GB2356573A

GB2356573A - Golf driving range

Info

Publication number: GB2356573A
Application number: GB9927522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Michael Walsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-23
Filing date: 1999-11-23
Publication date: 2001-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-23
Also published as: GB2356573B; GB9927522D0

Description

2356573 Title: Golf Ranyze The present invention relates to a golf range.

Many different types of golf ranges exist. Most of these require that a golfer takes a number of balls to practice with and hits these onto the range. These balls then need to be collected which is a waste of time and tedious.

The invention seeks to provide a golf range which avoids these difficulties.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf range comprising an artiricial elongate fairway along which a golf ball can be hit from a first end of the fairway, said fairway being inclined over at least one area such that a ball landing on the fairway will roll to at least one edge of the fairway, and collecti on means along the or each edge to convey any ball back to said first end.

Preferably the fairway is inclined in.at least two areas such that a ball will roll to the left hand long edge of the fairway if the ball lands to the left of a centreline of the fairway, and a ball will roll to the right hand long edge of the fairway if the ball lands to the right of the centreline of the fairway.

2 In one embodiment the fairway is formed from material pleated along the length of the fairway to create a series of lateral ridges and troughs along the length of the fairway, the centre of each trough being raised relative to the edges of each trough whereby a ball landing on the fairway will roll into a trough, and then roll to a trough side edge.

Preferably the end of the fairway remote from said first end is raised relative to the first end so that the fairway is inclined along its length, and said collection means includes a gutter running along each long edge of the fairway, balls rolling to either long edge of the fairway falling into a gutter, each gutter being inclined to the same degree as said fairway and balls falling in the gutter will tend to roll towards said first end under influence of gravity.

Preferably a pump is provided to circulate water from the lower end of the gutter to the raised end of the gutter to assist movement of balls along the gutter.

Preferably a golf ball conveyor is provided to raise golf balls from the lower end of the gutter to a golf ball dispenser.

The fairway may be fori-ned from material supported on a frame. The material may be porous to allow rainwater to pass through it so preventing the creation of puddles on the fairway.

Side walls.. e.g. of netting, may be provided around the edges of the fairway.

3 Lighting may be provided around the edges of the fairway.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a golf range 1. Range I has an artificial elongate fairway 2 along which a golf ball can be hit from a first end 3. Fairway 2 has a centreline X-X and long side edges 2A,213. At first end 3 are six dedicated areas 3A,3B,3C,3D,3E,3F, e.g. formed from matting, from which a golfer 4 can hit a golf ball along tile length of the fairway.

Fairway 2 is fort-ned from material pleated along its length to create a series of lateral ridges and troughs along the length of the fairway. The centre of each trough where it disects the centreline X-X is raised relative to the fairway edges 2A,213 and hence the edges of each trough whereby a ball landing on the fairway will roll into a trough, and then roll to a trough side edge on a fairway edge 2A,213. It will be appreciated that a ball will roll to the left hand long edge 2B of the fairway if the ball lands to the left of centreline X-X of the fairway, and a bait will roll to the right hand long edge 2A of the fairway if the ball lands to the right of the centreline X-X of the fairway.

The far end 5 of the fairway remote from first end 3 is raised relative to the first end so that the fairway is inclined along its length. The incline may be very gradual, for example the length of the fairway may be 300 metres and the far end 5 may be only one or two nietres higher than first end 3.

4 A pair of gutters 6A,613 run along each long edge 2A,213 of the fairway 2 respectively, with each gutter being inclined to the same degree as said fairway. Any ball failing on the fairway will roll along a trough to a fairway side edge 2A or 2B and into gutter 6A or 6B. A ball falling in a gutter will tend to roll towards said first end 3 under influence of gravity due to the incline of the gutter.

Water pumps 7A,713 are each connected to either end of gutter 6A,613 respectively. The pumps 7A,713 pump water so that water circulates down the incline of each gutter. This movement of water assists movement of balls along the gutter towards first end 3. The water pumps and gutters form a collection means.

Each lower end of gutter 6A,613 is connected to a golf ball conveyor 8A,813 respectively to raise golf balls from the lower end of each gutter to a golf ball dispenser 9A,913.

In use a golfer can take golf balls from a dispenser 9A,913. The golfer can hit balls along the fairway which are automatically collected and returned to the dispenser.

The fairway may be formed from material supported on a frame. The material may be porous to allow rainwater to pass through it so preventing the creation of puddles on the fairway.

Side walls I OA, I OB, I OC, e.g. of netting, may be provided around the edges of the fairway.

Lighting, such as floodlights I IAJ 113,1 ICJ ID, maybe provided around the edges of the fairway so that it can be used when there is insufficient daylight.

The golf range of the invention may typically be 30 metres wide, and 30 metres between ridges, with a total length of 300 metres.(The total number of ridges would thus be ten, but only 6 are shown). The drawing is thus shown somewhat out of proportion.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described. For example the length and width could be different as could the number of and distance between troughs and ridges. The troughs and ridges could be omitted and the surface of the fairway simply inclined in one or more directions.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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6

Claims

1. A golf range comprising an artificial elongate fairway along which a golf ball can be hit from a first end of the fairway, said fairway being inclined over at least one area such that a ball landing on the fairway will roll to at least one edge of the fairway, and collection means along the or each edge to convey any ball back to said first end.

2. A golf range as claimed in claim 1, in which the fairway is inclined in at least two areas such that a ball will roll to the left hand long edge of the fairway if the ball lands to the left of the fairway, and a ball will roll to the right hand long edge of the fairway if the ball lands to the right of the fairway.

3. A golf range as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the fairway is formed from material pleated along the length of the length of the fairway to create a series of lateral ridges and troughs along the length of the fairway, the centre of each trough being raised relative to the edges of the trough whereby a ball landing on the fairway will roll into a trough and then to a trough side edge.

4. A golf range as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the end of the fairway remote from said first end is inclined along its length, and said collection means includes a gutter 7 running along each long edge of the fairway, balls rolling to either long edge of the fairway falling into a gutter and each gutter being inclined to the same degree as said fairway so that balls falling into a gutter will tend to roll towards the first end under gravity.

5. A golf range as claimed in claim 4, in which a pump is provided to circulate water from the lower end of the gutter to the raised end of the gutter to assist movement of balls along the gutter.

6. A golf range as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which a conveyor is provided to raise golf balls from the lower end of the gutter to a golf ball dispenser.

7. A golf range as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the fairway comprises a material supported on a frame.

8. A golf range as claimed in claim 7, in which the material is porous to rainwater. 9. A golf range as claimed in any preceding claim, in which side walls are provided around the edges of the fairway.

8 10. A golf range as claimed in claim 9, in which the side walls are made of netting. 11. A golf range as claimed in any preceding claim, in which in which artificial lighting is provided at the edges of the fairway.

12. A golf range substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown the accompanying drawings.