US2550480A

US2550480A - Sports theater for golf

Info

Publication number: US2550480A
Application number: US727166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hubbard Ford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-02-07
Filing date: 1947-02-07
Publication date: 1951-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1968-04-24

Description

April 1951 F. BBBBB RD 2,550,430.

ATTORNEYS April 24, 1951 F. HUBBARD ,550 480 SPORTS THEATER FOR GOLF Filed Feb. 7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FORD HLBBARD INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlce SPORTS THEATER, FOR GOLF Ford Hubbard, Houston, Tex. Application February '7, 1947, Serial No. 727,166

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to outdoor sports theaters having playing arenas arranged around a central spectator area wherein elevated seats and walkways for spectators are constructed in terraced rings to enable ready observation by the spectators of the play of the contestants taking place simultaneously or progressively in several directions about the spectator area.

The embodiment herein disclosed relates more particularly to a sports theater for golf, which ordinarily has not been classed as a spectator sport for simultaneous enjoyment by thousands of spectators because of the difiiculties heretofore encountered in constructing a golf course where the play on a number of holes could be simultaneously viewed and the spectators restrained from trampling the course or impeding theprogress of the players.

Heretofore, golf courses have been laid out upon ground having a natural contour which is specially adaptable for this use. Such courses have proven satisfactory as far as the play is concerned. However, spectators have found it necessary, in order to view the play, to follow the performers about the course. During tournaments and the like it has proven difficult for the spectators to view the play of several performers over a substantial part of the course and for other reasons the arrangement has not proven to be entirely satisfactory from the spectators standpoint when tournament or professional contests are held.

An object of this invention is to provide a golf sports theater wherein the several holes are arranged around a substantially central spectator area so that the play of the golfers on substantially all holes may be readily observed by the spectators without leaving such spectator area. 1

Another object of this invention is the construction of a golf sports theater including eighteen holes of full tournament length arranged on a plot of much lesser acreage than required for present day golf courses, and extending in substantially all directions around a central spectator area in side by side relation, the inner or outer termini of the majority of such holes being located adjacent such specator area. i

A further object of this invention is the provision in an outdoor sports theater of a novel spectator supporting structure, having seats, arranged substantially entirely around the exterior thereof in a plurality of vertically spaced tiers gradually decreasing in area from bottom to top, and walkways, extending entirely around such 7 structure at different heights, whereby spectators may view games or contests on several playing arenas in various directions about the spectator supporting structure.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a golf course and spectatorium embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the spectatorium shown in Fig. 1 with a part of the fence encircling the spectatorium broken away for clarity; and

'Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the specta outwardly from the central location of the spectato'riur'n, and the paths of each of the holes have portions which lie adjacent the perimeter of the spectatorium. According to the preferred arrangement, either the tee or the green of each of the holes is located adjacent the spectatorium, and the tees and greens are alternately spaced circumferentially about the spectatorium whereby the spectators in the spectatorium may view the play from the tee of one hole and the play to and on thefgreen of the next succeeding hole in alternate fashion. To illustrate this, the tees of theholes have been marked on the drawings with a T and the greens with a G. The tee of the Number 1 hole shown at I2 is boxed in with numeral 1. lIhe encircled G with theflag hear ing the numeral 1 extending therefrom as seen at 12c indicates the green of thefirst hole. lhe tee andgreen of

holes

2, 3 and 13 are similarly marked, but in the interest of simplicity, the remaining tees and greens are marked only with the lettersT or G, as the case may be. However, the holes will proceed in the natuial'sequence indicated and the play to and on green 18 will bringthe performers back to the start:

ing point.

In order to bring as much play as possible into closer view of the spectatorium, it is desirable that the arrangement of the individual holes shall be such that the whole course will be played on as small an area as possible. This is also desirable from the standpoint of economy. It is preferred, in most instances, to construct the course so that the individual holes will have p01- tions extending substantially radially or tangentially from .the spectatorium. This'ei'fect may be accomplished and still permit a bending back of the fairways of some of the holes where desired so that the fairways will be like the conventional dog-leg holes, or even substantially lk-shaped. Also, the shape of the particular tract that is available for the golf course may dictate that some of the fairways will extend other than directly to or from the perimeter of the spectatorium, while the majority of the paths havep'ortions extending in this fashion. This is shown schematically in Fig. 1 wherein the portions of the holes adjacent the spectatorium extend substantially tangentially from the perimeter of the spectatorium with the exception of the holes illustrated in the upper right 'hand corner of the drawing which extend substantially radially.

It is also contemplated that the usual hazards such as bunkers, sand traps, roughs, lakes and the like may be constructed in proper relation to the fairways, as desired, taking advantage of any natural advantagesinherent in the natural contour of the ground upon which the course is to be located.

It is to be understood that where desirable, suitable transportation can be provided the performers to carry them from the green of one hole to the tee of the next following hole. However, usually it is not necessary to provide this transportation as the green and tee of adjacent holes may be placed in close proximity of each other.

Obviously, the play of the performers at points nearest the spectatorium may be more readily viewed than that approaching the extremity of the course. Howeveneach-seated spectator will have a relatively closeup view of part of the play of several holes. A walkway maybe provided, as indicated at I3, surrounding the seats of the spectatorium, permitting spectators to follow closely the progressive play of individual groups of players. In addition walkways may be provided intermediate the rows of seats at selected levels whereby a spectator may readily move to a position to view the play relative to one of the tees or greens adjacent the spectatorium but not clearly visible from the spectators seat, or each terraced tier may be of suflicient width to provide a circular walkway in addition to the seats thereon.

It is contemplated that this arrangement need not entirely do away with the gallery, as presently known, following the players over the course. However, less enthusiastic fans are afforded comfortable facilities for viewing exhibition golf play in my improved outdoor sports theater and may view a substantial portion of play of all the participants.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the spectatorium is shown to be frusto-conical in shape. However, in place of the circular perimeter as shown, it is to be understood that any other desirable shape might be used, such as for example hexagonal, octagonal, star shaped or the like.

It is contemplated that showers and other like facilities may be erected within the structure of the spectatorium. Suitable doors such as shown at l4 are provided to afford access to the interior of the spectatorium. Preferably a walkway i3 is provided between the outer perimeter of the spectator area of the theater and the seat portion of the spectatorium. Patrons who desire may circle the spectatorium in course of watching play and follow the play of selected performers. A fence l5 may be provided at the outer perimeter of the spectator area to divide it from the surrounding games arena. Concession stands l6 may be constructed in the walkway l3, and stairs I! provided leading from the walkwayto the seat portion of the spectatorium. Preferably the lower row of seats will be elevated s'o that the seated spectators may easily see over the heads of spectators using the walkway l3. At 'thetop of the spectatorium a shelter 1:8 may be provided which, if desired, can extend over a larger portion of the seats, and the usual 19th hole facilities may be provided at the top of the spectatorium as is illustrated by the tables l9, where refreshments may be served.

It is believed that the operation of this golf course is apparent from the foregoing description. The course will be played in the usual manner according to conventional rules, the players teeing off at the tee of thefirst hole and shooting to the green of the first hole. After completing play on the first hole, they proceed to the tee of the second hole and play toward the secondhole green. Play then continues in the usual fashion through the 18th hole. Of course, a lesser or greater number of holes may be provided. Where desired, suitable .space is available for practice putting greens and driving ranges or the like.

It will be seen that theobjects of the invention have been accomplished. There has been provided a sports theater including a golf course wherein .the individual holes extend outwardly of a central spectator area in side by side relation around the spectatorium. The arrangement is such that play over the course may be readily viewed by spectators. The construction of the golf course is such that a minimum ground requirement is presented. Thus, there has been offered for the first time a golf sports theater wherein a large number of spectators may comfortably view play of golfers-including outstanding performers in tournaments, professional exhibitions, and the like.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the end and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are 'ofutility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is with-in the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments maybe made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An outdoor golf theater comprising a golf playing arena surrounding a central spectator area, said golf playing arena being constituted of a series of elongated holes, at least the majority of said holes having inner termini arranged around and .located adjacent the spectator area wardly from the spectator area in side by side relation, and a spectator supporting structure in said spectator area having elevated seats positioned to afford ready view of said holes.

2. An outdoor golf theater comprising a golf playing arena surrounding a central spectator area, said golf playing arena being constituted of a series of elongated holes, at least the majority of said holes having inner termini arranged around and located adjacent the spectator area and said holes extending generally radially outwardly from the spectator area in side by side relation, and a spectator supporting structure in said spectator area having elevated seats facing in substantially all directions and in a plurality of vertically spaced tiers.

3. An outdoor golf theater comprising a golf playing arena surrounding a central spectator area, said golf playing arena being constituted of a series of elongated holes, at least the majority of said holes having inner termini arranged around and located adjacent the spectator area and said holes extending generally radially outwardly from the spectator area in side by side relation, and a spectator supporting structure in said spectator area having elevated seats facing in substantially all directions and in a plurality of vertically spaced tiers offset inwardly in upward progression, the uppermost tier having the least number of seats thereon and each lower tier having a greater number of seats thereon than those above.

4. A golf spectatorium comprising a centrally located viewing stand with outwardly facing seats providing the outer periphery of the stand, a golf links arranged around the viewing stand, the links arranged with their fairways generally radiating outwardly from the stand and with one termini adjacent the stand.

FORD HUBBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 4, 1931 Number D. 83,195 1,091,484

Number