Having Sequential Play (e.g., Regulation Earth Course, Etc.) Patents (Class 473/169)
  • Publication number: 20150080141
    Abstract: A compact golf course layout and method of play utilizing shared fairways and greens. The course includes a central green complex, a proximal green complex, and distal green complex. An imaginary PGD-DGC centroid connector is a straight line from the centroid of the proximal green complex to the centroid of the distal green complex. The course has at least two fairways located on opposite sides of the PGC-DGC centroid connector, and a plurality of teeing areas with at least two of the plurality of teeing areas located on opposite sides of the PGC-DGC centroid connector. The course design includes par-3 holes, par-4 holes, and par-5 holes and provides a golfer with a very diverse playing experience involving a wide variety of holes, tee shots, approach shots, forced carries, forced lay-ups, and changes in direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Lovrich
  • Patent number: 8905426
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a universal pull cart attachment device and method to enhance golf play. In some cases, a universal pull cart attachment device having a displaceable member is coupled to a motorized golf cart to allow users to displace the member to interchangeably receive a handle of a conventional golf bag pull cart. A method of playing golf using such a universal pull cart attachment device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Joe Holder
  • Patent number: 8805558
    Abstract: A method for conducting and scoring a golf video game, comprising determining the number of strokes it takes a team to complete a golf hole, wherein the team comprises of a plurality of players collectively playing one ball, allowing at least one player to take a strategic position further down the golf course ahead of where the ball is being played, and basing a score on the number of strokes the team collectively takes to complete the golf hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Isaac S Daniel
  • Patent number: 8753218
    Abstract: This golf course includes a fairway (11), tees (17), greens (1), holes (3) and bunkers (4), and other customary obstacles (6). As a particular feature, it has a special lighting arrangement, such that it also allows golf to be played during hours of darkness. To this end, at least the tees (17), the greens (1), the bunkers (4) and obstacles (6) are each equipped with a series of discrete or continuous light sources (12, 15, 18, 20, 36), preferably in the form of ground-installed LEDs or of OLEDs or LEDs. These lights extend along the edges of the objects in question and are installed flush with the ground. The holes (3) are illuminated internally by means of a light source, and the flagpoles (24) are designed as removable illuminating poles, such that the hole (3) remains lit even after removal of the flagpole. On a golf course equipped in this manner, the game of golf is played with an illuminating golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Martin Suchanek
  • Patent number: 8553936
    Abstract: Many athletic endeavors require focus on a moving object and subsequent coordination of bodily movement either in response to movement of the object or in an attempt to manipulate the object. Coordinated movement of the head and eyes can be improved through training when errors in gaze/head movement-coordination are identified. There exists a need for systems and methods capable of tracking and coordinating change in position of, for example, the head relative to a participant's gaze, and then to provide feedback on a participant's error in tracking moving objects. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to the technology of gaze tracking and more particularly to the application of gaze tracking technology to aid in the development of head-and-eye-movement coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventor: Nicklaus F. Fogt
  • Patent number: 8544868
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a universal pull cart attachment device and method to enhance golf play. In some cases, a universal pull cart attachment device having a displaceable member is coupled to a motorized golf cart to allow users to displace the member to interchangeably receive a handle of a conventional golf bag pull cart. A method of playing golf using such a universal pull cart attachment device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Joe Holder
  • Patent number: 8545348
    Abstract: A golf-course guide is provided with true to scale information maps of the individual holes for orientation about the quirks and distances of the respective hole. Detailed golf-course features which serve at least as an orientation aid for visual position determination are indicated by way of each information map of the respective hole which is shown to scale. A measurement aid is provided which includes a distance scale which corresponds to the scale of the information map, in order for it to be possible to determine the distances which are relevant for the player. A golf-course guide of this type can be handled simply and produced inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventors: Franz Ulrich, Dirk Projahn
  • Publication number: 20110294587
    Abstract: An urban golf course or other golf course having overlapping full size fairways constructed on a greatly reduced land area compared with current golf courses. Providing the same driving distances and same level of playing and course structure and spectator amenities. May include doglegs, bunkers, water hazards, tree hazards, rough, clubhouse, gallery, and concessions as in present golf courses. Professional and practice courses built on small land areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Winston Harrison
  • Patent number: 7651404
    Abstract: A full-sized outdoor golf course is described with any number of holes, usually 18 or 36 holes. Each hole is made up of a tee, a fairway, and a green. The holes are laid out in a pattern that makes it practical for each group of players on the golf course to play the holes in random order. This is accomplished by organizing the holes in a pattern that greatly increases the number of tees that are available to pick from after leaving any green on the course. All tees and greens, and only tees and greens, but no fairways, are located along special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50), that run roughly perpendicular to the normal cart paths that usually run along each fairway, so that when finishing play on any green, several tees are reachable by golf cart in a relatively short predetermined time, preferably 1½ minutes or less, using the special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald Larson
  • Publication number: 20080207346
    Abstract: A golf course for practicing shot-making and trouble shots where golf players may intensively practice their weakest shots, shot-making according to each situation and trouble shots is provided. The golf course includes a tee box including a flat ground, an up-hill, a down-hill, a side up-hill and a side down-hill, wherein a play of a hole is started therein; a fairway positioned between the tee box and a green, the fairway being composed of short grass; a bunker including a cross bunker positioned in the fairway, a fairway bunker positioned near the fairway and a green side bunker positioned near the green; a rough positioned on both the right and left sides of the fairway, the rough being composed of grass longer than the grass of the fairway; and the green composed of short grass, wherein a play of the hole is ended therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Sky72 Golf Club Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Je Kim
  • Publication number: 20080153614
    Abstract: A green complex comprising of a universal design concept and entities that support this concept are disclosed therein. The universal design concept is to stimulate a golfer by offering a method of operation that combines traditional golf and disc golf that can be played at any time; day or night. These design entities are inclusive to, but not limited to, the variation of colors of the target structure, flag, and corresponding synthetic green, and the illuminating concept for the green perimeter, cup, structure, and flag. A golf course with a plurality of holes, that includes the present invention, would be arranged as to where each hole contains a theme that is inclusive to the universal design concept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Tony Marshall
  • Patent number: 7291071
    Abstract: A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where the ball lands relative to scoring zones. A facility for playing a golf-type game includes a plurality of short-shot holes, each short-shot hole comprising a starting box on which a ball can be placed, and a target comprising a cup for receiving a ball hit from the starting box, and a plurality of scoring zones surrounding the cup; the target zones having indicia for scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Golf Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Edward John McNamara, III
  • Patent number: 7137901
    Abstract: A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where the ball lands relative to scoring zones. A facility for playing a golf-type game includes a plurality of short-shot holes, each short-shot hole comprising a starting box on which a ball can be placed, and a target comprising a cup for receiving a ball hit from the starting box, and a plurality of scoring zones surrounding the cup; the target zones having indicia for scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Golf Solutions
    Inventor: Edward John McNamara, III
  • Patent number: 7037208
    Abstract: A method of playing a golf-type game at the facility comprises placing a ball at one of the starting points, hitting the ball toward the appropriate target, and determining the surface type on which further play continues or determining the score based upon where the ball lands relative to scoring zones. A facility for playing a golf-type game includes a plurality of short-shot holes, each short-shot hole comprising a starting box on which a ball can be placed, and a target comprising a cup for receiving a ball hit from the starting box, and a plurality of scoring zones surrounding the cup; the target zones having indicia for scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Edward John McNamara, III
  • Patent number: 6916250
    Abstract: An indoor miniature golf game is provided with a plurality of environmentally realistic simulated fairways and greens with an optional plurality of tee off positions. Sequential visual activity segments with intermediate target areas are provided on the fairways between the tees and the greens. Various materials both visually and physically simulate the accompanying landscape, so that the golf ball travels quickly over the greens, but is slowed down and caught by rough or water simulated areas. Further, the course is enhanced with simulations of actual scenery and real world playing conditions. Various configurations allow for customized play, which is proportional to the ability of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: William Ricigliano
  • Patent number: 6774349
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf feedback system. A mat is used to determine player foot position, and a 3D golf tracking system tracks golf balls hit from the mat to determine (a) a ground ball track and (b) a player orientation axis, based on the foot position and relative to the mat. The system further determines information indicative of how well the ground ball track correlated to the orientation axis. Preferably, a golfer using the system is led through a plurality of pin target locations in a simulated golf game. The system evaluates and stores information such as slice and hook, accuracy, player orientation axis and ball carry distance such that the player can evaluate his/her game individually or against one or more other players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: Curtis A. Vock, Kevin J. Grealish, Robert D. Frey, George Nauck, Charles M. Marshall
  • Patent number: 6743110
    Abstract: A golf course is laid out for play in a front round and a back round, with each round being played on a sequence of eleven holes spaced apart along a course that traverses natural rough environs. The holes are integrated into the existing natural rough environs thereby forming playable green areas adjoining out-of-play rough areas. Each hole includes a green located within an out-of-play boundary line, and the distance between the approximate center of the green and its out-of-play boundary line is fractionally proportional to the spacing distance that separates the green in play from the preceding green. All play is single stroke from green-to-green (hole-to-hole). The spacing distance from one green playing area to the next is limited to a predetermined distance that is calculated to allow it to be spanned in a single stroke by a beginning player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventor: Lex E. Frazier
  • Patent number: 6699137
    Abstract: A method of adapting a golf course for playing golf at night using a glow-in-the-dark golf ball includes selecting an elongated flexible light source and placing it around the perimeter of a golf course putting green, fairway, bunkers, and other hazards and anchoring the placed elongated flexible light source to the earth with anchoring stakes. The golf hole may have the rim illuminated and may have a night visible flag. The selected and placed elongated flexible light source is partially buried to provide a smooth surface thereover. The elongated flexible light source, such as a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDS), may be placed in a flexible transparent polymer tube or channel and may be an electro-illuminescent wire or incandescent bulbs or LED spaced within a polymer tube or an elongated fiberoptic lighted from one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Matthew E. Szymanski
  • Publication number: 20040033841
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of playing golf wherein one or more holes are equipped with multiple launching positions. The user may choose one of the launching positions to play from commensurate with his or her desired level of difficulty. Each launching position of the present invention provides a distinct playing path to the green independent of the other launching positions. In one embodiment, the level of difficulty associated with each launching position is enhanced through the use of topographical features located between each launching position and the green. In another embodiment, one or more launching positions of the present invention are equipped with difficulty-enhancing terrain such as sand, rough-cut grass and/or uneven surfaces. The method of playing golf of the present invention is ideally suited to provide each individual golfer with an enjoyable and challenging experience, regardless of his or her expertise level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Graham
  • Patent number: 6623370
    Abstract: A chipping and putting golf training facility for practice, education, competition, and recreational use. The golf training facility is comprises a plurality of strip greens and fringe grass aprons specifically designed and arranged in an order to provide a systematic training method in chipping and putting. Each strip green of the plurality exposes the golf trainee to a different putting circumstance naturally encountered in chipping and putting on a golf course. Each strip green is essentially planar and has an uphill or downhill longitudinal inclination and a left to right or right to left transverse downhill inclination. The preferred embodiment utilizes a combination of small, medium, and large inclinations along both axes. The preferred embodiment also includes two strip greens with level upper and lower tiers and an inclined planar surface separating the two level tiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Rudolf H. Willer
  • Publication number: 20030032492
    Abstract: A golf course is laid out for play in a front round and a back round, with each round being played on a sequence of eleven holes spaced apart along a course that traverses natural rough environs. The holes are integrated into the existing natural rough environs thereby forming playable green areas adjoining out-of-play rough areas. Each hole includes a green located within an out-of-play boundary line, and the distance between the approximate center of the green and its out-of-play boundary line is fractionally proportional to the spacing distance that separates the green in play from the preceding green. All play is single stroke from green-to-green (hole-to-hole). The spacing distance from one green playing area to the next is limited to a predetermined distance that is calculated to allow it to be spanned in a single stroke by a beginning player. The green itself is used to make up the net driving distance (from tee to next green) thereby minimizing the total course acreage required for par play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Lex E. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20030032491
    Abstract: The present invention provides a golf course having one or more holes equipped with multiple launching positions. The user may choose one of the launching positions to play from commensurate with his or her desired level of difficulty. Each launching position of the present invention provides a distinct playing path to the green independent of the other launching positions. In one embodiment, the level of difficulty associated with each launching position is enhanced through the use of topographical features located between each launching position and the green. In another embodiment, one or more launching positions of the present invention are equipped with difficulty-enhancing terrain such as sand, rough-cut grass and/or uneven surfaces. The golf course of the present invention is ideally suited to provide each individual golfer with an enjoyable and challenging experience, regardless of his or her expertise level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Scott Graham
  • Patent number: 6517353
    Abstract: A pictorial tour process acquires material for producing pictorial tours from given amusement venues and then publishes those pictorial tours on an Internet website so the web users can get a “you are there” perspective of the given amusement venue. In particular as applied to the game of golf, a golf website presents pictorial tours of various golf courses by means of shot-by-shot teachings from a player's perspective of the recommended play of a given hole. Such a shot-by-shot teaching tour entertains, teaches as well as allows a web user to judge whether the given course is attractive or suitable to that user. The web users get to see not just the beauty and skill-challenge of the course, but also check such factors as whether the course will adversely challenge to their health if they have conditions of, eg., weak heart or impaired walking mobility, or otherwise cause discomfort because of eg., desert heat or mountain coolness, and so on. Some course allow carts, others don't.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030008719
    Abstract: A golf course has a single fairway having a first green disposed at a first end of the fairway for play from the fairway, and a second green disposed at a second end of the fairway for play from the fairway. A first tee is disposed approximately at the first end of the fairway for play onto the fairway towards the second green, whiule a second tee is disposed approximately at the second end of the fairway for play onto the fairway towards the first green. At least one of the tees includes a supporting framework and a shell, the framework and the shell being movable together relative to the fairway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Peter J. Wilk
  • Patent number: 6447400
    Abstract: A golf course has a single fairway with multiple greens. At least two greens are provided, at opposite ends of the fairway. One or more additional greens may be provided between the first two greens and along the fairway. Also, multiple tees are provided for the one fairway. At least one tee is provided at each end of the fairway, the tee facing down the fairway towards the green at the opposite end of the fairway. Each green may be the target of two or more tees disposed at different locations on the fairway. The golf course is occupied for a predetermined limited period of time by an individual or a single group of golfers. The individual or single group of golfers plays back and forth along the fairway, for as long as they have reserved the course. They can play at their own pace, undisturbed by other golfers because there are no other golfers on the course. The only limitation is duration: eventually they will have to stop because their reserved interval of play has terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Wilk Patent Development Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Wilk
  • Publication number: 20020111221
    Abstract: A compact golf course which is formed of a series of holes which are formed by a plurality of hole groups. Each hole group includes a par three hole and a par four hole and a par five hole. Each par three hole has its own putting green with the par four hole and par five hole of each said hole group sharing a separate putting green. The direction of play of each par three hole is in substantial alignment with the direction of play of the par four hole of its hole group. The direction of play of the aligned par three hole and par four hole of each hole group is located substantially parallel to the direction of play of the par five hole within the hole group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Terence R. Terry
  • Patent number: 6224387
    Abstract: A pictorial tour process acquires material for producing pictorial tours from given amusement venues and then publishes those pictorial tours on an Internet website so the web users can get a “you are there” perspective of the given amusement venue. In particular as applied to the game of golf, a golf website presents pictorial tours of various golf courses by means of shot-by-shot teachings from a player's perspective of the recommended play of a given hole. Such a shot-by-shot teaching tour entertains, teaches as well as allows a web user to judge whether the given course is attractive or suitable to that user. The web users get to see not just the beauty and skill-challenge of the course, but also check such factors as whether the course will adversely challenge to their health if they have conditions of, eg., weak heart or impaired walking mobility, or otherwise cause discomfort because of eg., desert heat or mountain coolness, and so on. Some course allow carts, others don't.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Michael J. Jones
  • Patent number: 6190272
    Abstract: A method for playing a sport that includes the following steps: (1) a fee is paid by a player, (2) the player places a ball on the ground at the beginning of a course (the course contains a plurality of goals), (3) the player kicks the ball towards the first of the goals, (4) the player scores a goal by kicking his ball into the first goal, (5) the player tabulates the number of kicks required to score the goal, (6) the player records the results of his tabulation and assigns one point for each kick required, (7) the player moves to the next goal and repeats steps 3-6 for each successive goal until the course is complete, and (8) the player determines his final score by adding the number of points required to complete the course. The player with the lowest point total is the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Glenn R. Bernard
  • Patent number: 6113502
    Abstract: A golf course has a single fairway with multiple greens. At least two greens are provided, at opposite ends of the fairway. One or more additional greens may be provided between the first two greens and along the fairway. Also, multiple tees are provided for the one fairway. At least one tee is provided at each end of the fairway, the tee facing down the fairway towards the green at the opposite end of the fairway. Each green may be the target of two or more tees disposed at different locations on the fairway. The golf course is occupied for a predetermined limited period of time by an individual or a single group of golfers. The individual or single group of golfers plays back and forth along the fairway, for as long as they have reserved the course. They can play at their own pace, undisturbed by other golfers because there are no other golfers on the course. The only limitation is duration: eventually they will have to stop because their reserved interval of play has terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Peter J. Wilk
  • Patent number: 6099139
    Abstract: Landscape lighting includes a shaft excavated in a ground surface. A telescopic pole assembly, which is movable between a telescopically extended position and a retracted position, is anchored within the shaft. The entire telescopic pole assembly is concealed within the shaft when in the retracted position. When in the telescopically extended position, the telescopic pole assembly extends out of the shaft and high into the air to illuminate the surrounding area. The landscape lighting is suited for illuminating golf courses in order that golf may be played at night.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Martin Eric Lapensee
  • Patent number: 6053819
    Abstract: A golf park including a golf course having a single fairway with multiple greens. At least two greens are provided, at opposite ends of the fairway. One or more additional greens may be provided between the first two greens and along the fairway. Also, multiple tees are provided for the one fairway. At least one tee is provided at each end of the fairway, the tee facing down the fairway towards the green at the opposite end of the fairway. Each green may be the target of two or more tees disposed at different locations on the fairway. The golf course is occupied for a predetermined limited period of time by an individual or a single group of golfers. The individual or single group of golfers plays back and forth along the fairway, for as long as they have reserved the course. They can play at their own pace, undisturbed by other golfers because there are no other golfers on the course. The only limitation is duration: eventually they will have to stop because their reserved interval of play has terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Peter J. Wilk
  • Patent number: 6036606
    Abstract: A golf course and a method of construction is described whereby to permit a plurality of sequential arrangements of golf links within the golf course so that golf players can play the same nine or eighteen golf links of the course but in a plurality of different golf link sequential arrangements. The golf course has a plurality of putting green areas which are spaced apart from one another with each being associated with one or more fairway areas to constitute a plurality of golf links. A tee area is associated with the fairway area of each of the golf links. A designation identifies individual ones of the golf links. The green areas and fairway areas are disposed in a predetermined web pattern to permit a plurality of these sequential arrangements of the links with the putting green areas having a single associated one of the fairway areas in each of the sequential arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Denis Dumas