Abstract:
A golf hole plug includes a cylindrical member having an outer wall dimensioned to abut an inner wall of a golf hole after a golf cup is removed from the golf hole, the cylindrical member including a central surface located to prevent sand or other debris from falling to the bottom of the golf hole when the cylindrical member is mounted within the golf hole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/853,951, filed on Oct. 24, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of golf green maintenance, and more specifically to a hole plug.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The greens on a golf course are sometimes aerated to improve the growth of grass on the green by providing oxygen to the roots of grass and as a means for exposing weed killer and fertilizer to the grass of the putting surface, and for providing proper water drainage. Aerating is accomplished by using spiked rollers that pull small dirt plugs out of the putting surface. After aerating a green, sand is spread over the green to fill the aerated holes.  
         [0004]     The spiked rollers can do unintentional damage to the golf hole on the green. For example, the spiked roller can damage the sides of the hole. Also, sand can get knocked into the hole during the process. Thus, the worker has to straighten the sides of the golf hole to regain integrity of hole and has to remove all of the debris and sand that has filled it. This is generally done painstakingly by hand. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a hole plug, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the hole plug of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a hole plug in a golf hole, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the hole plug in the golf hole.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a side, cross-section view of a hole plug, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the hole plug of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a golf hole plug  100 , in accordance with one embodiment.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of golf plug  100  and  FIG. 2  is a top view of the golf hole plug. Hole plug  100  is a cylindrically shaped unit having an outer wall  102 . Hole plug  100  is dimensioned to fit within a golf hole and, in one embodiment, has dimensions of about 4.25″ in diameter and about 6.75″ in height. Thus, hole plug  100  fits snuggly within a regulation size golf hole.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, hole plug  100  has dimensions of about 4.25 inches in diameter and about 5 inches in height for use in a practice green, for example.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, hole plug  100  is made from a durable, lightweight, weather resistant foam material. For example, hole plug  100  can be made from a closed-cell, polyester foam having a density of about 1.2 pounds per cubic foot. Some embodiments use a foam having a density of between about 1.0 pound per cubic foot to about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot. The foam material of the hole plug is chosen to be strong enough to protect the integrity of the golf hole by supporting the sides of the hole, while being soft enough to not do any damage to a aerating spikes.  
         [0015]     Hole plug  100  can include one or more holes  110  extending at least partially into the plug to allow a user to grip the hole plug  100  and pull it out of a golf hole. In one example, holes  110  have a diameter of about 0.75 inches. This allows a user to reach into the hole plug with a thumb and forefinger to remove the plug from a hole. In some examples, holes  110  extend all the way through the plug  100 . In other embodiments, holes  110  extend partially into the plug  100 . Holes  110  can be formed when plug  100  is being molded or they can cut from the plug body after it is formed.  
         [0016]     Hole plug  100  includes an upper surface  104  which prevents sand from falling into a golf hole when hole plug  100  is mounted therein. The hole plug  100  can be used in either direction and so when one side has become damaged the hole plug can be reversed.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows hole plug  100  mounted within a golf hole  120  on a green  200 , and  FIG. 4  shows a side, cross-section view of hole plug  100  within the golf hole. To use the hole plug  100 , the golf cup is removed from the golf hole  120  and the hole plug  100  is placed within the golf hole  120 . Outer wall  102  of golf plug  120  abuts against inner dirt wall  402  of golf hole  120 . Thus, hole plug  100  protects the integrity of the golf hole when aerating greens by preventing the tines from damaging walls  402 . Moreover, the material of hole plug  100  allows aeration tines to penetrate plug  100  without pulling it out of the hole. After aeration, grass and dirt plugs are removed from the greens surface using a plow or a plug pusher.  
         [0018]     Plug  100  can also be used when topdressing green  200  to keep sand from filling up golf hole  120 . As the sand is spread on the green  200 , top surface  104  of the hole plug  100  prevents sand from falling into hole  120 . After sanding, hole plug  100  is removed and the golf cup reinserted into golf hole  120 . Hole plug  100  can be left in holes during winter months also. In some embodiments, the hole plug  100  can be reused many times.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a hole plug  500 , in accordance with one embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a cross-section view and  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of hole plug  500 . In this example, hole plug  500  includes the same general cylindrical dimensions as hole plug  100  but includes an H-shaped cross-section. Outer walls  502  protect the integrity of the hole while aerating, while central wall surface  504  collects sand to keep sand from filling up the hole during topdressing.  
         [0020]     In other embodiments of the hole plugs described above, other techniques can be used to get the hole plug out of the hole. For instance, a washer can be attached to the bottom of the hole plug using a string or rope extending though the plug. The string is then pulled to get the plug out of the hole. In one example, a cork-screw type device can be screwed into the top of the hole plug and the plug is then pulled out.  
         [0021]     Hole plugs  100 ,  500  can also be used in other situations where a hole needs to be plugged during aeration, for example in a cemetery.  
         [0022]     It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.