the head; and the opening is adapted to allow the ball to exit from the channel during a throw. 
     
     
         15 . The game stick as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the head further includes a bottom wall extending between the first and second side walls; and the bottom wall is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         16 . The game stick as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the head further includes a bottom wall extending between the first and second side walls; and the bottom wall is not rigid. 
     
     
         17 . The game stick as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel is substantially J-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a game utilizing a game stick and a ball, where the game is played on a course; said method including the steps of:
 h) placing the ball in a channel defined in a head of the game stick;   i) gripping an end of a shaft of the game stick which extends outwardly from the head;   j) swinging the shaft to throw the ball;   k) aiming the game stick toward a target location at an end of a fairway on the game course;   l) throwing the ball using the channel of the game stick;   m) moving to a position on the fairway where the thrown ball has landed; and   n) repeating steps a) through f) until the target location is reached.   
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of putting or pushing the game ball with another part of the game stick other than the channel when the game ball is resting on a ground surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the steps of swinging the shaft includes swinging the shaft through the air and without the head touching a ground surface upon which the player stands. 
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the step of putting or pushing the game ball further includes directing the putted or pushed game ball toward a hole in or on the ground surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the step of pushing the ball toward the hole further includes maintaining contact with the ball.