US4225136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Condensed golf playing area with chance selected starting locations
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-05-18
•
Granted: 1980-09-30
•
Expires: 1998-05-18
Abstract
Abstract The structure includes a base surface which is divided up into a plurality of relatively narrow, substantially rectangular portions which are arranged in a substantially grid-like pattern. Each portion includes a putting green surface region which includes a hole adapted to receive a conventional golf ball. Nearly all of the portions include a combination of one or more of the following surface regions in addition to the putting green surface region: a water hazard region, a sand hazard region, a rough region, and a fairway region. Obstacles may be present in one or more portions and the terrain of the portions may vary. A starting area is provided on a selected one of the surface regions of each portion. Each portion resembles a narrow slice of the approach area to a putting green on a conventional golf course, thereby permitting the use of conventional golf clubs and strokes on the portions, in addition to the putter and putting stroke, by the player as he/she moves the ball from the starting area to the hole of each portion. The starting area for each portion may include number markers which designate various starting locations for the player within the starting area. A random number generator is provided to determine a player's starting location for each hole.
Inventors
- 👤 Monte Beam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C19/00; A63C19/003; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A structure for golf, comprising: a base surface; means dividing said base surface into a plurality of portions wherein said dividing means includes boundary means which extends substantially completely around each portion and which extends sufficiently to generally maintain a conventional golf ball which is used in playing a given portion within the confines of said portion; playing surface means, positioned on each of said portions, for simulating, in substantially full size, a narrow section of an approach area of a conventional golf hole, so that each said portion and said playing surface means presents a conventional golf approach shot to a player; wherein each playing surface means includes a starting area, and wherein at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a sand hazard region, at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a rough hazard region, and at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a fairway region, said playing surface means further including a plurality of designated starting points within each said starting area, said starting points presenting varying levels of difficulty for the player in his attempt to move a golf ball from the starting area to the hole, each of said starting points being designated by a symbol; and means for producing a substantially random set of said symbols for the player each time he uses the structure, wherein said random set includes a symbol for each of said portions designating the starting point for that portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A structure for golf, comprising: a base surface; means dividing said base surface into a plurality of portions wherein said dividing means includes boundary means which extends substantially completely around each portion and which extends sufficiently to generally maintain a conventional golf ball which is used in playing a given portion within the confines of said portion; playing surface means, positioned on each of said portions, for simulating, in substantially full size, a narrow section of an approach area of a conventional golf hole, so that each said portion and said playing surface means presents a conventional golf approach shot to a player; wherein each playing surface means includes a starting area, and wherein at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a sand hazard region, at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a rough hazard region, and at least one of the holes contains a starting area which includes a fairway region, said playing surface means further including a plurality of designated starting points within each said starting area, said starting points presenting varying levels of difficulty for the player in his attempt to move a golf ball from the starting area to the hole, each of said starting points being designated by a symbol; and means for producing a substantially random set of said symbols for the player each time he uses the structure, wherein said random set includes a symbol for each of said portions designating the starting point for that portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A structure of claim 1, wherein said playing surface means includes a putting green surface region which in turn includes a hole adapted to receive a golf ball, and wherein a majority of said portions further includes at least one of the group of playing surface regions consisting of: a water hazard region, a sand hazard region, a rough hazard region and a fairway region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
A structure of claim 1, wherein said symbols are numbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure of claim 1, including means for producing at least two levels of sets of symbols, each of said levels corresponding to a different level of difficulty.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure of claim 1, wherein a majority of said playing surface means further includes obstacles positioned between the starting area and the putting green surface region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure of claim 5, wherein the playing surface means on a majority of said portions vary in elevation between the starting area and said putting green surface region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A structure of claim 6, wherein each of said portions is substantially the same size.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A structure of claim 1, wherein each portion is substantially rectangular in plan, and wherein one dimension thereof is approximately at least two and one-half times as long as the other dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A structure of claim 8, wherein said one dimension is at least 50 feet and said other dimension is at least 20 feet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A structure of claim 9, wherein said portions are arranged in a grid-like pattern, comprising at least one row of side-adjacent portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
A structure for golf, comprising: a base surface; playing surface means, positioned on said base surface for dividing said base surface into a plurality of portions each portion simulating, in substantially full size, a section of a conventional golf hole, each portion including a putting green surface region which in turn includes a hole adapted to receive a golf ball, a majority of said portions including in addition, at least one of the group of playing surface regions consisting of: a water hazard region, a sand hazard region, a rough hazard region, and a fairway region, each playing surface portion further including a plurality of designated starting points, said starting points presenting varying levels of difficulty for the player in his attempt to move the golf ball from a starting point to the hole in the putting green surface region, each of said starting points being designated by a symbol; and means for producing a substantially random set of said symbols for the player each time he uses the structure, wherein said random set includes a symbol for each of said playing surface portions designating the starting point for that portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
A structure for golf, comprising: a base surface; playing surface means, positioned on said base surface for dividing said base surface into a plurality of portions each portion simulating, in substantially full size, a section of a conventional golf hole, each portion including a putting green surface region which in turn includes a hole adapted to receive a golf ball, a majority of said portions including in addition, at least one of the group of playing surface regions consisting of: a water hazard region, a sand hazard region, a rough hazard region, and a fairway region, each playing surface portion further including a plurality of designated starting points, said starting points presenting varying levels of difficulty for the player in his attempt to move the golf ball from a starting point to the hole in the putting green surface region, each of said starting points being designated by a symbol; and means for producing a substantially random set of said symbols for the player each time he uses the structure, wherein said random set includes a symbol for each of said playing surface portions designating the starting point for that portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure of claim 11, including means for producing at least two levels of sets of symbols, each of said levels corresponding to a different level of difficulty.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A structure of claim 11, wherein a majority of said playing surface portions include obstacles positioned between the starting points and the putting green surface region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A structure of claim 11, wherein said playing surface portions are relatively narrow, thereby simulating a narrow section of a conventional golf hole, each portion being substantially rectangular in plan and arranged relative to each other so that the structure is rectangular in configuration, approximately at least four times as long as it is wide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus of claim 1, including means for covering said structure, so that said structure can be used during inclement weather.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2003074A
Cited
US2894749A
Cited
US3399899A
Cited
US3584877A
Cited
US3820786A
Cited
US3904209A
Cited
US4017084A
Cited
US3999764A
Cited
US4063738A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-30 | 1984-03-31 | 1984-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-30 | 1988-03-31 | 1988-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-03-31 | 1992-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |