Abstract: A system for facilitating the practicing or playing of golf may include, alone or in combination, a golf target subsystem, a detection subsystem, and a golf ball dispensing subsystem. The golf ball dispensing subsystem comprises a free standing device placed at the teeing area which may be configured to provide various functions, such as, for example, receiving and storing a quantity of golf balls, exposing non-illuminated golf balls to an illuminating source contained therein, and thereby illuminating the golf balls, and/or dispensing the illuminated golf balls to the golfer. The golf target subsystem is suitably configured to permit a golfer to locate and identify the target area while addressing the golf ball so that the golfer may attempt to land the golf ball within the target area. In addition, to facilitate the identification of the target during nighttime conditions, i.e., conditions without external lighting, the golf target is preferably illuminated.

Abstract: A golf range comprising a series of independent targets, each of which consists of a sloped area located at a different distance from a multiplicity of tee stands. The range is also equipped with a scoring system that uses Universal Product Codes on each ball, optical scanners located at each target, and a programmed computer to identify each ball passing through the target and to record pertinent information and statistics to provide golfers with a record of the number and length of shots taken. The computer is also programmed to provide a comparison of information from previous sessions for a particular golfer or other golfers. In another embodiment, the invention also comprises a multilevel vertical target for driver shots located at a fixed distance from each tee stand, wherein each level includes a receiving net and a gutter connected to the system of pipes for the return of the balls.