U.S. patent number 3,671,042 [Application Number 05/116,002] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-20 for golf course.
Invention is credited to Alexander Garber.
United States Patent |
3,671,042 |
Garber |
June 20, 1972 |
GOLF COURSE
Abstract
A golf course layout having a plurality of holes in which each
hole includes a T-area, at least one landing zone having a limited
landing area, and a green having a cup therein. The landing area
may be a depression, inclined toward the tee, delineated by surface
markings and made either of a turf-like putting grass material or a
material such as sand to impede the ball. The game is played so
that the player must land the ball in the limited landing area
prior to advancing the ball toward the green for eventual sinking
of the ball in the cup. The layout provides different paths of
varying difficulty for each of the different stages of play so that
the rules may be tailored to accommodate the game to the skill of
the player. Varying degrees of difficulty are provided by
interposing hazards in the direct path between the tees and the
landing areas which require the player to advance the ball airborne
over the hazard or putt the ball along the ground surface around
the hazard in a curved circuitous path. Assistance is provided in
maintaining the ball in the curved path by banking the ground
surface in a manner to assist the circuitous travel of the
ball.
Inventors: |
Garber; Alexander (Kingston,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
22364669 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/116,002 |
Filed: |
February 17, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/165;
473/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/3691 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/36 (20060101); A63b 067/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/176 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Marlo; George J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having
a T-area, a cup, and at least one landing zone spaced intermediate
said tee area and said cup at a substantial distance from each, the
landing zone of at least one of said holes having indicia means
comprising visually contrasting surface markings forming a closed
border loop defining the outline of a predetermined landing area of
limited extent within the landing zone of said one hole, said
landing area having a turf-like surface texture therein, and means
providing a putting pathway having a continuous turf-like surface
texture extending from said landing area to the cup of said one
hole to permit putting of said golf ball along said pathway away
from said landing area into the cup of said one hole.
2. A course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landing
zones comprises a landing area having a surface texture different
from said turf-like surface texture and adapted to arrest the golf
ball upon impact thereon without substantial bounce or roll
therefrom.
3. A golf course according to claim 2 wherein said last mentioned
differently textured landing area is inclined to face a T-area.
4. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said
landing zones includes a depressed landing area, and inwardly and
downwardly sloping walls surrounding said depressed landing
area.
5. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said
landing zones includes a limited landing area defined by an abrupt
change in the contour of the surface around the periphery of the
limited landing area.
6. A golf course according to claim 1 including hazard means
providing a surface area which limits ground travel of the ball
across the surface of said hazard means, said surface area of said
hazard means being intermediate a T-area and a landing zone in a
direct line therebetween, a continuous putting path between said
last mentioned T-area and landing zone characterized by a turf-like
surface texture and a uniformity of surface texture throughout its
length which enhances the rolling of a golf ball along said path
without its being deviated from said path by surface irregularity
therein, said putting path circumventing said hazard means whereby
said last mentioned landing area may be reached either by
propelling the ball airborne from said last mentioned tee area to
said last mentioned landing area, or by propelling said ball along
the surface of said putting path around said hazard means.
7. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having
a T-area, a cup, and a landing zone having a predetermined landing
area of limited extent defined by indicia forming a closed border
loop defining the outline of said area, at least one hole having
means providing a hazard including a surface area which makes
difficult ground travel of the ball thereacross, said hazard
surface area being located in either a direct line extending from
the T-area to the landing zone or a direct line extending from the
landing area to the cup, and a continuous putting path
circumventing said hazard, said path characterized by a turf-like
surface texture throughout its length and width, and a uniformity
of surface texture throughout its length, said path being arcuate
in plan to circumvent said hazard, the marginal portion of the path
being banked throughout the arcuate part by having a shallow
concave cross section whose exposed surface consists of said
turf-like surface texture for gradually deflecting the ball into
the arcuate path.
Description
The present invention relates to golf course layouts and has
particular application to a layout in which the series of holes
provide the opportunity for an interesting pastime for both the
unskilled golfer and the golfer who is proficient.
The standard full-size golf course is designed for the golfer with
at least a reasonable amount of skill in playing the game. For the
unskilled golfer, the play of the full standard course requires an
inordinate amount of time and may lead to severe frustration.
Various attempts have been made to design courses which reduce the
distance which must be traveled by the player when playing the full
course, but in every instance, the shortening of the course renders
the course unsuitable for the skilled player as being too easy so
that the game is not appealing to a proficient golfer, and does not
assist the novice in obtaining the skills which are required to
permit the player to enjoy playing a full course.
The course layout of the present invention may be accommodated to
various sites of widely differing acreage, and is particularly
adapted for a site of small acreage which is sufficiently compact
to be heated for use in chilled climates and/or to be floodlighted
for play after dark.
The layout permits the use of standard components which may be
fabricated from the natural elements at the site, or may be
prefabricated and erected at the site. The various components are
selected to impart varying degrees of difficulty to the play and
may have novel characteristics which challenge the skills which are
required of the golfer on a full course and thus enable the skilled
golfer to obtain practice of those shots with which he is
experiencing difficulty on the full course.
The present invention contemplates that the course may be used by
the golfer to improve his putting game, and the layout has
provision for enabling the player to putt the ball throughout the
entire course.
All of the objects of the invention are fully set forth hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the layout for one hole of a course
showing in broken lines the alternate routes for approaching the
two landing areas.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of another hole in a course embodying the
present invention showing different hazards than those present in
the hole shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is an illustration of still another hole of a course laid
out in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings, it should be noted that each hole of
the course layout includes a T-area from which play is initiated
for that hole and a cup into which the balls are sunk to terminate
the play for that hole. Intermediate the tee area and the cup,
preferably a substantial distance from each, is located at least
one landing zone having a landing area of limited extent. Each hole
is designed to provide alternate paths of travel for the ball, and
preferably the paths are designed to require degrees of skill
varying from limited skill to proficiency. Where persons of
different skill or proficiency are playing the course together,
rules may be adopted which require the more skilled player to
follow the more difficult paths and to be penalized for missing
targets or failing to follow the prescribed path. In any event, it
is contemplated that each player must stroke the ball from the T to
each intermediate landing area and finally to sink the ball into
the cup.
The drawings illustrate typical holes of a course layout, but it
should be understood that each course embodying the present
invention will have its own unique characteristics, in accordance
with the climate or the terrain where the course is installed.
Referring to the hole shown in FIG. 1, the tee area 11 comprises an
elevated surface 12 of turf or the like having markers at 13 which
serve as indicators for the line from which play is initiated. In
the present case, the elevated surface 12 is capable of
withstanding the rigors of golfers stroking a golf ball with either
a pitching wedge or a putter. The surface may be a hardy natural
grass turf as at 12a, may be an artificial turf as at 12b, or may
be a pile fabric such as indoor-outdoor carpeting, where
appropriate. In FIG. 1, a combination of different surfaces is
provided to accommodate to the use of different clubs by the
players. The selection of the material for the surface of 12 is
determined by the climatic or atmospheric conditions, the exposure,
and the traffic which is anticipated.
As indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the Player must stroke
the ball into a limited landing area of a landing zone 21. In the
present instance, the landing zone 21 has a marking or indicia 22
defining a generally circular landing area 23 of limited size. The
surface of the landing area 23, in the present instance, is
inclined toward the player P on the T 11. The ball may be stroked
into the landing area 23 either through the air as indicated by the
dot-and-dash lines 25 or along the ground surface as indicated by
the dashed lines 26. It is noted that the surface path 26 requires
the ball to be putted from the elevated surface 12 down onto a wide
pathway 27 which merges gradually into the inclined surface of the
landing area 23. The wide pathway 27 is preferably a turf which
provides smooth and direct travel of the ball along the surface
thereof. The turf may be either natural or artificial, and is
preferably similar in surface effect to the surface of a standard
putting green. Thus when the ball is stroked, as in putting, from
the T-spot determined by the markers 13--13, it will be projected
along the surface of the pathway 27, as indicated by the dashed
lines 26 into the landing area 23.
Alternatively, the ball may be pitched into the landing area by the
use of a pitching wedge from the initiating spot on the T 11. This
airborne stroke is indicated by the dot-and-dash lines at 25. It is
noted that the front of the T along the surface 12b has an abrupt
drop-off since it is not used by the players who putt. The landing
area 23, being inclined in this instance, is of a character to
inhibit the bounce of the ball when it is pitched thereinto, and
impedes the roll or other travel of the ball along the surface
thereof. The surface of the area 23 may be a specially designed
turf of natural or synthetic character, or may comprise a sandy,
pebbly or other particulate material which will absorb the impact
of the ball and cushion the normal resilient reaction forces
thereof. The nature of the surface in the area 23 renders it
difficult to stroke the ball from the surface to the next landing
area and accordingly a secondary T-area is provided at 29 in the
landing zone 21 adjacent the area 23. The rules of the game for
this hole may provide that once the ball lands within the indicia
22, it may be transferred to the T-area 29 without loss of stroke
or other penalty. Thus the secondary tee area 29 is deemed to be
part of the landing zone 21.
In the hole illustrated in FIG. 1, the player must stroke the ball
from T-area 29 in the landing zone 21 into a second landing zone
31. The landing zone 31 has indicia means 32, in the present
instance surface markings on a level with the surrounding area,
defining a limited landing area 33. In the continuing play of the
hole, the players must propel the ball from the tee 29 into the
landing area 33, and as in the approach to the first landing area
23, the players have alternate paths respectively airborne as
indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 35, and along the surface as
indicated by the dashed line 36. It is noted that the dashed line
36 follows a broad path 37 which curves around a hazard, in the
present instance a water hazard 38 in the form of a pond or pool.
Since the secondary T 29 is elevated above the pathway 37, a
gradual slope or ramp from the secondary T-29 onto the path 37 is
provided as indicated at 34.
Since the hazard 38 is positioned in the direct line from the
secondary T 29 to the landing area 33 of the landing zone 31, the
surface route 36 is arcuate or curved as shown. In order to assist
the player using the surface route and enable the player to reach
the landing area 33 in a single stroke, the pathway 37 is banked as
indicated at 39 to direct the ball in the curved path shown. With
reference to the sectional view shown in FIG. 2, it is apparent
that the pathway 37 and the banking at 39 serves to deflect the
ball B from its straight-line path of normal travel into a gentle
curve, for example as indicated by the dashed lines at 36. The
shallow banking illustrated in FIG. 2 may be increased or reduced
to accommodate the course to the rolling action applied to the ball
B by the surface of the pathway 37. A frictionless surface, of
course, will require a steeper banking to insure deflection of the
ball from the normal straight-line path of propulsion whereas a
surface with greater friction will require less banking.
In the present instance, the path 37 is shown having a surface of
artificial turf 41 laid on a substrate 42 of earth and having the
banking support provided by curbing at 43. Beyond the curbing in
FIG. 2, the out-of-bounds area is being composed of natural turf at
44. The rules of the course may or may not provide for penalties in
the event that the player propels the ball beyond the pathway 37
into the out-of-bounds area, or may require the players to stroke
the ball back into the playing area. A lateral hazard is provided
at 45 adjacent the landing area 33 in the landing zone 31 to impart
a further degree of difficulty to this stage of the play.
In the present instance, the surface from the secondary tee 29 to
and through the landing area 33 is of uniform texture which insures
the proper roll of the ball along the surface, for example when
stroked by a putter or similar golfing iron.
When the ball has come to rest in the limited landing area 33, the
player may then stroke the ball toward the cup 51 which is beyond
the landing area. In the present instance, the cup 51 is positioned
sufficiently close to accommodate putting from the landing area 33
directly into the cup 51. The surface of the course between the
landing area 33 and the cup 51 is preferably of the uniform texture
which is characteristic of putting courses and putting greens. In
the present instance, the normal putting path is indicated by the
dashed line 56 and the cup identified by the usual flag marker 59.
Hazards may be provided nearby the cup 51, for example by sandtraps
58.
In the hole illustrated in FIG. 1, the ball travels over a pathway
57 between the landing area 33 and the cup 51, and the pathway 57
is of substantial width terminating along one side in a banked edge
54 and along the other side and beyond the hole in the edge of a
fringe 53 of natural turf or the like. It is noted that the cup 51
is spaced a good distance from the fringe so that overshooting of
the cup in approaching it does not severely handicap the
player.
In the hole layout shown in FIG. 1, the landing areas in each zone
are limited in size so that their greatest transverse dimension is
approximately one-fourth of the distance which the ball must travel
in approaching the landing zone. It is believed that this ratio
provides a sufficient challenge for a reasonably proficient golfer
without excessively handicapping the novice golfer. If it is
desired to provide a greater challenge to the proficient golfer,
the landing area may include a central secondary landing area of
smaller size into which the skilled golfer must land his ball
before proceeding to the next landing area or to the cup, as the
case may be. Of course, the distance between the various zones of
the hole may be expanded or contracted to accommodate to the land
available for the course and the placement of the hazards may be
varied.
As a variation, FIG. 3 shows a hole which is short relative to the
hole shown in FIG. 1. Throughout this hole the course is level,
having a tee area 61 which is on a level with the remainder of the
course and which has T-markers 63--63 for indicating the proper
point from which the play of the hole should be started. From the
T-area 61, the players must propel the ball to the landing zone 71
having a limited landing area 73 defined by marking indicia 72 on
the ground surface. Within the landing area 73, hummocks 74 are
provided to impart a degree of difficulty to the play. The landing
zone 71 also includes a sandtrap 75 adjoining the landing area 72.
The landing zone 71 is defined on its outer perimeter by an edging
76 of grass fringe or the like.
As in the previous hole, the ball may be advanced to the landing
area 73 by either an airborne route or a surface route. The
airborne route is indicated by the dot-and-dash line 65, whereas
the surface route is indicated by the dashed line 66. It is noted
that the direct path between the tee zone 61 and the landing zone
71 is interrupted by a large sandtrap hazard 68 and the surface
route 66 must circumvent the trap 68. In this instance, alternate
surface routes are provided on the opposite sides of the trap and
each of the two alternate routes includes a level pathway 67
bordered on one side by the hazard 68 and bordered on the other
side by a banked curbing 69. The curbing 69 is similar to the
curbing 39 described above and serves to assist in directing the
ball being stroked along the surface toward the landing area in a
circuitous path around the hazard 68.
After the player causes the ball to stop in the limited landing
area 72, he may then putt the ball into the cup 81 having a small
green 82 surrounding it, the limits of the green 82 being defined
by a fringe edging at 83. The surface path from the landing area 72
to the cup 81 is indicated by the dashed line 86. As in the
previous hole, the cup is marked by a flag marker 87.
FIG. 4 illustrates a hole embodying further variations within the
scope of the invention. In this hole, the T-area 91 comprises a
teeing surface 92 which is level with the ground surface on three
sides and is elevated above the ground surface on the fourth side.
Markers are provided 93--93 to indicate the proper starting point
for the ball. In the present instance, the elevated side of the tee
area 91 faces a landing zone 101 to which the ball must be stroked.
The landing zone 101 includes an elevated landing area of limited
size as indicated at 103 having a smooth level surface terminating
at the periphery 102. The space between the tee 91 and the landing
zone 101 forms a valley 98 which constitutes a hazard interrupting
the direct line between the T and the landing zone. The sharp
fall-off from the T to the valley floor and the sharp rise from the
valley floor to the landing area require the provision of an
alternate pathway bypassing the valley floor 98. The alternate
pathway is provided at 97, and in this case, the pathway is of
limited width, as shown, in the form of a trough or gutter having
sloping sides which assist in directing the ball in a curved path
extending from the tee 91 to the landing zone 101 as indicated by
the dashed lines 96. With a more proficient golfer, an airborne
route directly over the valley may be employed as indicated by the
dot-and-dash line 95.
From the landing area 103, the ball is stroked to the next landing
zone 111, which in this case comprises a depressed landing area 113
defined by a gradually sloping periphery as indicated at 112.
Alternate air and ground routes are provided as indicated by the
dot-and-dash line 105 and the dashed line 106 respectively. The
ground route is hazardous by reason of the presence, in the direct
line between the landing areas 103 and 113, a series of hummocks
108 which rise from the surface of the pathway 107 intermediate the
landing areas. Preferably the hummocks are staggered as shown and
their sides are banked so that by proper stroking of the ball, the
elevated sides of the hummocks which are in the path of the ball
serve to deflect the ball around the hummocks. With developed
skill, or with good fortune, the ground route between the landing
areas 103 and 113 may be traversed in a single stroke of the ball.
To assist in this, the rear portion of the landing zone 101 is
graded to form a ramp 109 which initiates the travel of the ball
from the landing area 103 in the proper direction to attain the
landing area 113.
From the landing area 113, the all is stroked toward the cup 121
which in this instance is positioned in an elevated green 122. The
green 122 has multiple levels which substantially increase the
difficulty of minimizing the strokes necessary to sink the ball in
the cup 121. In this case, alternate air and ground routes are
provided from the landing area 113 as indicated by the dot-and-dash
lines 115 and the dashed lines 116. In order to facilitate exit of
the ball from the depressed landing area 113, the rim 112 of the
area is graduated to provide an exit ramp as indicated at 119 to
provide a substantially smooth path of ground travel along the line
116. Similarly, because of the multiple levels which make up the
green 122, the ground travel must be circuitous so that it is
practically impossible to sink the ball in one stroke using the
ground route from the landing area 113. As with the holes in the
course layout previously discussed, the cup 121 is marked with a
suitable flag 129 and the surface treatment is such as to permit
directed putting of the ball over the ground surface.
As indicated above, the course of the present invention may be in a
very compact area, utilizing a minimum space when necessary. The
entire area may be floodlighted for use after dark, and may even be
heated for use in chilled climates. With a compact course
arrangement in which the various holes are spaced closely adjacent
one another, the requirement for landing the ball in a limited
landing area discourages the players from stroking the ball with
excessive vigor and endangering other players on the course with
erratically propelled balls. When the course is laid out in a
larger area, the distances between the tees, the landing areas, and
cups are sufficiently great to require forceful strokes of the
ball, the spacing between adjacent holes must be expanded, or
barriers must be provided between the holes, in order to prevent
injury to players from balls propelled on adjacent holes.
It is apparent that the present invention, by the use of limited
landing area intermediate the tee and the cup enables the design of
widely varying degrees of inherent difficulty in a single course.
As indicated, the surface texture may be varied, the sizes of the
landing areas may be varied, the character of the subsurface may be
altered to control the bounce or the run of the ball upon landing
thereon.
Because of the variations which may be built into the course, the
course may be accommodated to provide worthwhile competition among
players of different skills. For example by requiring the more
proficient players to utilize the more difficult avenues of play,
the novice player may lose his competitive disadvantage, thereby
enabling the skillful player to enjoy playing the course in
competition with a novice and vice versa.
In drawings, the landscaping of the course has been omitted in
order to clarify the illustration of the play of the game. If the
characteristics of the climate and the terrain where the course
location permit it obviously the course will be landscaped with
shrubs and trees to enhance the ornamental characteristics of the
course and to provide the natural conditions desirable to maintain
the course in proper shape. The landscaping, if desired, may also
be used as an element of the hazards which are utilized in the
course. For example, instead of the hummocks 108, the pathway 107
may be tree-covered, or may be provided with hedges or other
shrubbery to intercept the direct path between the two landing
areas.
The course may employ the natural elements in the terrain as
hazards, or where the character of the terrain or the equipment
available at the site limits the use of natural elements,
prefabricated components may be used. For example, a pre-formed
elevated T-structure having a covering of artificial turf may be
set in place to define the T-area. Likewise the landing zones
having the limited landing areas defined therein may be
prefabricated and simply set in place in the projected course
layout. The cups may be the conventional putting cup sunk into the
surface, or raised artificial cups of the type used for indoor
putting installations may be employed.
With the foregoing in mind, it is apparent that the invention is
not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed and described
herein in detail, but various changes and modifications may be made
therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *