US3620536A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf course
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-06
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A golf course having two parallel fairways and a supplementary green area separating the fairways. A hitting area for hitting golf balls onto the fairways includes a tee level for hitting drive shots onto the fairways and first and second approach levels positioned in front of and vertically below the tee level for hitting approach shots onto the fairways. Protective screens separate the levels from each other so that golf balls hit on one level cannot injure players on another level. The fairways have a first group of target greens at their far end and a second group of target greens are spaced along the fairways at different distances from the front of the tee level. The fairways slope downward toward the tee area and may be formed as part of the existing terrain. Alternatively, the fairways may be made of a green colored wire mesh material including upwardly projecting bumpers. Gutters are provided at the sides of the fairways for retrieving driven golf balls. Deflectors, adopted to be moved, separate the gutters from the fairways. The target greens are in the form of panels having the front ends supported by jacks to permit tilting same. Balls are removed from the supplementary green area by a system of rollers which sweep across same and move golf balls into a centrally located gutter. Golf putting greens are located behind the tee areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L Lau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:37
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3691; A63B69/3697; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00028; A63F3/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A golf course comprising: a plurality of adjacent fairways each having a far end, a near end and opposed sides; a hitting area at a near end of the fairways for hitting golf balls onto said fairways, said hitting area comprising an upper tee level having a plurality of tees at a front edge for hitting drive shots onto said fairways and an approach level vertically spaced below and in front of said tee level and closer to the far end of the fairway than the tee level for hitting approach shots onto said fairways; a protective covering extending from the front edge of the tee level and positioned directly above the approach level for separating the approach level from the tee level and preventing golf balls hit from the tee level from reaching the approach level; a first group of target greens at the far end of each fairway; and a second group of target greens spaced along each of said fairways at different distances from the front edge of the tee level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A golf course comprising: a plurality of adjacent fairways each having a far end, a near end and opposed sides; a hitting area at a near end of the fairways for hitting golf balls onto said fairways, said hitting area comprising an upper tee level having a plurality of tees at a front edge for hitting drive shots onto said fairways and an approach level vertically spaced below and in front of said tee level and closer to the far end of the fairway than the tee level for hitting approach shots onto said fairways; a protective covering extending from the front edge of the tee level and positioned directly above the approach level for separating the approach level from the tee level and preventing golf balls hit from the tee level from reaching the approach level; a first group of target greens at the far end of each fairway; and a second group of target greens spaced along each of said fairways at different distances from the front edge of the tee level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The golf course of claim 1 including a sand trap, chip, and rough shot level vertically spaced below and in front of said approach level and having a protective screen for separating the rough shot level from the approach and tee levels and preventing golf balls hit from those levels from reaching rough shot level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The golf course of claim 2 wherein said tee level has a plurality Of putting greens behind said tees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The golf course of claim 3 wherein said approach level comprises a first approach level vertically spaced below and in front of the tee level and a second approach level vertically spaced below and in front of the first approach level, said protective covering comprising a first wire screen which separates the tee level from the first approach level and a second wire screen which separates the second approach level from the first approach level and tee level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The golf course of claim 4 wherein the fairways are elevated above ground level and sloped downwardly from the far end toward the near end and are further sloped downwardly from their center toward their sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The golf course for claim 5 including gutters at the sides of the fairways for receiving golf balls hit onto the fairway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The golf course of claim 6 including deflectors for separating the gutters from the fairway surfaces and means for moving said deflectors to enable golf balls onto said fairways to fall into said gutters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The golf course of claim 6 wherein said second group of target greens comprise panels elevated above said fairway surface and having the same far end to near the end slope as said fairways, and jack means to raise and lower the front end of said panels to permit golf balls that have accumulated on said panels to roll onto said fairways and toward said gutters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The golf course of claim 5 wherein the surfaces of the sloped fairways are comprised of a green colored wire mesh having bottom wires which are parallel to the sides of the fairways and top wires which are transverse to the sides of the fairways, said top wires having projecting bumpers which slow down golf balls hit onto the fairways.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The golf course of claim 5 including a supplementary green area between said adjacent fairways for providing a target for shots taken from said approach levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The golf course of claim 10 wherein said supplementary area has the same far end to near end slope as the fairways, and including gutters having the same far end to near end slope as the fairways for separating the supplementary area from said adjacent fairways, said gutters being capable of receiving golf balls from the adjacent fairways and the supplementary green area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The golf course of claim 11 where said supplementary green area is elevated above said fairways, and including a ball removal system to sweep golf balls from said area onto said fairways.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The golf course of claim 12 where said ball removal system includes a roller for traversing said area and propelling golf balls onto said fairways from said area and including a central gutter which divides said supplementary green area in half, said roller also sweeping golf balls into said central gutter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
264 words
A golf playing field comprising a first fairway, a central supplementary green area adjacent one side of said first fairway area, a second fairway adjacent the other side said green area, a hitting area arranged at a near end of said fairways, said hitting area having an upper tee area which has a plurality of tees for driving a golf ball to said fairways, a first approach level for hitting fairway shots to the fairway, the first approach level being vertically spaced from and in front of the tee area, a protective screen directly above the first approach level to separate the approach level from the tee area and prevent golf balls hit on the tee area from reaching the approach level, a second approach level for hitting fairway shots to the fairway, the second level being vertically spaced from and in front of the first level, a protective screen directly above the second level to separate the second level from the tee area and prevent golf balls hit on the tee area and first approach level from reaching the second approach level, a first group of three target greens at the far end of each fairway and a second group of three target greens spaced along each of said fairways at different distanceS from the front edge of the teeing area, each of said target greens at the far end being associated with two of said plurality of tees to provide two different holes and playing conditions for each of said target greens and a total of 18 holes for the golf course.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
264 words
A golf playing field comprising a first fairway, a central supplementary green area adjacent one side of said first fairway area, a second fairway adjacent the other side said green area, a hitting area arranged at a near end of said fairways, said hitting area having an upper tee area which has a plurality of tees for driving a golf ball to said fairways, a first approach level for hitting fairway shots to the fairway, the first approach level being vertically spaced from and in front of the tee area, a protective screen directly above the first approach level to separate the approach level from the tee area and prevent golf balls hit on the tee area from reaching the approach level, a second approach level for hitting fairway shots to the fairway, the second level being vertically spaced from and in front of the first level, a protective screen directly above the second level to separate the second level from the tee area and prevent golf balls hit on the tee area and first approach level from reaching the second approach level, a first group of three target greens at the far end of each fairway and a second group of three target greens spaced along each of said fairways at different distanceS from the front edge of the teeing area, each of said target greens at the far end being associated with two of said plurality of tees to provide two different holes and playing conditions for each of said target greens and a total of 18 holes for the golf course.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |