GOLF HOLE PLUG

Abstract

A golf hole plug includes a cylindrical member having an outer wall dimensioned to abut an inner wall of a golf hole after a golf cup is removed from the golf hole, the cylindrical member including a central surface located to prevent sand or other debris from falling to the bottom of the golf hole when the cylindrical member is mounted within the golf hole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/853,951, filed on Oct. 24, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of golf green maintenance, and more specifically to a hole plug.

BACKGROUND

The greens on a golf course are sometimes aerated to improve the growth of grass on the green by providing oxygen to the roots of grass and as a means for exposing weed killer and fertilizer to the grass of the putting surface, and for providing proper water drainage. Aerating is accomplished by using spiked rollers that pull small dirt plugs out of the putting surface. After aerating a green, sand is spread over the green to fill the aerated holes.

The spiked rollers can do unintentional damage to the golf hole on the green. For example, the spiked roller can damage the sides of the hole. Also, sand can get knocked into the hole during the process. Thus, the worker has to straighten the sides of the golf hole to regain integrity of hole and has to remove all of the debris and sand that has filled it. This is generally done painstakingly by hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hole plug, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the hole plug of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a hole plug in a golf hole, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the hole plug in the golf hole.

FIG. 5 shows a side, cross-section view of a hole plug, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the hole plug of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a golf hole plug 100, in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of golf plug 100 and FIG. 2 is a top view of the golf hole plug. Hole plug 100 is a cylindrically shaped unit having an outer wall 102. Hole plug 100 is dimensioned to fit within a golf hole and, in one embodiment, has dimensions of about 4.25″ in diameter and about 6.75″ in height. Thus, hole plug 100 fits snuggly within a regulation size golf hole.

In one embodiment, hole plug 100 has dimensions of about 4.25 inches in diameter and about 5 inches in height for use in a practice green, for example.

In one embodiment, hole plug 100 is made from a durable, lightweight, weather resistant foam material. For example, hole plug 100 can be made from a closed-cell, polyester foam having a density of about 1.2 pounds per cubic foot. Some embodiments use a foam having a density of between about 1.0 pound per cubic foot to about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot. The foam material of the hole plug is chosen to be strong enough to protect the integrity of the golf hole by supporting the sides of the hole, while being soft enough to not do any damage to a aerating spikes.

Hole plug 100 can include one or more holes 110 extending at least partially into the plug to allow a user to grip the hole plug 100 and pull it out of a golf hole. In one example, holes 110 have a diameter of about 0.75 inches. This allows a user to reach into the hole plug with a thumb and forefinger to remove the plug from a hole. In some examples, holes 110 extend all the way through the plug 100. In other embodiments, holes 110 extend partially into the plug 100. Holes 110 can be formed when plug 100 is being molded or they can cut from the plug body after it is formed.

Hole plug 100 includes an upper surface 104 which prevents sand from falling into a golf hole when hole plug 100 is mounted therein. The hole plug 100 can be used in either direction and so when one side has become damaged the hole plug can be reversed.

FIG. 3 shows hole plug 100 mounted within a golf hole 120 on a green 200, and FIG. 4 shows a side, cross-section view of hole plug 100 within the golf hole. To use the hole plug 100, the golf cup is removed from the golf hole 120 and the hole plug 100 is placed within the golf hole 120. Outer wall 102 of golf plug 120 abuts against inner dirt wall 402 of golf hole 120. Thus, hole plug 100 protects the integrity of the golf hole when aerating greens by preventing the tines from damaging walls 402. Moreover, the material of hole plug 100 allows aeration tines to penetrate plug 100 without pulling it out of the hole. After aeration, grass and dirt plugs are removed from the greens surface using a plow or a plug pusher.

Plug 100 can also be used when topdressing green 200 to keep sand from filling up golf hole 120. As the sand is spread on the green 200, top surface 104 of the hole plug 100 prevents sand from falling into hole 120. After sanding, hole plug 100 is removed and the golf cup reinserted into golf hole 120. Hole plug 100 can be left in holes during winter months also. In some embodiments, the hole plug 100 can be reused many times.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a hole plug 500, in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-section view and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of hole plug 500. In this example, hole plug 500 includes the same general cylindrical dimensions as hole plug 100 but includes an H-shaped cross-section. Outer walls 502 protect the integrity of the hole while aerating, while central wall surface 504 collects sand to keep sand from filling up the hole during topdressing.

In other embodiments of the hole plugs described above, other techniques can be used to get the hole plug out of the hole. For instance, a washer can be attached to the bottom of the hole plug using a string or rope extending though the plug. The string is then pulled to get the plug out of the hole. In one example, a cork-screw type device can be screwed into the top of the hole plug and the plug is then pulled out.

Hole plugs 100, 500 can also be used in other situations where a hole needs to be plugged during aeration, for example in a cemetery.

It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

1. A golf hole plug comprising:

a cylindrical member having an outer wall dimensioned to abut an inner wall of a golf hole after a golf cup is removed from the golf hole, the cylindrical member including a central surface located to prevent sand or other debris from falling to the bottom of the golf hole when the cylindrical member is mounted within the golf hole.

2. The golf hole plug of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member includes a foam material.

3. The golf hole plug of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical member is made completely of the foam material.

4. The golf hole plug of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member includes a grip section to remove the cylindrical member from the golf hole.

5. The golf hole plug of claim 4, wherein the grip section includes one or more holes extending at least partially into the cylindrical member and dimensioned to receive a finger of a user.

6. The golf hole plug of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member has an outer diameter of approximately 4.25 inches.

7. The golf hole plug of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member has a height of approximately 6.75 inches.

8. The golf hole plug of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member has a height of approximately 5 inches.

9. A golf hole plug comprising:

a solid foam cylindrical member having an outer diameter of approximately 4.25 inches such that an outer wall of the cylindrical member is positioned to abut an inner wall of a golf hole and an upper surface to prevent sand from falling into the golf hole when the cylindrical member is positioned within the golf hole.

10. The golf hole plug of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical member includes a foam material.

11. The golf hole plug of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical member is made completely of the foam material.

12. The golf hole plug of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical member includes a grip section to remove the cylindrical member from the golf hole.

13. The golf hole plug of claim 12, wherein the grip section includes one or more holes extending at least partially into the cylindrical member and dimensioned to receive a finger of a user.

14. The golf hole plug of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical member has a height of approximately 6.75 inches.

15. The golf hole plug of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical member has a height of approximately 5 inches.

16. The golf hole plug of claim 9, wherein the solid foam cylindrical member is made completely of a closed-cell, polyester foam having a density of between about 1.0 pound per cubic foot to about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot.

17. A method comprising:

placing a cylindrical member into a golf hole on a golf green after a golf cup has been removed from the golf hole, the cylindrical member having an outer wall dimensioned to abut an inner wall of the golf hole the cylindrical member including a central surface located to prevent sand or other debris from falling to the bottom of the golf hole; and

removing the cylindrical member from the golf hole after the green has been aerated and replacing the golf cup.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the golf hole plug is formed of a foam material and the central surface is a top surface of the cylindrical member.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the cylindrical member includes a grip section to remove the cylindrical member from the golf hole.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the cylindrical member has an outer diameter of about 4.25 inches.