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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the overcrowded conditions of conventional golf courses, the expense
of play and the time required to play a round of golf, a number of people
have recognized the need for providing a compact form of golf course which
is less expensive due to use of less land, allows multiple players to
speed up the time and as a result of the two, reduces the cost to the golf
player. A number of patents have issued for compact golf courses as a
result. These patents include the following:
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U.S. Pat. No. Issued Inventor
______________________________________
3,129,943 April 21, 1964 McKee
3,310,310 March 21, 1967 McKee
3,464,703 Sept. 2, 1969 Vallas
3,685,832 Aug. 22, 1972 Johnson
3,904,209 Sept. 9, 1975 Thomas
3,999,764 Dec. 28, 1976 Nitsche
4,019,748 April 26, 1977 Healey
4,063,738 Dec. 20, 1977 Michalson
4,129,300 Dec. 12, 1978 Magnuson
4,129,510 March 11, 1980 Miller
4,283,056 Aug. 11, 1981 Miller
______________________________________
Each of these patents disclose golf courses requiring significantly less
ground than a standard golf course, and often to varying degrees appear to
achieve the objective of faster play and reduced cost.
It would appear from the study of these patents that many of them go to a
great extent to simulate play of the golf course and may attempt to
provide an atmosphere of isolation through the use of natural and
artificial barriers between player tees providing a degree of simulation
of play of a conventional golf course. While a number of these objectives
have been attained, at least partially, the compact golf course has not
reached any significant acceptance in the golf community as noted by their
absence from thu modern day golf scene. In a typical metropolitan area,
one will find public and private full size golf courses, par three or
reduced yardage golf courses and driving ranges but this inventor has yet
to see a single operating compact golf course of the type disclosed in the
above patents. Recognizing the continuing need for compact golf courses
and after further study of the features of the several disclosures, this
inventor finds that his basic concept provides features not present in any
prior compact golf course designs and in fact provides a game of golf
which is superior in a number of respects to the conventional golf game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This inventor has, he believes, eliminated some of the inherent weaknesses
in the prior attempts to attain a satisfactory compact golf course and to
provide a more interesting play than even conventional golf. He employs a
generally rectangular course of variable dimensions and having as a
typical size 100 yards in width by 400 yards in length exclusive of
service, club house and parking areas. The layout is generally rectangular
which makes it most adaptable to available real estate but is not limited
to such a shape. The layout includes a number, for example 10 tees, each
directed toward a fairway of at least 300 yards in length and 100 yards in
width. A number of yardage indicators which may be in the form of yard
lines are provided as well as targets at varying ranges from 40 to 300
yards. The targets may take the form of a simulated green and pin. Hazards
on the fairway are provided and an out-of-bound line on each side of the
fairway is present. Within short walking distance of the tees are a
plurality of pitching greens with arcuate lines defining varying distances
from the pitching green, namely 50 to 20 yards. One or more putting greens
are also provided. A number of television cameras are directed at the
fairway allowing the player to follow and locate his ball in flight and on
landing in order to properly record its range. A closed circuit television
receiver is located at each tee for viewing by players in observing their
balls.
An improved water hazard is also disclosed as well as an improved tee
station.
In accordance with the method of this invention, the player is given a
number of distinctive balls sufficient for a round of 9 or 18 holes. He
selects a particular course which he intends to simulate playing and
records the yardage for each of the holes of the round on a score card. A
player drives his first tee shot and records the distance attained and any
penalty if he enters a trap or lands out of bounds. He subtracts the
yardage attained from the yardage remaining on the first hole of his
selected course and takes his second or fairway shot and again subtracts
yardage attained from the remaining yardage to the first hole. When his
ball lands 50 yards or less from a traget pin he moves to the chipping
pitching green `C` at the appropriate distance on the arcuate play areas
and chips or pitches to the green `C` by recording each shot numerically.
If he lands on the target green `P` in his fairway play, he moves to the
putting green to putt out and records his play for the hole. He and his
playing partners return to the tee reserved to them, and proceed to play
the next hole in like manner. The play may be by a foursome, threesome,
pair of single player without affecting performance. The score card
reflects not only the number of strokes required for each hole but also
the yardage and quality of shot obtained for each fairway club used and
the number of putts. Alternate embodiments involve a double ended course
and a trapezoidal shaped course.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
This invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed
description and by reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact golf course in accordance with
this invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;
FIG. 2A is a plan view of an alternate trapezoidal embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment double ended layout of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a single tee;
FIG. 5 is a sectioned perspective view of a novel water hazard in
accordance with this invention;
FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the closed circuit television
system of this invention; and
FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of the supplemental lighting visual
aid system of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Now for a clear understanding of this invention, attention is directed
toward FIG. 1 which provides somewhat of an aerial view of the basic
elements of this invention excluding club house, service area and parking.
The compace golf course in accordance with this invention generally
designated 10, comprises a tee area 11 including a number of individual
tees designated A-G for convenience. The tees face a fairway generally
designated 12 including perimeter fences denoted by lines 13L and 13R and
out of bound lines 14L and 14R. We have a number of yardage indicators
shown for convenience as yardage lines 15, preferably located at 20 yard
intervals from the tees 11. Also present in the fairway are a plurality of
targets 16A through 16K. The targets are shown 11 in number, however there
is nothing critical about the particular number or location of the targets
other than that they are at varying distances from the tees in the
fairway. A number of sand traps designated S and one or more water hazards
designated W are present in the fairway to provide natural hazards in
play. The rough strip designated in FIGS. 2A and 3 as ROUGH regions are
preferably mowed at a higher level than the fairway to accurately
represent rough.
In FIG. 1 shown to the rear or adjacent to the tees 11 but located at any
place in the region are a pair of putting greens 20L and 20R designated by
the letters P and a number of chipping pitching greens 21 designated by
the letter C. The chipping pitching greens 21 are preferably located at
the side perimeter of the property of the course and between the chipping
pitching greens 21L to the left and 21R to the right. In FIG. 1 is a
central walkway 23 from the tee area along a curved arc and a number of
chipping positions 22 at varying distances from the several, for example,
6 chipping greens 21. The curved chipping lines 22 allow the players to
position themselves at any correct distance from the chipping pin
corresponding to the remaining distance after his last fairway shot. If
his remaining distance was about 43 yards, he positions himself along the
left chipping line 22, slightly closer to the 40 indicator than the 50
yard mark. The large number of chipping greens and the continuously
variable chipping distances allows a number of players to chip or pitch
simultaneously without interference with each other. Adjacent to the
chipping pitching greens 21 are the putting greens 20L and 20R, either of
which the player may use. As shown in FIG. 1, the putting greens `P` are
located near the tees 11 as is usually found in conventional full courses
but the location of the greens may be moved to accommodate the particular
terrain in which the course is located.
Now referring to FIG. 2, two other aspects of this invention may be seen.
The addition to the tees 11, yardage lines 15, and greens 20 and 21, the
fairway targets 16A-K may be seen more clearly. They each include a pin or
flag and are located at 25 yard range intervals from the tee line 11. The
target greens 16 are 20 yards in radius and include an outer circle of a
10 yard radius and an inner circle of 3 yards.
Certain other features of this invention may also be seen in FIG. 2. A
number of closed circuit television cameras 40 are located at the side of
the fairway 12 with suitable protection from stray balls and are directed
toward the fairway 12. The cameras 40 cover the fairway region so that any
one camera will be no greater than 60 yards from any ball lie. The cameras
40 aid the player in picking out his ball, and in accurately determining
the distance of each shot. The closed circuit television cameras give him
an accurate view of the ball location. The cameras may have zoom
capability and in such case where controls are available to the player, he
may have a quite close look at his ball. Since it is the practice of using
distinctively marked balls for each player, the identification of a
player's ball is even easier with the television cameras. As shown in FIG.
2, a total of 10 television cameras are used but this number may very
depending upon the requirements of the particular course.
FIG. 6 shows a simplified block diagram of the television camera and
monitor system. The several cameras 40 are all connected by cables 41 to
each of the tees. A selector switch 92B, 93B etc. allows players to
connect any of the cameras to the local monitor 92 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 2 also shows a basic lighting system used for night play and a
supplemental play actuated visual aid lighting system is shown in FIGS. 4
and 7. The basic lighting system includes drop or fluorescent lighting at
each tee designated 50 and banks of elevated flood lights 51-54 directed
at the fairway 12 and 55 directed at the chipping and putting greens.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of this invention which is
double-ended. In FIG. 3 the same or slightly longer fairway 12 is used
than in the case of FIG. 1. This embodiment differs in that an additional
set of tees 111, chipping greens 121 and putting greens 122 are present at
the opposite end of fairway 12. The fairway range markers 15 bear
designations indicating the distance from either end, usually visible from
one end only. The targets 16 also bear dual distance designations to be
observed by the golfer at the tees and by the cameras.
This version of my invention, requiring only about 20 percent additional
real estate, increases the number of tees by 100 percent. Each of the
other features of this invention remain in the embodiment of FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 4, one form of tee may be seen in the form of a booth
generally designated 80 including boundary side walls 81 and 82 which form
common walls with adjoining tee booths. The booths 80 are preferably
covered by a roof 83 for sun and rain protection for the players. A bench
84 is provided for other members of the player's party and rack 85 for
golf bags may be present. The front of the booth 80 includes some form of
turf 86, either natural or artificial for fairway shots. It also receives
golf tees for tee shots. A central tee region 90, similar to driving
ranges may be provided or the entire front area may be of turf.
The booth 80 also includes a course layout board 91, preferably attached to
the wall 82 and having a number of large layouts for prominent courses of
the world. The players may select the course to simulate play and display
the appropriate layout on the wall throughout play. Where such course will
include unusual hazards, the precision needed to play such courses is
simulated in this invention by the targets 16 toward which all tee and
fairway shots should be directed. Thus, the presence of targets on the
fairway adds a new dimension to the game of golf by providing a value
measure for each shot as well as mere range and position. Accuracy also is
a factor in this game.
I have provided closed circuit television for monitoring the flight and
position of the ball. This is in the form of the television cameras 40 a-j
of FIG. 2 and the television monitor 92 of FIG. 4. The monitor 92 is
located in the booth at an elevated position, out of playing areas and
generally in the line of the player's normal field of view when tracking
the flight of his ball. The elevated position shown in FIG. 4 is desirable
for booths generally to the right of the centerline of the course. Other
locations may, of course, be selected to provide the best view for the
players. Since a number of television cameras are in operation and only
one or two will give the best view of the ball's flight, a channel
selector switch 93 is provided to allow the players to select the
appropriate camera. This may be done before taking the shot if the
player's shot is predictable or immediately after the shot while the ball
is in flight.
Under conditions of night play, normal lighting may be insufficient to
provide a clear image in the television system. In such case the
supplemental lighting system of FIG. 2 is energized for a period
approximating the longest flight and sufficient time to follow the roll
and clearly identify and locate the player's ball. This is done employing
the play actuated switch of this invention. In its preferred form the play
activated switch includes a light source 95 secured overhead to wall 81
and a photo electric cell 96 secured in alignment with the light source on
the opposite wall 82. Located overhead above the player's head the passage
of the club through the light path 95A interrupts the light beam and
triggers the supplemental lighting just as the player completes his
stroke.
The play actuated lighting system appears in FIG. 7. It comprises a play
actuated switch such as the combination of light source 95 and photocell
96 located in each booth. This switch combination acts through a delay
device such as a slow acting relay 98 to light the supplemental lighting
system 60-67. After a predetermined period of time, e.g. 16 seconds, a
reset circuit 99 extinguishes the supplemental lighting unless a second
golfer has again energized the system.
FIG. 5 shows an improved form of hazard which is directly applicable to
this course or may be used on a conventional course as well. It is a
shallow lake water hazard having a solid bottom such as gunite type
concrete. The water hazard, generally designated 100, is located in the
fairway 101 and gives the same general appearance as a natural water
hazard. It is, however, only a few inches deep and has a hard yet
resilient bottom 102, preferably of concrete. The depth varies from 3 to 8
inches in my preferred embodiment. The lake or water hazard 100 may be
static with just makeup water added to maintain the level of water between
3 and 8 inches in depth or it may include a recirculating system 104 as
disclosed in FIG. 5 including a pump and motor combination in an equipment
vault 105 indicated in dashed lines, supply 110 and return 111 lines.
The tapered bottom of the water hazard 100 allows balls which land and
remain in the trap to roll along the bottom to a collection point for ease
of recovery. Balls may be easily seen and recovered when the course is not
in use. In conventional courses ball recovery using my improved water
hazard may occur during play without disturbing other players because of
the shallow depth and normal bottom visibility which allows recovery of
the ball in just a few seconds. Standard mobile ball retrieving equipment
may collect balls by driving through the hazard.
Anytime a ball hits the water of a water hazard, the golfer marks "W" on
his score card where he records the length of that shot, and counts one
stroke penalty. His yardage is that at where his ball hits the water.
THE METHOD OF PLAY
The method of play in accordance with this invention involves the player or
players registering and receiving a fixed number of balls; usually
distinctively each marked and entering the tee booth or tee position. The
course to simulate play is selected and the course layout posted for
reference and to add to the atmosphere of the course.
The golfer selects the course he wishes to simulate play for that round. He
notes on his scorecard the name of the course he has selected and the
distance and par of each hole for that course before he begins play.
Example: Hole No. 1 - 385 yards. After teeing off, the golfer records the
yardage he has advanced the ball in his first shot. (He ascertains this
with the aid of the closed circuit TV and the monitor located at this tee,
and the location of his ball in relation to the marked off, horizontal
yardage lines visible to him and the closed circuit TV.) (Target greens
and circles are not yet involved.)
The yardage recorded must be that determined where the ball lies in
relation to the horizontal yardage lines, at 20 yard intervals, across the
fairway. If his drive was a sharp slice to the right, he may have hit his
ball actually longer, due to the angle, but he only records the yardage he
has advanced the ball up the fairway. The added length he hit it off to
one side is lost as a penalty for mis-hitting it. Example: His observed
yardage for his drive was 170 yards. He notes the 170 yards on his
scorecard and subtracts that from the 385 yards, leaving 215 yards for his
second fairway shot.
All fairway shots are made from his tee, which remains reserved to him and
his playing pertners, until the round is completed.
For his second fairway shot he selects the fairway target green (which now
becomes involved in the play) which distance from the tee is at the
closest yardage that is greater than 215 yards. Therefore, the 225 yard
target green would become his target for his second shot. He selects the
appropriate club for that distance.
He than plays a second ball from the his toward the 225-yard target green
and observes with the aid of the closed circuit TV the yardage he has
advanced the ball. (Again, this will be the yardage location where his
second ball comes to rest between the horizontal yardage lines located
across the fairway.) He may have hooked a long ball off to the left--but
only records the yardage where his ball lies in relation to the yardage
lines; this being the yardage his second shot has further advanced the
ball directly forward.
Assume his second shot is 183 yards. He notes same on his scorecard below
the 225 yards he previously noted and subtracts the 183 yards from the 225
yards, leaving a distance of 42 yards.
If he has missed his target green but has hit within 50 yards of his target
green, (at any location around the hole) and if still off the green he
observes the yardage from that hole and notes that distance on his
scorecard.
He then proceeds to the chipping-pitching greens "C" approach area.
He places either his own or a specially marked ball in the adjacent `C`
approach on one of the 2 sets of `Yardage Lines` at the location along the
line that corresponds with the distance he has missed his target green. He
then chips or pitches onto the `C` green and putts out.
If he has reached the fairway target green he notes on his scorecard only
the observed distance in yards that the ball is from the pin.
He then proceeds to the `P` Putting Green, places either his own ball, or a
specially marked course ball at that noted yardage or 3 foot strides from
a hole on the `P` Putting Green, putts out and records his total strokes
for that hole on his scorecard.
He than walks back to the tee reserved for him, and plays the remaining
holes in like manner.
All lengths of distance are measured in yards, or 3 foot strides.
If, during the fairway play, he lands in a fairway sand trap, he marks `S`
on his scorecard next to the noted stroked distance when he went into the
trap. He continues his fairway play as though he had not gone into the
trap. However, after he has reached within 50 yards of his fairway Target
Green, but missed it, he proceeds to the Chipping-Pitching Greens, places
his or her special ball at his last remaining yardage from the
Chipping-Pitching Green pin. He must then chip or pitch into the trap that
is adjacent to the Chipping-Pitching Green `C`, play from the trap onto
the Chipping-Pitching green `C` and putt out.
If he has an `S` during his fairway play,and does not miss his Target
Green, he must first toss his ball into the sand trap adjacent to the
Putting Green `P` and play out onto the putting green `P`, and putt out,
recording his total strokes on that hole.
If he misses his Target Green and lands in the adjacent sand trap, then at
the putting green `P` he must first toss his ball into the sand trap `S`
and play out onto the putting green `P` and putt out. When a golfer's ball
lands in the rough, he plays his next ball at this tee, off of the rough
pad.
If the ball lands in a water trap, he marks a small `w` on his scorecard
next to the noted stroked distance and counts one stroke penalty.
When the ball hits a side boundary, he marks a small `b` on his scorecard
next to the noted stroked distance for that hole, and he takes a two
stroke penalty.
Following this procedure, the full round of golf proceeds for each player.
The above described embodiments of this invention are merely descriptive of
its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of this
invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following
claims, including their equivalents.
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