Indoor golf course

Abstract

A golf practice course inside either a temporary or a permanent structure. The course is made of synthetic turf. The course will utilize classrooms for instruction as holes, two of the practice greens as holes, and ((eleven))nine holes consisting of teeing areas, fairways and greens with flags in a cup. Each hole is of different lengths, with moveable obstructions, being designed for specific areas of golf to practice. The member's only area has six holes with fairways and greens with flags in a cup, four practice greens, and a member's only lounge area (clubhouse). There are four public individual practice putting greens. Each hole has protective netting enclosing each hole so as to allow the struck balls to stay within the hole. Under the structure there are four separate enclosed areas where one is a pro shop, one is an eating area, and two are for other interests. Each area has its own bathrooms. There is a separate building that has meeting rooms, offices, storage and bathrooms. This building is adjacent to the previously mentioned building.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is a facility to practice or play real, course condition golf on an indoor course using typical golf holes, classroom instruction as holes, and practice putting greens as holes that is open all year.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

The prior art of indoor golf design are games, not course condition practice. They utilize an area too small to practice the game under real course conditions. They also do not emulate the muscle memory practice necessary to help golfers practice properly so they play properly.

The following prior art do not emphasize correct practice procedures:

• Weber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,561
• Willer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,370
• Erodes et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,929
• Perry et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,105
• Ruth, Jr. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,600
• Oswald, U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,054
• McNamara, III U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,071
• Tabicman, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,266
• Michalec, U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,744
• McKenna-Cress, U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,797
• Tegart, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,385
• Ricigliano U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,250

Patent Applications

• 20060287120
• 20050250590
• 20050148400

Foreign Patents

• 2605525 April 1988 France 273/182R
• 1224982 March 1971 UK 273/176F

All the prior art are not designed to teach golfers how to improve their game under real course conditions with instruction and therefore not suitable for the purposes of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,033 (Thompson) While the concept has similarities, this course design is more of a game limited in design to a nine hole round and not intended as a practice facility. It also does not provide the ancillary necessities provided by this patent, such as the holes designed for classroom practice, the putting greens, pro shop, restaurant, member's only lounge, etc. to be a complete golf practice facility.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide an indoor facility where golfers can go and practice their golf games.

It is also the object of the invention to provide this year-round in an enclosed, temperature-controlled environment.

It is also an object of the invention to be designed so golfers practice under real course conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, different size grasses to hit out of, hazards encountered on the course and different lengths to hit a variety of clubs to their intended lengths and targets.

It is also an object of the invention to be a meeting place where golfers and family and or friends can meet and socialize as well as practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This facility has been designed to teach golfers how to practice properly so they play properly. The main reason for rounds of golf being 5 to 6 hours, which is too long for most people's concentration stream, is that golfers don't know how to think, learn and react on the course. What happens is that strokes=time, so golfers end up practicing on the course, taking more strokes, therefore taking more time. Our invention's main function will always be to make all golfers better players by showing them how to practice properly. The course layout is designed to show golfers how to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare themselves before and during the round. Then, under course conditions, show them how to eliminate the shots that, when mishit, result in most of their unnecessary strokes.

Since the course is indoors, golfers can practice year round in any weather. The perimeter dimensions make it fit easily in a preexisting driving range area. The geothermal environmental control and the solar power will provide year round comfort while conforming to the green initiatives of our society. With the surface being totally synthetic, there is minimal wear and unnecessary maintenance, giving the golfers the best possible conditions to learn how to practice properly.

Each hole is designed to teach the golfer how to hit certain types of shots. For example, one of the holes is 100 yards long and has water in front of the green. The golfer hits a small group of balls to his/her target. This will teach the golfer how to ignore the water and keep their focus on their target, which is the flagstick. The putting greens are played after the round. Here the golfer putts a small group of balls to different flagsticks so the golfer can concentrate on proper putting technique. The course is also designed to take half the time of a regular course, yet simulate the experience of the round. This will help speed up play and make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment.

This facility holds the three learning holes at FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the two practice greens at FIGS. 16 and 17, the nine holes of practice at FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The member's only area will be accessible thru a secured entrance. The member's only area consists of holes at FIGS. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, putting greens at FIGS. 25 and 26, Member's lounge at FIG. 27, and putting greens at FIGS. 28 and 29.

The five video classrooms at FIG. 30, the business rental area at FIG. 31, the business rental area at FIG. 32, the restaurant at FIG. 3, the pro shop at FIG. 2, and the four practice greens at FIG. 18 are public access.

The entrance to the facility is adjacent to the pro shop. Here you will sign in, then go thru the pro shop to get to the facility.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative and many changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention: the length of the holes, the shape and inclusion of hazards pertaining to the game of golf on the holes and the direction the hole plays can be varied.

So the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended claims and the legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—The layout of the entire course, which measures 250 feet wide by 625 feet long by 80 feet high

FIG. 2—The pro shop, which measures 40 feet wide by 80 feet long

FIG. 3—Restaurant area measures 3200 square feet

FIG. 4—The classroom for teaching of rules and etiquette room measures 10 feet by 10 feet.

FIG. 5—The classroom for physical preparation room measures 10 feet by 10 feet.

FIG. 6—The classroom for mental preparation room measures 10 feet by 10 feet.

FIG. 7—The hole measuring 8 yards wide by 25 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 8—The hole measuring 8 yards wide by 50 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 9—The hole measuring 8 yards wide by 75 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 10—The hole measuring 8 yards wide and 50 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 11—The hole measuring 8 yards wide and 100 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 12—The hole measuring 8 yards wide and 50 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 13—The hole measuring 8 yards wide and 100 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 14—The hole measuring 8 yards wide and 150 yards long. The green measures 24 feet

FIG. 15—The hole measuring 16 yards wide and 200 yards long.

FIG. 16—The hole putting green measures 12 feet long by 24 feet wide

FIG. 17—The hole putting green measures 12 feet long and 24 feet wide

FIG. 18—Practice putting greens 1, 2, 3, 4 each measures 30 feet by 30 feet

FIG. 19—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 100 yards long

FIG. 20—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 50 yards long

FIG. 21—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 50 yards long

FIG. 22—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 25 yards long

FIG. 23—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 25 yards long

FIG. 24—Member's hole measures 8 yards wide by 25 yards long

FIG. 25—Member's putting green measures 20 feet wide by 30 feet long

FIG. 26—Member's putting green measures 20 feet wide by 30 feet long

FIG. 27—Member's lounge area measures 55 feet wide by 70 feet long

FIG. 28—Member's putting greens number 3 and 4 each measure 25 feet by 25 feet

FIG. 29—Classrooms 1 and 2 measure 32 feet by 40 feet each.

FIG. 30—5-Video practice rooms each measure 10 feet wide by 15 feet long

FIG. 31—Business rental area measures 3200 square feet

FIG. 32—Business rental area measures 3200 square feet

Claims

1. A golf practice course inside either a temporary or a permanent structure. The course is made of synthetic turf. Course has up to but not limited to 18 holes. Classrooms for instruction are included as holes. Two of the practice greens are included as holes. ((Eleven))Nine holes consist of teeing areas, fairways and greens with flags in a cup. Each hole is of different lengths, with moveable obstructions, being designed for specific areas of golf to practice.

2. The private area has six holes with fairways and greens with flags in a cup, four practice greens, and a member's only lounge area (clubhouse). Course has four public individual practice putting greens. Each hole (which includes the teeing area, fairway and green area) has protective netting enclosing each hole so as to allow the struck balls to stay within the area of the hole.

3. Said structure uses, but is not limited to using, geothermal heating and cooling, solar power for electricity. Under the structure there are four separate enclosed areas where one is a pro shop, one is an eating area, and two are for other interests. Each area has its own bathrooms.

4. There is a separate building that has meeting rooms, offices, storage and bathrooms. This building is adjacent to the previously mentioned structure.