WO1998001190A1 - Champ d'entrainement au golf - Google Patents

Champ d'entrainement au golf Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998001190A1
WO1998001190A1 PCT/US1997/011941 US9711941W WO9801190A1 WO 1998001190 A1 WO1998001190 A1 WO 1998001190A1 US 9711941 W US9711941 W US 9711941W WO 9801190 A1 WO9801190 A1 WO 9801190A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
golf
poles
netting
edge
driving range
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/011941
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Clark Davis
Mark Kennedy
Original Assignee
Clark Davis
Mark Kennedy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Clark Davis, Mark Kennedy filed Critical Clark Davis
Priority to AU35989/97A priority Critical patent/AU3598997A/en
Publication of WO1998001190A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998001190A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
    • A63B69/3691—Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens
    • A63B69/3694—Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens for driving only
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/30—Maintenance
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/02—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for picking-up or collecting
    • A63B47/025—Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the field of sports and, specifically, to the sport of golf.
  • the practice facilities will usually consist of a driving range, a practice putting green, and a sand bunker.
  • the driving range has had to be a long strip of land where a golfer can practice driving the ball.
  • the "standard full size" driving range is generally 200-300 yards in length and 100 yards wide. These amenities will allow the golfer to practice for all aspects of the game.
  • the "free standing" driving range and practice facility has become very popular. These are facilities not ordinarily located on sites and full size golf courses, but on properties of their own, and generally in more convenient locations to population centers than full size golf courses. Considering that a full size golf course can require up to as much as 30 acres and sometimes more, it is easy to see why newly developed courses are not keeping up with the demand.
  • the driving range facility can be developed on as few as 8 acres or less. While suitable 8 acre sites near or within metropolitan areas are rare, parcels large enough to accommodate full size golf courses are virtually non-existent. Even if a potential driving range parcel should be found, there are additional factors that can "make or break" the proposed driving range.
  • the actual range should be free of any oversize rocks and/or shrubbery.
  • Considerable amounts of water need to be available, if natural turf is used. The natural drainage and percolation of the site will most likely need costly alterations. Zoning and environmental issues will need to be addressed for compatibility with this type of an entertainment establishment.
  • Weather conditions will be critical in determining how many months of the year the facility can remain open, and how they could adversely effect the operation when it is open.
  • driving range developers have adopted dome “alternative" driving ranges in contrast to the "standard driving range".
  • "mini" driving ranges In high density, urban locations “mini” driving ranges have been developed on city lots that would normally be used for gas stations and strip malls. Some of these lots are as small as 40 by 60 feet.
  • ranges For mountainous/hilly areas, ranges have been constructed literally on mountain sides, with the tees located at the bottom of the mountain and the golfer hitting the ball up hill.
  • Reservoirs filled with water have also doubled as driving ranges with specially made floating balls that are collected by maintenance crews in boats.
  • operators For areas affected by inclement weather, operators have dome like structures temporarily placed over the range during the off-season.
  • the present invention provides a full size driving range which can be set up over an area which may already have an existing land use, such as a parking lot, commercial buildings or even certain types of residential structures. Alternatively, it may be set up on undesirable land, such as, for example, rock strewn desert land.
  • This driving range may be constructed by suspending a special type of porous material for the length and width of the range, over a land area, which may or may not be already utilized for some commercial purpose.
  • This porous material may extend from a driving station for the full length of the range.
  • the station may include at least one and, preferably, a plurality of platform areas, one above another. These platform areas may include three side walls, with the fourth side being open and facing down range in the direction of the supported netting material.
  • the latter may extend for a range distance of 200 to 300 yards.
  • the horizontal porous material which may be a small mesh netting, may be supported by a grid of transverse steel cables and chords at their ends on steel or telephone side poles, and at least some cables, centrally on the tops of shorter similarly strong poles.
  • the side poles may also serve to support cables extending lengthwise of the range which cables may be employed to carry side netting, the function of which is to prevent balls from being driven laterally out of the range and to drop them on the horizontal porous material or into the return gutters.
  • Such gutter may be provided on each side of the horizontal range surface, either to slope downwardly from the end of the range to the driving station or, alternatively, to one or more intermediate collecting locations.
  • a central gutter system may be provided with the center of the horizontal porous material suspended at a level slightly below the level of the outer side edges of the material for the full length of the range.
  • the side netting desirably should be of an altitude higher than most golf balls could be driven up from each platform of the driving station. Obviously, then, the altitude of the side netting may be reduced as the distance from the driving station increases for the simple reason that it becomes less likely for a ball to be lifted on a drive to a high altitude when the distance from the driving station exceeds, for example, 100 yards. After 200 yards, it is most unlikely that any ball would be driven out of the range if the side netting barriers should extend as high as 20 feet.
  • the range could be located over a large parking lot in such a manner that there would be little interference with the normal use of the parking lot.
  • the horizontal porous material must be suspended at a slightly higher level to provide additional clearance for the inward slope of the material.
  • the range could be suspended above a one-story restaurant or other commercial building. Thereby, the owner of the property may obtain income not only from use of the ground by a parking lot operator, a restaurant or other occupant of a commercial building, but also by, in effect, renting the air space for a golf range above the area used by ground tenants.
  • the driving station it is preferably a fixed building having at least one and, preferably, two platforms one above the other separated by spacing sufficient to permit a tall person to make a full drive swing without contacting the ceiling with his club.
  • the ground floor below the platforms could include a golf shop, administrative office and/or a snack bar.
  • Each of the platforms should be sheltered desirably on its two sides and behind the driving side - particularly where the platform building is located in an area which may frequently encounter inclement weather.
  • roofing extending forward of the platform for a short distance could serve to protect the golfers from rain or snow.
  • Some type of radiant heater could also be provided for each driving station so that the golfer could practice driving from the station even in a modest degree of cold or inclement weather.
  • the present invention offers many advantages to a golfer who may wish to practice various types of driving strokes. Further, as explained, the driving range of the present invention could use certain types of already occupied land, even in a city or suburban area, without interfering with the present use of the land.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a driving range constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 2A is a section taken on the line 2A-2A of Figure 1.
  • Figure 2B is a section taken on the line 2B-2B of Figure 1.
  • Figure 2C is a section taken on the line 2C-2C of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention set up on unused rough sloping land.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the inventiontcay disposed over land which may be utilized for a restaurant or other commercial purpose and/or a parking lot.
  • FIG 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with inward sloping covering material and a central gutter system.
  • a driving station 10 is erected, preferably on upwardly extending forward steel members 12 and similar rear members 14 interconnected by front support members 16, rear support members (not shown) and side members 18. These interconnected members support a solid lower deck or platform 20. Side members 22, together with longitudinal members (not shown), may be interconnected to support an upper platform or deck 24. Shielding 26 may be extended from the deck 24 to separate the two decks or platforms 20 and 24. Desirably, a back wall 28 may extend upwardly behind both platforms 20 and 24.
  • a roof may cover the entire structure, the sides of which may either be left open with fencing 32, 34, as shown in Figure 1, or the sides could be completely closed by walls (not shown).
  • the range 11 defined along its sides by a series of poles 36, 36', such as steel poles or wooden telephone poles embedded in or otherwise secured in the ground
  • the series of poles 36, 36' should extend for the full length of the range, preferably, at least 300 yards, a distance past which few golfers can drive a ball
  • the side poles 36, 36', together with center poles 37, 37' also support a grid 39 of steel cables 40, 41 and 42, on which is laid panels of covering material 43 on which the driven balls (not shown) may be expected to land.
  • This material 43 may be either a heavy netting with a small mesh, or a heavy porous fabric through which water may pass.
  • the center cable 42 of the grid 39 is also supported by shorter poles 39 at a level sufficiently above the gutters 38, 38' so that when the balls land on the covering material 43, which is laid over the center cable 42, the ball will roll laterally to the gutters 38, 38' for return to the driving station 10 and deposited in receptacles 54 and 54'.
  • a cushioned cover strip 36" should be provided to prevent damages to balls which may land on the cable junction.
  • the sides of the range 11 are formed by netting 44 which is secured at its base 44' to cables 41 of the grid 39, which cables 41 are supported by the poles 36, 36'. Cables 48 which are secured to or near the tops of the poles 36, 36', serve to carry the upper edges 44" of the netting material 44 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 20.
  • the sides 44a of the hung netting 44 may be secured to the pole in the manner illustrated in Figure 2B.
  • rods 45' may be mounted adjacent each pole by upper and lower brackets 47a, 47b, and edge rings 49 provided on the netting panels 44 are slipped over the rods 45', thereby to maintain side edges 44a of the netting 44 evenly in parallel with the pole 36, 36', 36a, 36b.
  • This netting 44 is quite different from the covering material 43 in that its mesh is so large that it just prevents the average golf ball (not shown) from passing through it.
  • the netting 44 desirably extends across the end 11' of the range 22, being supported by a transverse base cable 40' and an upper cable 48' secured at its ends to the tops of the end poles 36a, 36b, and intermediate pole 37.
  • the poles 36, 36' serve to support longitudinal side gutters 38, 38' which may be formed as a series of end-to-end connected half pipes attached to the poles 36, 36' in such a manner as to slope downwardly sufficiently for all balls dropping into the gutters to roll back to a collecting receptacle (not shown) disposed in the lower area of the driving station 10.
  • the poles 36, 36' which are nearest to the driving station 10 preferably should be taller than the poles 36, 36', 36a, 36b at or near the end 11' of the 46 driving range 10.
  • either the entire structure could be erected on desert or other unused land 56, or it could actually be erected over some existing land use facilities, such as building 58 or a parking lot 60.
  • FIG. 5 An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 5 in which the covering material 43 slopes upwardly away from the driving station 10 and inwardly from the side poles 36, 36' toward central gutter system 50. Golf balls driven onto the covering material 43 will roll into the central gutter system 50 and then back toward the driving station 10 and into receptacle 52.
  • the present invention thus provides a full size driving range with a playing surface that above suspended above ground at a height to which the owner desires, depending on the conditions for the specific use.
  • the present invention eliminates any need for maintenance personnel or machinery to be used upon the playing surface.
  • the steel cabling can be manipulated to provide sufficient sloping to aid in making the surface self-draining of the golf balls. These self-draining balls would return to a pre- determined location or locations the developer may choose for the design.
  • By providing a porous synthetic material for a playing surface no water or turf maintenance is needed, as opposed to daily maintenance of natural turf.
  • the porousness of the material allows the water or snow to pass through, thereby eliminating the need for costly drainage alterations. Even on graded artificial turf, significant grading and drainage preparations are required, where as the surface of the present invention requires none.
  • One feature of the present invention allows the prospective range operator to utilize the space below by leasing it out to other establishments, thereby generating more revenue, to allow the driving range operator to pay more for land and compete with usually more lucrative developments. Also one developer could team with other establishments that would also have been trying to acquire the same parcel.
  • prospective driving range operators can now seek out parcels of land that were considered too small to accommodate both the actual driving range and additional space for other related necessities, such as parking, rest rooms, offices, storage, training areas, clubhouse, snack bars, putting areas.
  • SUBSTT ⁇ UTE SHEET (RULE 26)
  • land before considered unsuitable for driving range development due to physical characteristics, such as large rocks too costly to break down and remove, can be utilized.
  • parcels located in floor basins prone to flooding and parcels of land where the topography necessitates costly grading can be developed for a range by elevating the surface high enough above to mitigate these conditions.
  • the present invention also overcomes the problem which golf range operators encounter in areas that experience significant snowfall during winter months, resulting in closure or very limited operation of the range, by providing an elevated playing surface to a predetermined height based upon the annual snowfall that may be expected in an average year, and using a surface material that has openings larger than could be employed for warm weather driving ranges, so that the snow can pass through the openings, but balls will not slip through.
  • the present invention also permits the operators of ranges in areas that experience such amount of rainfall, as causes grass turf to be covered with water for long periods of time, thereby reducing operating hours. Even after the rain has drained, collecting balls on the wet turf surface may be very difficult for tractor type vehicles which have a tendency to embed some of the balls into the soft wet turf, thereby causing the range operator significant ball loss.
  • the present invention also permits adjacent property owners to share in operating a driving range when individually they would not possess enough space . For example, two hotels that are adjacent to one another could place the range over portions of both properties, such as parking lots behind the hotels, without disrupting the parking for either hotel. This could be done due to the fact that some municipalities would not consider the playing surface of the present invention to be a permanent or structural surface of the type for which certain requirements must be met.
  • the present invention thus, has many applications and advantages over prior art types of golf ranges.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un champ d'entraînement au golf (11) qui peut être monté sur des bâtiments, sur des parcs de stationnement ou autre terrain inadapté. L'invention comprend une zone d'entraînement (10) à un ou plusieurs niveaux (20, 24) et une enceinte freinant et recevant la balle de golf et conçue pour renvoyer les balles à proximité de la zone d'entraînement (10). Cette enceinte est conçue dans un matériau flexible (43) s'étendant à partir de la zone d'entraînement (10), et est suspendue de manière à être inclinée vers le bas et orientée vers la zone d'entraînement (10), et vers l'extérieur et orientée vers les premier et second côtés du matériau flexible (43) ou vers l'intérieur et orientée vers le centre du matériau (43).
PCT/US1997/011941 1996-07-09 1997-07-08 Champ d'entrainement au golf WO1998001190A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU35989/97A AU3598997A (en) 1996-07-09 1997-07-08 Golf driving range

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2142996P 1996-07-09 1996-07-09
US60/021,429 1996-07-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998001190A1 true WO1998001190A1 (fr) 1998-01-15

Family

ID=21804182

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/011941 WO1998001190A1 (fr) 1996-07-09 1997-07-08 Champ d'entrainement au golf

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3598997A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998001190A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10259207A1 (de) * 2002-12-17 2004-07-08 Bluegolf Gmbh & Co Kg Tragkonstruktion für ein vertikal aufgehängtes Fangnetz
WO2004105896A1 (fr) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-09 Tomas Larsson Terrain d'exercice de golf artificiel utilisable sous tous climats
FR2934786A1 (fr) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-12 Jean Marie Malbranque Dispositif d'entrainement pour la pratique du golf
GB2431590B (en) * 2005-10-26 2010-09-29 David Evans Golf driving range
JP6011955B1 (ja) * 2016-06-07 2016-10-25 稲葉 昭博 ゴルフ練習場及びバッティングセンター
US10801224B1 (en) * 2020-05-11 2020-10-13 Claudio Vincenzo Sorrentino Hotel with a golfing facility and methods of operating the same

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3504912A (en) * 1967-05-16 1970-04-07 Jenney Mfg Co Recreation area
US3620536A (en) * 1970-03-06 1971-11-16 Edward L Lau Golf course
US3738664A (en) * 1970-10-21 1973-06-12 M Peeples Golf practice range
US3797827A (en) * 1971-07-02 1974-03-19 D Child Lake golf ball driving range
US3897947A (en) * 1973-10-11 1975-08-05 Jr Russell H Heffley Game apparatus
US4948141A (en) * 1986-12-24 1990-08-14 Newman Vernon H Golf game facility
US5547186A (en) * 1994-06-01 1996-08-20 Papp; Michael J. Limited space golf driving range

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3504912A (en) * 1967-05-16 1970-04-07 Jenney Mfg Co Recreation area
US3620536A (en) * 1970-03-06 1971-11-16 Edward L Lau Golf course
US3738664A (en) * 1970-10-21 1973-06-12 M Peeples Golf practice range
US3797827A (en) * 1971-07-02 1974-03-19 D Child Lake golf ball driving range
US3897947A (en) * 1973-10-11 1975-08-05 Jr Russell H Heffley Game apparatus
US4948141A (en) * 1986-12-24 1990-08-14 Newman Vernon H Golf game facility
US5547186A (en) * 1994-06-01 1996-08-20 Papp; Michael J. Limited space golf driving range

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10259207A1 (de) * 2002-12-17 2004-07-08 Bluegolf Gmbh & Co Kg Tragkonstruktion für ein vertikal aufgehängtes Fangnetz
WO2004105896A1 (fr) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-09 Tomas Larsson Terrain d'exercice de golf artificiel utilisable sous tous climats
GB2431590B (en) * 2005-10-26 2010-09-29 David Evans Golf driving range
FR2934786A1 (fr) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-12 Jean Marie Malbranque Dispositif d'entrainement pour la pratique du golf
JP6011955B1 (ja) * 2016-06-07 2016-10-25 稲葉 昭博 ゴルフ練習場及びバッティングセンター
US10801224B1 (en) * 2020-05-11 2020-10-13 Claudio Vincenzo Sorrentino Hotel with a golfing facility and methods of operating the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3598997A (en) 1998-02-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR200472825Y1 (ko) 건축 구조물
US5103600A (en) Multi-purpose stadium
CA2429239C (fr) Dispositif de collecte de balles
US3815901A (en) Ski arena
WO1998001190A1 (fr) Champ d'entrainement au golf
US6325726B2 (en) Winter golf driving range
AU2018101090A4 (en) New sporting precinct, Como Park North, in the City of Stonnington
CN2666499Y (zh) 高尔夫练习场回球设施
US6592464B1 (en) Winter golf driving range
JPH02274980A (ja) 複合建築物
Schoenauer Fermont: a new version of the company town
JPH0233810Y2 (fr)
RU2257440C1 (ru) Спортивно-оздоровительный комплекс "воробьевы горы" с крытой санно-бобслейной трассой
RU11243U1 (ru) Гостинично-спортивный комплекс
Harrington Clinchco, VA: Clinchco Recreational Park Revitalization Conceptual Site Master Plan & Connectivity Plan to the Palmer Street Nature Park
Delbridge et al. Pearisburg, VA: Pearisburg Town Park Conceptual Master Plan Update and Tannery Road Site Conceptual Design
WO1998026847A1 (fr) Procede destine a l'entretien de gazon
KR100675910B1 (ko) 월드컵 축구장을 이용한 골프 연습장
Batchelor et al. From Recess to Hang-Out: The Design of Open Space Opportunities.
Preston The development of a school-park site for the city of Lawrence, Kansas
Petersen Jr A Guide for Planning the Field House as a College or School Physical Education Facility.
Needs Facility Standard
JPH0797872A (ja) トンネルを利用した地下スポーツ施設
Braselton A resort
WO1999008757A1 (fr) Parcours de golf comportant une succession de couloirs

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 1998505343

Format of ref document f/p: F

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 09214542

Country of ref document: US

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA