US3877704A - Apparatus for playing a golf game - Google Patents

Apparatus for playing a golf game Download PDF

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Publication number
US3877704A
US3877704A US420096A US42009673A US3877704A US 3877704 A US3877704 A US 3877704A US 420096 A US420096 A US 420096A US 42009673 A US42009673 A US 42009673A US 3877704 A US3877704 A US 3877704A
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Prior art keywords
target
targets
golf
golf game
ball
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US420096A
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English (en)
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Ralph Mytton Bayley
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority claimed from GB5593572A external-priority patent/GB1468146A/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
    • A63B63/08—Targets or goals for ball games with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
    • A63B2063/002—Targets or goals for ball games variable in size

Definitions

  • the invention relates to apparatus for providing apparatus for playing a golf game.
  • the invention provides apparatus for use in a golf game comprising a playing area to represent a golf hole, the area having a first stage and a plurality of further stages, each stage having a marked out striking'position and a defined target area separate from the target areas of the other stages, the target area associated with the first stage being marked out to have a plurality of scoring zones to indicate in accordance with rules of the game the next stage a player plays having played the first stage.
  • the invention also provides apparatus for providing the target areas for the first and/or an intermediate stage of the apparatus as aforesaid, comprising a target surface area having at least two discrete scoring zones, the surface area being constructed and arranged such that a flighted golf ball landing on the surface area does so with substantially no rebound, means to mount the apparatus, on the ground such that the surface area provides a ramp up which a golf ball rolling towards the front of the target with sufficient speed will travel, and means associated with each scoring zone to enable the finishing of the movement of a golf ball in that zone to be indicated.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of one playing area according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second playing area according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of a target for use in the playing area of FIG. 2
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the target of FIG. 2
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third playing area according to the invention
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front part of a target for use in the playing area of FIG. 5
  • FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the front part of the target shown in FIG. 6
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view of the rear part of the target of FIG. 6
  • FIG. 9 is a vertical section through the rear part of the target shown in FIG. 8
  • FIG. 10 is a plan view of the assembled parts shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, and
  • FIG. 11 is a vertical section through the assembled target of FIG. 10 showing the electrical connection for switches on the target leading to a visual display unit.
  • FIG. I shows three adjacent tee areas 10, ll 12 which are sub-divided into tees A and B; C and D; E and F respectively.
  • Targets A to F Forward of the tees are six targets A to F, these being one wood shot target A, three approach shot (LONG, MEDIUM and SHORT) targets B, C and D two pitch shot (LONG and SHORT) targets E and F.
  • the shorter pitch shot target F is guarded by a sand bunker 13.
  • a putting surface or green 14 is provided on which a chip shot target G is marked.
  • a tee area G is provided on the edge of the green for the target G.
  • a hole 15 is provided in the green spaced from the target G and four putting markers numbered 1 to 4 are provided on the green indicating different putting positions.
  • a golfcourse may have a number of holes each as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the hole shown represents a Par 5 hole on a golf course.
  • Targets C and D should be omitted.
  • the targets are in every instance an appropriate distance from the tees to justify their description as chip shot targets, pitch shot targets, etc., as these terms are understood in golf, but preferably none of the targets of a course are the same distance from a tee.
  • Targets at a distance from the tee that can normally only be reached by the use of a wooden club i.e. all driving targets A, consist of a selected number, eg four, three or two of parallel lines (three being shown in FIG. 1) forward and at right angles to the tee, the lines decreasing in length as they get further from the tee.
  • the target lines are marked by the numbers from one to three, also in the order that they get further from the tee.
  • Targets for strokes that are played with iron clubs consist of a selected number of concentric circles of varying radii.
  • Targets B and D have 3 scoring zones whereas Targets C, E, F and G have four such zones.
  • Each target circle for Targets C, E and G is marked consecutively from one to four, the circumference of No. 4 target circle being nearest to the centre and that of No. 1 target circle furthest from the centre.
  • the circles of Targets B and D are marked consecutively from two to four and the circles of Target F are marked from two to five.
  • Centrally positioned in each target from B to G is a regulation sized golfhole and flagstick (not shown).
  • the size in area of all targets should preferably be such that, no matter what the golfing ability of a player, a bad shot (unless lucky) will not enter and remain in the target area; a poor shot, being wanting in length or direction, will stop within the outer target scoring zone; an average shot will stop within the next innermost target scoring zone or cross the No. 1 target line of Target A; a good shot will stop within the next innermost target scoring zone or cross the No.
  • the target lines may be made up of sections of plastic strip that can be easily positioned and taken up for grass cutting purposes.
  • the plastic strip can be slightly curved, the slope preventing a ball that enters a target from finishing its movement directly on a line; although this point is covered in the rules. It is also pos-. sible to locate the tee areas adjacent an area of water with the target lines located on the surface of the water at the appropriate distances from the tee.
  • the areas behind the tees can have flood lights (see 17 on FIG. 5) that illuminate the course and make play at night possible.
  • the area of the tees and the area of the green where players putt can be under cover (see 18 on FIG. 5) enabling play to take place in comfort in bad weather.
  • the finishing position of a struck ball within the correct target decides the next stage at which a player is entitled to strike. 7
  • next target at which a player is entitled to strike is always the same number of targets nearer the tee area as is the number of the target section in which his last struck ball has stopped its movement.
  • next stroke entitlement When playing at succeeding targets the same simple method of estimating the next stroke entitlement applies but as players strike at targets nearer the tee area. as will be seen from the rules, their next stroke entitlement eventually becomes not at a target nearer the tee area but at the hole on the green.
  • Very good golfers if they so wish, can make the game more difficult by playing iron shots to three target sections instead of four, i.e. they regard the normal No. I 1 target section as outside the Target and alter the.
  • This method can also be used for handicapping" purposes between players of unequal ability if this is preferred to the normalhandicapping system of golf.
  • RULES 1. ln Park Golf a Hole is the playing area between the tees for that hole and their appropriate targets.
  • Opponents play the Holes of a course consecutively from one onwards.
  • the players start to play a Holeby striking in turn from the appropriate Tee at a target agreed by them to be the first" target for the Hole the decision to make any Hole a long" Hole or a short? Hole being that of the Opponents. Thereafter the players continue to play the Hole by striking from the appropriate Tee at. targets at which they have become entitled to strike or by putting ,hole out from putting markers from which they have become entitled to hole out in every instance a players next stroke entitlement depending on the finishing position of the struck ball of his previous stroke within the correct target, as identified hereunder;
  • E Target circle No.1. F Targct Target circle No.2.
  • G Target Target circle No.3. Putt out from No. l. Marker.
  • each stroke at a target or putt at a Hole counts as one stroke.
  • Rule 10 above is optional and if required Rule 8- above can cover the situation of a struck ball lodging in a sand bunker.
  • the winner of any Hole is the player who has taken fewer strokes between striking his ball off the Tee and putting it into the Hole.
  • the winner of a Hole always plays first at the next Hole.
  • FIG. 2 shows three holes of a Park Golf course which is played in a similar manner to that described above in connection with FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 course is a Manually operated version of the game
  • FIG. 2 is a Semi-Automatic version
  • the targets and tees are arranged to provide three groups which provide separate holes of the course.
  • the first hole on the left hand side of the FIG. 2 is similar to the hole shown in FIG. 1 and represents a PAR 5 hole on a golf course.
  • the second hole comprises a single tee 20, a single target having four concentric circles defining four scoring zones and a putting green 21 having four putting markers number 1 to 4 with number 1 furthest from the hole.
  • This hole is the equivalent of a short Par 3 hole on a golf course and the number of the scoring zone in which a players ball finishes its forward motion represents the number of the putting marker from which he must try to hole out from with his next shot. If a player misses the target he counts his total strokes as 2 (Le. 1 plus a penalty stroke) and he then putts from marker No. l.
  • the third hole is equivalent to a Par 4 hole on a golf course. In this case the medium and short approach targets are omitted.
  • the Semi-Automatic arrangement of FIG. 2 employs the driving targets at A1 and A3, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in place of the marked lines of Target A in the FIG. 1 arrangement.
  • the target comprises three sections 22, 23 and 24 providing three rectangular inclined surfaces one behind the other with the front surface 22 providing a ramp at ground level.
  • the front surface 22 is subdivided into three scoring zones, the outer zones being numbered one whereas the central zone is numbered two.
  • the middle surface 23 had less frontage than the front surface 22 and is similarly subdivided into three scoring zones, the outer zones being numbered two and the central zone being numbered three.
  • the rear section 24 has less frontage than the middle section 23 and the section is divided in three scoring zones the outer zones being numbered three and the central zone being numbered four.
  • a pair of poles 25 extend upwardly from the edges of the rear surface and carry a strong netting 26 to intercept straight and powerfully driven balls which roll down the netting 26 onto the rear surface 24 Further netting can also be provided above the portions of the front and middle surfaces that project laterally beyond the surface immediately behind.
  • each surface 22, 23 and 24 Transversely across the whole width of the lower edge of each surface 22, 23 and 24 is an electric or electronic switch 27 which, on being contacted by a golf ball, at once registers on a screen between adjacent the tee, the number of the section immediately above the point of contact.
  • Each scoring section is bounded on its two vertical sides by a curved and raised strip of material to prevent contact being made with the switch at the meeting point between two sections.
  • the surfaces are supported at their correct angles and positions as shown in FIG. 4 by any suitable means, e.g. steel scaffolding.
  • the surfaces are positioned so that there is a gap between adjacent surfaces sufficient for a golf ball to pass unimpeded but not sufficient for t a ball to roll over the surface immediately in front without landing on that surface on every occasion.
  • a ball driven from the tee landing in front of the target may then roll onto the front surface 22. If the drive is powerful enough the ball will roll over the front surface 22 onto the middle surface 23 and possibly over the middle surface onto the rear surface 24. Therefore depending on the power of the shot the ball will eventually roll down one of the surfaces 22 to 24, to actuate the switch 27 associated with that surface. If required for convenience the surfaces 22 to 24 may have troughs along their lower edges to trap the balls to assist collection.
  • the surfaces 22 to 24 are made of a material which is sufficiently flexible or resilient to cushion the impact of a flighted ball landing directly on the surfaces so that there is little or no rebound of the ball from the surface.
  • the ball after impact rolls down the surface to contact the switch 27 along the lower edge of the surface to register the score as described above.
  • the material used for the surfaces may be any suitable material, e.g. plastics material, hardboard, plywood, or a plastics or wire mesh, which is sufficiently flexible to cushion the impact of a ball landing directly on the surface, but hard enough to allow a rolling ball to run up the surface.
  • FIG. shows three holes of a Park Golf" course which is similar to the layout shown in FIG. 2 except that, the chip shot targets G1 and G3 are in front of the tees and is played in a similar manner to that described above in connection with FIG. 2.
  • the main difference between the systems of FIGS. 2 and 5 is that the FIG. 5 version of Park Golf" is Fully Automatic in that automatic targets are provided for the iron shot targets as well as for the wood shot targets which are the same as the target shown in FIG. 3.
  • the iron shot targets one of which is shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, comprise two parts 30 and 31.
  • Target section 1 furthest from the centre of the target, has the greatest area, section 2 the next greatest area, then section 3 and section 4 in the centre circle has the least area.
  • Part 30 includes that part of the whole of the target below an imaginary straight line across the target that contacts the furthest point of target section four from ground level while at the same time being parallel to ground level.
  • Part 30 can be made of any material of such composition and structure that a golf ball struck from a distance at a trajectory of between approxi- I mately 30 to will on landing directly on the sloped frontage of part 1 have little or no bounce. Examples of such materials are hardboard or plywood of oneeighth inch thickness supported in such a way that the I material has no backing of any kind at apossible point of contact with the landing ball.
  • the I material has no backing of any kind at apossible point of contact with the landing ball.
  • Part 30 is made up of portions of target sections one, two and three and the whole of section four. Each is separately constructed and when placed in position to form the complete part the portion of section one marginally overlaps that of section two, which marginally overlaps the portion of section three which completely overlaps section four. There should be a gap between each overlap wide enough to allow a golf ballto pass between the two sections unhindered.
  • Part 31 is made of the same material as part 30 and is made up of the remainder of target sections one, two and three that are not contained in part 30. Each portion of target sections in part 31 is also separately constructed and when placed in position to make upthe whole of the part the portion of section three overlaps that of section two which inturn overlaps the portion of section one in every case the gap between the overlaps is wide enough to allow a golf ball to pass through it. It will be noted that the process of overlapping in part 31 is the opposite to that in part 30.
  • section one is overlapped by section two which is overlapped by section three.
  • section one overlaps sections two which overlaps section three which overlaps section four.
  • a similar electronic switch Adjacent to the edge and along the whole length of the smaller circumference boundary of the portions of sections one and two is a similar electronic switch as in part 30 but here again the positioning of the switch is the opposite to that in part 30 in relation to the two portions of sections one and two.
  • the electronic switch also extends along the straight lower boundary of sections one, two and three.
  • any struck ball either landing directly on any I portion of a target section in part 31 or landing on a portion of a target section after previously rolling up the section which overlaps it, must register on a scoreboard the number of the target section in which the ball started its downward roll by gravitational pull which number the striker on the tee will take as his score for the stroke.
  • an extra ramp 40 is provided to extend between the entire lower arcuate edge of the front surface of the target and ground so that a ball rolling along the ground towards the target will roll up the extra ramp and onto surface 1.
  • the extra ramp comprises a board having a straight lower edge which rests on the ground and an arcuate upper edge which corresponds to the shape of the lower edge of the front surface of the target.
  • the above described automatic wood shot and iron shot targets may be provided from a single ramp surface, instead of the aforesaid overlapping surfaces.
  • the target areas are marked out on the single surface and elongate switches are located along the lower edges of the target scoring zones.
  • Elongate apertures are also provided in the surface and the lower edges of the scoring zones and below the respective switches, through which apertures a golf ball can pass after actuating the appropriate switch to indicate the zone in which the ball finished its forward movement and hence the score obtained.
  • the automatic iron shot target from a bank of earth having a ramp surface facing the tee area.
  • the ramp surface is contoured in the manner of the target shown in cross-section in FIG. 8 with gullies formed between the various inclined target scoring zones.
  • the surfaces of the scoring zones are covered with an artificial surface, e.g. plastics sheeting or felt, to prevent a ball lodging in the earth so that it does not roll down the surface of the scoring zone.
  • Electric switches are provided along the lower edges of the scoring zones just above the respective gullies. Pipes may be provided in the earthwork to provide channels through which the balls leave the target for collection. Alternatively, the gullies may be removable to allow collection of the ball resting in the gullies.
  • a golf game of the kind comprising a playing area having a plurality of targets and an individual striking area for each target, one of said targets and its striking area being provided on a putting surface and comprising a hole or cup in the putting surface and a plurality of striking markers at different distances from the hole, and another of the targets being provided with a plurality ofindicating zones, the improvement being that said another target has a. at least two separate smooth surfaces defining different indicating zones of the target,
  • b. means to mount the surfaces on the playing area with the surface nearer the striking area providing a ramp at ground level up which a golf ball hit from the striking area may run and with the next surface providing a ramp spaced behind the forward surface by a distance sufficient to allow a golf ball to pass between the surfaces and projecting upwardly above the level of the upper edge of the forward surface so that a golf ball which passes over the first surface will roll onto the second surface and c. means provided on each of said surfaces so that a ball landing directly on that surface does so with little or no rebound.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided indicator means associated with each surface to enable the finishing of the forward movement of a golf ball on that surface to be indicated.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 4 wherein said elongate surfaces are divided into different indicating zones located side by side across the surfaces.
  • said another target comprises a series of concentric circles when viewed in plan defining annular concentric indicating zones and a central indicating zone of the target and is provided by two parts, one part comprising arcuate surfaces, which provide major portions of the annular indicating zones respectively and are mounted one behind the other with the arcuate surface having the largest radius located in front and providing in conjunction with a further inclined surface leading from the ground to that surface, said ramp at ground level and behind this surface one or more of said arcuate surfaces of smaller radii and a further surface behind the arcuate surface having the smallest radius to provide the central indicating zone of the target, and the other part being located behind the one part and projecting upwardly thereof, the other part having surfaces one behind the other providing the remaining portions of the annular indicating zones with the innermost arcuate surface at the front of the other part and the outermost arcuate surface at the rear of the other part.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 6 wherein a collection gully is provided between each adjacent pair of said surfaces for receiving balls rolling down the surfaces.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of targets and strikingareas therefor in addition to said one target, which targets are spaced at different distances from their striking areas and have a plurality of indicating zones, the zone in which a players ball finishes its forward movement determining which target the player next plays or from which putting marker the player putts.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are the same number of striking positions as there are targets for all targets except the hole or cup in the putting surface.
  • a golf game as claimed in claim 13 wherein a plurality of playing areas as aforesaid are provided each representing separate golf holes, and there are provided a specific number of targets for each hole.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
US420096A 1972-12-04 1973-11-29 Apparatus for playing a golf game Expired - Lifetime US3877704A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB5593572A GB1468146A (en) 1973-02-21 1972-12-04 Apparatus for playing a golf game
GB846273 1973-02-21
GB921473 1973-02-26
GB1777273 1973-04-12
GB2839373 1973-06-14

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US420096A Expired - Lifetime US3877704A (en) 1972-12-04 1973-11-29 Apparatus for playing a golf game

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JP (1) JPS50127735A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990708A (en) * 1975-01-27 1976-11-09 Ingwersen Samuel E Indoor/outdoor recreational golf facility
US5033745A (en) * 1990-06-18 1991-07-23 Sullivan Bruce J Golf chipping practice apparatus
US5954590A (en) * 1994-09-22 1999-09-21 Jill Frances Nixey Golf putting aid or game
US6743110B2 (en) 2000-04-26 2004-06-01 Lex E. Frazier Golf course and method of play
US20040204258A1 (en) * 2003-04-09 2004-10-14 Remon Hanoun Golf target
US10232241B2 (en) 2016-01-11 2019-03-19 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets
US11285373B2 (en) 2019-01-29 2022-03-29 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets
US11904226B2 (en) 2016-01-11 2024-02-20 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS53134535A (en) * 1977-04-27 1978-11-24 Takatsugi Hiyouzou Golf field for restricting novel public golf
JPH0232868U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1988-08-22 1990-03-01

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1851423A (en) * 1930-09-30 1932-03-29 Oscar L Ely Golf game
US2003074A (en) * 1933-02-01 1935-05-28 Kellogg Huntington Golf playing field
US3310310A (en) * 1963-10-10 1967-03-21 James B Mckee Golfing driving range and simulated golf course

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1851423A (en) * 1930-09-30 1932-03-29 Oscar L Ely Golf game
US2003074A (en) * 1933-02-01 1935-05-28 Kellogg Huntington Golf playing field
US3310310A (en) * 1963-10-10 1967-03-21 James B Mckee Golfing driving range and simulated golf course

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990708A (en) * 1975-01-27 1976-11-09 Ingwersen Samuel E Indoor/outdoor recreational golf facility
US5033745A (en) * 1990-06-18 1991-07-23 Sullivan Bruce J Golf chipping practice apparatus
US5954590A (en) * 1994-09-22 1999-09-21 Jill Frances Nixey Golf putting aid or game
US6743110B2 (en) 2000-04-26 2004-06-01 Lex E. Frazier Golf course and method of play
US20040204258A1 (en) * 2003-04-09 2004-10-14 Remon Hanoun Golf target
US10232241B2 (en) 2016-01-11 2019-03-19 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets
US11904226B2 (en) 2016-01-11 2024-02-20 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets
US11285373B2 (en) 2019-01-29 2022-03-29 Off Course Productions, Inc. Open field game arrangement including glowing and responsive targets

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