QOLF

"QOLF," (pronounced KWALF) is, according to the manufacturers, "an indoor/outdoor game that is a cross between golf and croquet." It is, again according to the manufacturers, a popular leisure game in South Africa, which "now comes to the U.S. as the ultimate family fun game, as well as a unique golf practice tool."

Heartened by all these promises of patently family-friendly goflike glee, now, at last, available indoors and out, one is drawn inexorably to a contemplation of the various implications of the vertical target with both hole and arch, especially when combined with the shot-shapable nature of the Qolfball.

There's been a lot of very focused playing around here. The path from golf to Qolf, clearly, was by no means direct. The goal here was not to come up with what one might consider a "new" game, but rather with a way for people to practice an old game in new environments. Replacing a golf cup with an arch (as in croquet), but still playing by the rules of golf (no, you don't get to knock your opponents' balls off the green) certainly make things a lot easier to set up. But adding an extra hole on top of the arch is what we in the game biz call a "significant variation." By managing to pitch the ball through the hole, the player gets bonus points, and a chance to pull closer to the lead. Thus sustaining hope almost all the way to the last stroke.

Not truly a Junkyard-like golfish thing, but inspiring significant golf-croquet-like contempation, nevertheless.