Method for marking a practice range

Abstract

A method for marking a fairway, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, said method consisting of marking distance indicators on the fairway in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced from the teeing area and are spaced apart, with each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area, and marking accuracy indicators on the fairway in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/872,358 filed Jun. 1, 2001, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for marking a practice range to enable golf players to assess the accuracy of their strokes.

[0003] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

BACKGROUND ART

[0004] Golf is one of the most popular past times in the western world. A consequence of the popularity of the game of golf has been the development of golf practice ranges where the golfer can practice and refine his skills.

[0005] Golf practice ranges are usually simple in layout. They typically have an area from which to tee off, a grassed area into which the balls are driven, fences to contain wayward shots, and distance markers in the form of signposts.

[0006] Current golf practice ranges have some inherent inadequacies to a golfer who wishes to hone his skills. Golf is a game that requires accuracy and skill, not simply power. The provisions available on current golf practice ranges for a golfer to judge his skill are minimal, typically consisting of the distance markers. These distance markers allow a golfer who is stood in line with them to judge the approximate distance he has hit the ball, but not the accuracy.

[0007] Most practice ranges have a single line of distance markers extending from the teeing area. Parallax error reduces their usefulness if the golfer is not in front of the distance markers. If the golfer angles his shot towards the

[0008] A further difficulty with existing distance markers is that they are usually spaced apart by 25 or 50 metres. However, the difference in the distance a golf ball travels between two adjacent clubs, such as a 2-iron and a 3-iron, is typically 10 metres.

[0009] Consequently, the large spacing between distance markers makes it difficult for a golfer to accurately judge the distance the ball travels when using a particular club, which is an important element of the game of golf. This problem is exacerbated by parallax error if the golfer is not in line with the distance markers.

[0010] Further, existing golf practice ranges have no facility for a golfer to judge the accuracy of his strokes, particularly in the direction parallel to the teeing area.

[0011] Another problem with existing golf practice ranges is that there is no relationship between them and the holes of a particular golf course that may be proximate to the practice range. Consequently, there is no opportunity for a golfer to hone or improve his golf play according to a particular golf course upon which he may be about to commence a game or with which he may be unfamiliar as to the location of hazards and the approach to a green on a hole thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for marking a practice range, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said practice range from the teeing area, said method comprising the steps of:

[0013] marking distance indicating means on the fairway in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced sequentially from the teeing area at prescribed distances apart from each other, each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area; and

[0014] marking accuracy indicating means on the practice range in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area.

[0015] Preferably, said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke of adjacent clubs.

[0016] Preferably, said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 metres.

[0017] Preferably, said lines in the second set of lines are spaced apart an amount equating to the typical width of a fairway on a golf course.

[0018] Preferably, the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the amount equating to a typical width of a fairway relates to fairways on that particular golf course.

[0019] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of marking obstacle-indicating means within the spacing between adjacent pairs of lines of the second set of lines on the practice range.

[0020] Preferably, the obstacle-indicating means take the form of a first set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.

[0021] Preferably, the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.

[0022] Preferably, said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.

[0023] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of marking target-indicating means on the fairway.

[0024] Preferably, the target indicating means take the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.

[0025] Preferably, the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.

[0026] In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided in a practice range having a teeing area associated therewith, an improved set of markings on said practice range to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said practice range from said teeing area, comprising:

[0027] distance indicating means in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced sequentially from the teeing area at prescribed distances apart from each other, each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area; and

[0028] accuracy indicating means in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area.

[0029] Preferably, said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke of adjacent clubs.

[0030] Preferably, said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 metres.

[0031] Preferably, the lines in the second set of lines are spaced apart an amount equating to the typical width of a fairway on a golf course (30 to 40 metres), or tailored to the actual golf course that is attached to the practice range.

[0032] Preferably, the markings further comprise obstacle-indicating means.

[0033] Preferably, the obstacle-indicating means comprise a first set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.

[0034] Preferably, the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.

[0035] Preferably, said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.

[0036] Preferably, said markings further comprise target-indicating means.

[0037] Preferably, the target indicating means take the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.

[0038] Preferably, the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of markings on a golf practice range in accordance with the embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0041] The embodiment is directed towards a golf practice range fairway 10 having improved markings formed thereon. The markings comprise distance indicating lines 12 and accuracy indicating lines 14. The fairway 10 has an associated teeing area 16.

[0042] The distance indicating lines 12 are spaced from the teeing area 16 and are spaced apart, with each line 12 being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area 16.

[0043] The accuracy indicating lines 14 extend outwardly from the teeing area 16 and are substantially normal thereto. The accuracy indicating lines 14 are spaced apart by approximately the typical width of a fairway on a golf course, such as 30 m.

[0044] The golf practice range fairway 10 further comprises obstacle indicating marks 18 that are painted on the golf practice range fairway 10. The obstacle indicating marks 18 represent the location of sand bunkers 18A, bodies of water 18B and rough terrain 18C. The obstacle indicating marks 18 are colour-coded according to the type of obstacle. In the embodiment, the sand bunkers 18A are painted yellow, bodies of water 18B are painted blue, and areas of rough terrain 18C are painted red.

[0045] The golf practice range fairway 10 further comprises target indicating marks 20 that are painted onto the golf practice range fairway 10. The target indicating marks 20 represent the location of greens and are painted dark green.

[0046] In use, the golf practice range fairway 10 with the improved markings outlined above, provides a golfer (not shown) with a means that enables him to better judge the distance and accuracy of his shots.

[0047] The distance indicating marks 12 allow the golfer to gauge the distance of his shot reasonably accurately when hitting from anywhere in the teeing area 16. The marks 12 run substantially parallel to the teeing area 16 and hence there is no parallax error. In the preferred embodiment, the marks 12 are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the typical range difference of adjacent golf clubs, such as 10 metres. This allows the golfer to better judge the distance he achieves with each of his clubs

[0048] The accuracy indicating marks 14 are spaced a distance equivalent to the width of a typical golf course fairway. The golfer can use the lines to judge whether his shot was straight and would have made it onto the fairway. Or alternatively, if the golfer tees off next to an accuracy indicating mark he can imagine that his shot landed on the edge of the fairway, and try to hit the ball back towards the centre of the two lines, i.e. towards what would be the centre of the fairway.

[0049] Of further assistance are the obstacle indicating marks 18 and target indicating marks 20. These provide the golfer with a further means to hone his skills by representing obstacles and targets that one would typically find on a golf course such as sand bunker 18A, bodies of water 18B, rough terrain 18C and greens 20. In another embodiment, the obstacles and targets are arranged according to the specific layout of the golf course proximate to where the practice range is actually disposed and the amount equating to a typical width of a fairway relates to fairways on that particular golf course.

[0050] In this manner, a golfer may practice and attune his practice to the particular golf course on which he is about to play or with which his is unfamiliar.

[0051] For example, the hazards and green placements with respect to a particular hole such as the third hole par 3 are emulated by markings between a particular second set of lines spaced apart the approximate width of the fairway corresponding to that hole.

[0052] It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, and that other embodiments may be envisaged which incorporate differences from preceding embodiments, but which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for marking a practice range, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said practice range from the teeing area, said method comprising the steps of:

marking distance indicating means on the fairway in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced sequentially from the teeing area at prescribed distances apart from each other, each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area; and

marking accuracy indicating means on the practice range in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area;

wherein the second set of lines are spaced apart an amount equating to the typical width of a fairway on a golf course.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke of adjacent clubs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 metres.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the amount equating to a typical width of a fairway relates to fairways on that particular golf course.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of marking obstacle-indicating means within the spacing between adjacent pairs of lines of the second set of lines on the practice range.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the positioning of the obstacle-indicating means along said first set of lines corresponds to the relative positioning of an obstacle on a fairway of said golf course.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the obstacle-indicating means take the form of a first set of marks that are painted onto the practice range.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of marking target-indicating means within the spacing between adjacent pairs of lines of the second set of lines.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the positioning of the target indicating means along said first set of lines corresponds to the relative positioning of an obstacle on a fairway of said golf course.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the target indicating means take the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the practice range.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.

14. In a practice range having a teeing area associated therewith, an improved set of markings on the practice range to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto the practice range from said teeing area, comprising:

distance indicating means in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced sequentially from the teeing area at prescribed distances apart from each other, each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area; and

accuracy indicating means in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area;

wherein the second set of lines are spaced apart an amount equating to the typical width of a fairway on a golf course.

15. The markings of claim 14, wherein said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke of adjacent clubs.

16. The markings of claim 14, wherein said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 metres.

17. The markings of claim 14, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the amount equating to a typical width of a fairway relates to fairways on that particular golf course.

18. The markings of claim 14, further comprising obstacle-indicating means disposed within the spacing between adjacent pairs of lines of the second set of lines on the practice range.

19. The markings of claim 18, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the positioning of the obstacle-indicating means along said first set of lines corresponds to the relative positioning of an obstacle on a fairway of said golf course.

20. The markings of claim 18, wherein the obstacle-indicating means comprise a first set of marks that are painted onto thepractice range.

21. The markings of claim 20, wherein the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.

22. The markings of claim 20, wherein said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.

23. The markings of claim 14, wherein said markings further comprise target-indicating means within the spacing between adjacent pairs of lines of the second set of lines.

24. The markings of claim 23, wherein the golf course is proximate to the practice range, and the positioning of the target indicating means along said first set of lines corresponds to the relative positioning of an obstacle on a fairway of said golf course.

25. The markings of claim 23, wherein the target indicating means take the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the practice range.

26. The markings of claim 25, the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.