Patent ID: 6398662
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A moving golf practice green, golf ball pickup and ball return apparatus for use in a golf practice park, the apparatus including;a vehicle having a propulsion means, a steering means and a mat support structure, the vehicle being movable across a surface of the golf practice park, a golf ball impact mat positioned over the mat structure, and held in place by the mat support structure so as to present an upwardly facing ball contact surface of the impact mat for visually simulating a golf green, the impact mat providing a golf ball impact sensing means, a golf ball pickup means adapted for picking up golf balls on the surface of the golf practice park as the vehicle moves over the golf balls, a golf ball storage means adapted for moving with the vehicle and positioned for receiving the golf balls from the golf ball pickup means, an electrical circuit including energy storage means and lamp means, the electrical circuit being interconnected with the golf ball impact sensing means such that the impact of a golf ball landing on the impact mat enables the electrical cicuit for momentarily illuminating the lamp means, a stationary golf ball return means open at a designated position on the golf practice park for the reception of golf balls from said ball storage means of the apparatus and for conveying them to a ball supply for reuse by practicing golfers, whereby the apparatus may be moved to a position for practicing green approach golf shots, may be routed and moved continuously for picking up and collecting golf balls from the golf practice park surface, and may be stopped at said designated position on the golf practice park for dropping collected golf balls into said return means.