GB2475515A

GB2475515A - Holecutting guide

Info

Publication number: GB2475515A
Application number: GB0920352A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tim Webb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-20
Filing date: 2009-11-20
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-20
Also published as: GB0920352D0; GB2475515B

Abstract

The present invention provides a holecutting guide1suitable for use with holecutters with depth limiting means for cutting golf holes. The holecutting guide1comprises a base2with an aperture4formed therethrough, and at least one shim3with an aperture4formed therethrough wherein, the at least one shim3is removably mountable on the base2such that single aperture4extends through the base2and the at least one shim3and an impact resistant surface is provided at an upper end of the single aperture4for cooperating with a depth limiting means of a holecutter operating through the single aperture4. There may be a plurality of shims which may be substantially identical or be of different thicknesses. The upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the at least one shim may comprise cooperatively formed interlocking surface features.

Description

TITLE

Holecutting Guide

DESCRIPTION

Field of Invention

The m\ention ielatcs to the cutting of holes and proides a guide for use with holecutters when it is necessary to cut a hole to a specific depth.

In golf it is necessary for a greenkeeper to cut holes in thc gicen to form golf holes In order to comply vith regulations the golf holes need to be of a specific sue and depth A standard golf hole is a cylindrical shaft 114mm 4 S inche) in diameter When in use, most golf holes have cups positioned in them in order to support a flag and to maintain the hole's shape. A cup must be positioned at least 24mm (1 inch) below the upper edge of the cup As a result, the upper edge of the golf hole is not supported or formed by the cup but is formed entirely of the surrounding turf and soil Due to the use of different cups and various other considerations it is often necessary to cut differentgolf holes to different depths.

It is often necessary to move and recut the hoies in a green Holes are often moved to make a particular hole easier or more difficult to play depending on couisc requirements Furthennore o' ci time holes are liabie to degrade with use so even if a greenkeeper does not wish to move a hole, at the end of a hole's life a new hole has to be cut, As a result, it is necessary that it is relatively simple for a greenkeeper to cut holcs without damaging the grass sunounding a hole or damaging and/or substantially alteiing the topography of the green Therefore, most golf holes are cut using a spLcialist holecutter which can easily cut a hole of the correct diameter by extracting a cylindrical section of soil and turt of fiom the ground in the desired position After cutting a hole, the cylindrical section that is removed by the holecutter may be retained The cylindrical section may then be replaced when the hole is no longer in use in order to return ihe grecn to its former condition An example of a holecutter used for cutting golf holes is disclosed in published UK patent application GB2445532.

There are problems with the use of holecutters to cut golf holes. For example, if the holecutter is not pi ecisely vertically aligned when in use the resulting hole will not be vertical and the upper end of the hole will not be precisely circular This is clearly undesirable. Furtherniore, it is often difficult to control the depth to which a hole is cut, In order to control the depth to which a hole is cut some holecuttershave a simple isible mark placed on the outside of the cutting portion of the holecutter I his visible mark is intended to indicate to a user when they should stop cutting In particular, the user has cut a hole of the correct depth when the visible mark is level with the top of the ground being cut, This method is far front ideal as it relies on the person operating aholecutter to carefully monitor the position of the visible mark as the holecutter is in use and to accurately stop cutting at the correct point. I3oth of these actions are very difficult as most holecutters require the cutting portion of the holecutter to be vigorously pounded into the ground in order to cut a hole.

To avoid this problem, many holecutters are now provided with a depth limiting means to control the depth to which a hole is cut Depth limiting means typically comprise an outwardly protruding member positioned on an outer side of the cutting portion of the holecutter 1 he protruding member is positioned at a distance from a lowet edge of the cutting portion of the holecutter that is substantially equal to the depth of hole that is wished to be cut. Thus, when a hole is cut using a holecutter with a depth limiting means, a hole of the correct depth has been cut when the depth limiting means contacts the uppei edge of the hole being cut Howeer this too is pioblematie First, depth limiting means contacting the upper edge of a hole can damage that edge, which is undesirable as golf holes require a circular and flat upper edge. Furthermore, in order for a depth limiting means to be robust enough to survive impacting the upper edge of a hole while a holecutter is in use, it is normally necessary for the depth limiting means to be permanently fixed in position. Therefore, a holecutter with a depth limiting means can typically only cut a hole of a single depth.

In order to avoid damage to the top edge of a hole and to make the positioning of a hole more accurate holeeutters are often used in cooperation vith a holecutting mat k typical holecutting mat is a mat formed of resilient material wtth a hole fbrmed S therethrough for holeeuttrng 1 he hole is approximately the same size or slightly larger than the golf hole being cut. When used, the holecutter is positioned on the green such that the hole tormed therethrough is positioned vherc the greerikeeper ishes to cut the hole The greenkeeper then stands on the mat and cuts the hole through the hole in the matusing a holeeutter. A mat acts to protect the grass around the hole as the hole is cut and alsO offers a resilient surface that protects the upper edge of the hole from impact with a depth lhnitingmeans of a holecutter or any other damage IIov ever, a mat only provides protection to the turf and thi hole being cut A mat does not provide any additional assistance saning or gauging the depth to s;hich a hole is cut.

In light of the above there is a need for an apparatus that allows a holecutter with a depth hn'iting means to be used to cut holes of different depths Prefcrably thL apparatus should also ensure that a hole cut using the holecutter is vertical and that the upper edge of the hole is not damaged dunng holecuttmg

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides a holecutting guide comprising: a base v ith an aperture formed thrLthrough and at [cast one shim ith an aperture formed therethrough, wherein, the at least one shim is removably mountable on the base such that a single aperture extends through the base and the at least one shim and an impact-resistant surface is provided at an upper end of the single aperture for cooperating with a depth limiting means of a holeeutter operating through the single aperture.

The holecutting guide according to the piesent invention is particularly athantageous as it allows a greenkeeper using a holecutter with a depth limiting means to cut holes of different depths Furthermore, using the holeLutnng guide pre ents the upper edge "4-of the hole from impact with the depth limiting means of the holecutter or being damaged in any other way. The holecutting guide may also heip ensure that holes cut with the holecutter are substantially vertical The holecutting guide is used in the following manner. The guide is placed in position on thc green such that the apertuie formed through the base and the at least one shun is positioned where the hole is going to be cut The cutting end of a holecutter is then positioned in the apertuie The holecutter may then be operated in the normal maimer until a depth limiting means impactb the impact-resistant surface At this point a hole of the correct depth will have been cut. The holecutter may then be withdrawn from the aperture and the holecutting guide maybe removed from the green.

The number andior thickness of the shims that are used with as part of the holecuttmg guide, along with the holec utter that is used with the guide, define the depth of hole that can be cut. A preferrpd embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of substantially identical shims. In this embodiment of the invention an appropriate number of the identical shims can be removably mounted on the base of the holecutt'ng guide in order to provide a single aperture of suitable length such that a hole of the desired depth ma be cut II a greeakeeper wants to cut a relatively shaflow hole then more shims will be removably ino ted on the base in order to provide a long aperture through the holecutting guide, whilst if the greenkeeper wants to cut a relatively deep hole then fewer shims will be removably motmied on the base in order to provide a short aperture through the holecutting guide Alternatively a holecutter according to the present invention may comprise a p1w ality of shims of different thicknesses. One or more of these shims may he removably mounted on the base of the holecutting guide in order to provide an aperture of suitable length For example in order to obtain a long aprture a single tel tivelv thick shim may be removably mounted on the base and in order to obtain a short aperture a single relatively thin shim may be removably mounted on the base As will be readily understood shims of any thickness may be used alone or in combination with one or more shims of the same or different thickness in order to obtain an aperture of the desired length.

fhe base and/ot the at least one shim may be formed to minimise lateral mos ement therebetween. For example, the upper surface of the base and the lower and upper surfaces of the at least one shim may have cooperatively formed interlocking surface features such as raised or lowered portions, that prevent lateral movement ihen the at least one shim is removably mounted on the base Suitable interlocking surface features may be formed in anymanner apparent to the person skilled in the art.

The at least one shim may be made of any suitable resilient material that will not deform out of shape when in use. It is important that the at least one shim will not substantially deform in order to ensine that the holecutter is held erticallv whilst a hole is being uut This is because if thc at least one shim;as capable of deformation it would be possible to move the holecutter out of vertical orientation when a hole is being cut and the resulting hole may be misshapen Furthennore forming the at least one shim out of a suitable resilient material ensures that the upper surface of the at least one shim which fornis the impact-resistant surface has suitable properties However, it iS to be undcrstood that the at least one shim may hase an upper surface fonned of a different more impaet-resi tant material in order to provide the impact-resistant surface For example, the at least one shim may have an upper surface formed of a metal or a particularly impact resistant polymer whilst the rest of the shim may be formed of a different material.

Thc at least one shim may be removably mounted on the base using in an suitable means that v4ou!d be apparent to a person skilled in the art In a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one shim may have one or more mounting apertures formed therethrough and the base may have cooperatively positioned apertures. The at least one shim may then be removably mounted on the base using bolts pdsitioned through a mounting aperture of the at lcast onc shim and a cooperatively positioned aperture and a nut may be fixed on an upper end of each bolt to hold the at least one shim in position on the base If this removably mounting means is used it is important that the lower end of each bolt sits flush with the lower surface of the base in order to allow the holecutting guide to operate properly.

The base of the holecutting guide may be substantially formed of a holecutting mat with fixing means for removable mounting at least one shim thLrcon The base may be substantially rigid or may be ficxihle In one embodiment ot the present invention the base may be formed of a rigid and resilient matcrial Alternatively the base may be formed of a more flexible material that may better mould to the contours of a golf green when in use. The base may be formed such that it extends substantially beyond the aperture formed therethiough In a preferred embodiment ot the present invention the base extends beyond the aperture to allow a user to stand upon the base hen in use this ensures the holecutting guide is held securely in position whilst a hole is being cut.

The base of the holecutting guide may additionally comprise a carrying aperture formed iiway from the aperture through which a hole may be cut. A carrying aperture may allos a person to pick up and carry the holecutting guide before and after a hoic has beep cut.

Further details and features of the present invention will he apparent from the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and discussed below.

flrawings Figure I is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a holecutting guide according to the present invention; and Figurc 2 is a longitudinal cross-section through a holecutting guide of Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of a holecutting guide 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown inF igures 1 and 2. The holecutting guide I comprises a base 2 and a plurality of shims 3 removably mounted thereon.

The base 2 and hims 3 have a vertical aperture 4 formed therethrough for cutting a golf hole using a suitable holecutter (not shown). The shims 3 are removably mounted upon the base using two bolts and cooperating nuts 5. The bolts each extend through mounting apertures formed through each of the shims 3 and a cooperatively positioned aperture formed through the base 2.

One or mote of the shims 3 can be removed fiom the base 2 by remosmg the nuts 5 and sliding the shims off the bolts and then retightening the nuts to hold the remaining shims tightly in place Additional shims 3 can be added to the holecuttmg guide by reversing this process The maximum number of shims 3 that may be removably mounted on the base 2 is determined by the length of the bolts that are used to hold the bolts in position.

The base 2 is a substantially conventional holecutting mat and is formed of a rigid plastic material. The base 2 extends beyond the aperture 4 and the shims 3 and is shaped to allow a person (not shown) to stand upon the base when a hole is being cut.

In particular, the base 2 has two non-slip portions 6 lormcd on its upper surface upon which a person may place a toot when cutting a hole The non-slip portions 6 are formed from suitably shaped textured portions of the upper surface of the base 2. The base 2 additionally has a second aperture 7 formed therethrough at an end of the base opposite the removably mounted shims 3. The second aperture 7 forms a handle that allows the holecutting guide 2 to be carried easily Each of the shims 3 is substantially identical and comprises a circular piece of rigid plastic that has an aperture 4 formed through its centre and two diametrically opposite mounting apcrtuies formed through its thickness Each of the shims 3 is of the same thickness and by removably mounting a suitable number of shims on the base a holecutting apertute 4 of a suitable depth can bc formed [he upper surface of the upper shim 3 forms an in pact-resistant surface. As each of the shims 3 are substantially identical, an upper surface of any of the shims may form the impact-resistant surface, Furthermore, each of the shims 3 may be mounted either way up Le.

they aic reversible Therefore the upper or lowci surface of an of the shims 3 may form. the impact-resistant surface.

The holecutting guide i can be used in the following manner. First, a suitable number of shims 3 are removably mounted on the base 2 to form a holecutting aperture 4 of a suitable depth. The holecutting:guide 1 is then placed on a green such that the aperture 41s positioned where the greenkeeper wishes to cut a hole. The greenlceeper may then stand on the base 2 of the holecutting guide 1 and position a suitable holecutter (not shown) through the aperture 4 of the lioleeutting guide The greenkeeper may then pioceed to cut the hole using the holecutter When a depth limiting means of the holecutter impacts the impact-resistant surface a hole of the correct depth will have been cut. The grenkeeper may then rem ove the holecutter from the holecutting guide I and remove the holecutting guide from the green. This process may be repeated when necessary.