Patent Publication Number: US-8967624-B1

Title: Receptacle for catching a disc

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part patent application and claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed U.S. patent application titled “RECEPTACLE FOR CATCHING A DISC,” Ser. No. 14/106,196, filed Dec. 13, 2013. The identified earlier-filed application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to disc golf courses including receptacles for catching discs. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to receptacles for catching and retaining discs that are thrown horizontally or vertically or that are rolled along the playing surface or skipped off of the playing surface or bounced off of the playing surface. 
     Some disc games require a player to throw a disc towards a target. For example, the game of disc golf is typically played on a disc golf course and comprises a series of holes, each hole comprising a tee area, a fairway area, a number of fairway hazards, a rough area, a green area, and a receptacle for completing the hole. The receptacle for completing the hole in disc golf is typically a chain and basket receptacle positioned on a pole such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,189 issued to Hedrick as the receptacle. The chain and basket assembly on a pole requires the user to throw the disc substantially horizontally through the air for the disc to be caught and retained in its elevated basket. The chain and basket assembly on a pole does not allow the player to complete the disc golf hole by throwing the disc vertically into the basket because the supports for the chains at the top of the assembly interfere with the downward trajectory of the disc. The chain and basket assembly on a pole also does not allow the player to complete the disc golf hole by rolling the disc along the playing surface, skipping the disc off of the playing surface, or bouncing the disc off of the playing surface and into the basket because the basket is mounted on a pole and elevated to approximately 3 feet off of the playing surface. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a disc golf course including an improved receptacle for catching a disc that overcomes the limitations described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention solves the above-described problems by providing a disc golf course having an improved receptacle for catching and retaining a disc that is thrown horizontally or vertically, rolled along the playing surface, skipped off of the playing surface, or bounced off of the playing surface. 
     A receptacle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention broadly comprises a vertically extending sidewall presenting an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper edge, and a lower edge, and a floor connected to the inner surface at an outer edge of the floor. The sidewall and the floor cooperatively define an open-topped interior chamber configured to catch a well thrown disc. The sidewall extends partially below and partially above the playing surface when the receptacle is installed. An upper portion of the sidewall extends above the playing surface so that a disc traveling lower than the upper edge or a disc sliding along the playing surface will be blocked and rejected from the interior chamber by the upper portion of the outer surface of the sidewall but a disc thrown, skipped, bounced, or traveling higher than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall can enter into and be retained in the interior chamber or a disc rolling along the playing surface can roll over the upper edge of the sidewall and fall into and be retained in the interior chamber of the receptacle. 
     The above-described receptacle may be used in a disc golf course having 1, 3, 9, 18, or any other number of disc golf holes. The disc golf course may be laid out on existing terrain, on sculpted and landscaped terrain, or on any other playing surface. Each disc golf hole includes one or more tee areas, a fairway area, a number of fairway hazards, a rough area, a green area, a target hole in the playing surface, and a receptacle. 
     The tee areas are cleared spaces on the disc golf holes near the beginning or first end of each fairway from which the disc is initially thrown by a disc golf player. The tee areas may have a playing surface of grass but may include dirt, gravel, rocks, sand, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, or any other natural or man-made material. 
     The fairway areas are the part of the disc golf holes that extend between the tee areas and the green areas and define a playing surface of grass that is cut shorter than the grass within the rough area and cut longer than the grass within the green area. The fairway area playing surface may also include vegetation, dirt, gravel, pebbles, rocks, sand, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, concrete, or any other natural or man-made material. 
     Fairway hazards are obstacles that are positioned within the fairway area of the disc golf holes and by which a disc golf player will try to avoid to better maneuver a disc from the initial tee areas towards the green area on each hole. Fairway area hazards may be higher than, lower than, or on the playing surface of the fairway area and may include obstacles such as dirt, sand, pebbles, gravel, rocks, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, rope, wire, nets, sculptures, structures, ornamental grasses, trees, bushes, hedges, shrubbery, other vegetation, fences, walls, mounds, bunkers, water features, and any other natural or man-made material or object. 
     The rough area is an obstacle that extends around the borders of the tee areas, the fairway area, and the green area of each disc golf hole and presents features by which a disc golf player will try to avoid to better maneuver a disc from the initial tee areas towards the green areas on each hole. Rough area impediments may be higher than, lower than, or on the playing surface of the rough area. The rough area may be defined by the longest cut of grass of the playing surface of each disc golf hole but may also include obstacles such as dirt, sand, pine needles, pebbles, gravel, rocks, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, rope, wire, nets, sculptures, structures, ornamental grasses, trees, bushes, hedges, shrubbery, other vegetation, fences, walls, mounds, bunkers, water features, any other natural or man-made material or object, and boundaries. 
     The green area is the part of a disc golf hole at the second end of the fairway area approximately 18 feet to 1800 feet from the beginning tee areas depending on the size, scope, or scale of the particular disc golf course and depending on the specific size, scope, or scale of the particular discs in use. The green area immediately surrounds the target hole and receptacle on each hole and may define a smooth playing surface of grass that is cut shorter than the bordering grasses of the fairway area and of the rough area. The green area may also have a playing surface of other vegetation, dirt, gravel, pebbles, rocks, sand, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, and any other natural or man-made material. The green area is a substantially flat surface and may include gradual undulations, different levels, and separations. The target hole is an actual cylindrical hole cut into the playing surface of the green area and receives a receptacle therein. 
     The target hole is an actual hole cut or dug into the playing surface of the green area and receives a receptacle therein. 
     A receptacle constructed in accordance with another embodiment comprises a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall configured for placing on a playing surface such that the lower edge of the cylindrical sidewall contacts the playing surface. The cylindrical sidewall and the playing surface define an open-topped interior chamber configured for receiving and retaining a well thrown disc. The cylindrical sidewall extends above the playing surface to discourage a player from sliding the disc along the playing surface and so that a disc traveling lower than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall will be rejected from the interior chamber by the outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall but a disc thrown, skipped, bounced, or traveling higher than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall can enter into and be retained in the interior chamber or a disc rolling along the playing surface can roll over the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall and fall into and be retained in the interior chamber of the receptacle. 
     A receptacle constructed in accordance with another embodiment comprises a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall and a floor connected to a lower edge of the vertically extending cylindrical sidewall for placing on a playing surface such that the floor contacts the playing surface. The cylindrical sidewall and the floor define an open-topped interior chamber configured for receiving and retaining a well thrown disc. The cylindrical sidewall extends above the floor and the playing surface to discourage a player from sliding the disc along the playing surface and so that a disc traveling lower than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall will be blocked and rejected from the interior chamber by the outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall but a disc thrown, skipped, bounced, or traveling higher than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall can enter into and be retained in the interior chamber or a disc rolling along the playing surface can roll over the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall and fall into and be retained in the interior chamber of the receptacle. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a receptacle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the receptacle being configured for installation partially below grade; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the receptacle of  FIG. 1  particularly illustrating the receptacle installed in the playing surface; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the receptacle of  FIG. 1  particularly illustrating radial holes and a central hole in the floor of the receptacle; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the receptacle of  FIG. 1  particularly illustrating an alternative pattern of radial holes; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a receptacle without a floor and constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the receptacle being configured for installation above grade; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a receptacle with a floor and constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the receptacle being configured for installation above grade; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a disc golf course constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8   a  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed in the ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper portion of the receptacle extending above the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   b  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed in the ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper edge of the receptacle being level with the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   c  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed above a ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper portion of the receptacle extending above a playing surface that is elevated above the ground surface and extends down to the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   d  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed above a ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper edge of the receptacle being level with a playing surface that is elevated above the ground surface and extends down to the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   e  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed above a ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper portion of the receptacle extending above a playing surface that is elevated above the ground surface and does not extend down to the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   f  is an elevation view of a receptacle installed above a ground surface of a green area of a disc golf hole with an upper edge of the receptacle being level with the playing surface that is elevated above the ground surface and does not extend down to the ground surface; 
         FIG. 8   g  is an elevation view of a receptacle placed on a playing surface. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     Turning now to the drawing figures, and particularly  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a receptacle  10  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The receptacle  10  is configured for installation partially below a ground surface  12  and is configured to catch and retain a well thrown disc  14  thrown by a disc golf player  16 . The receptacle  10  broadly includes a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  18  and a floor  20  for cooperatively defining an open-topped interior chamber  22  configured to receive and retain the disc  14 , as described below. 
     The receptacle  10  may be formed of metal, plastic, rubber, recycled material, composite, or any other material. The receptacle  10  is cylindrical in shape and is installed into the hole in the playing surface and is the finishing goal targeted by players within each green area of each disc golf hole, as described below. The receptacle  10  may be painted or color coded to be easily visible and/or marked with indicia to indicate a hole number (e.g., hole number 9 or 18) or to indicate a hole location or “pin placement” (such as hole location number 1, 2, or 3). 
     The ground surface  12  may include a layer of grass, other vegetation, dirt, rock, gravel, sand, natural material, man-made material, or a combination of natural material and man-made material. The grass may be between 0.1 inches and 5 inches tall. 
     The disc  14  may be formed of plastic, rubber, cloth, fiber, paper, wood, metal, or any natural material or any man-made material and may have a diameter of from about 4 inches to about 15 inches. The disc  14  may also be any other known throwing disc such as a Frisbee®. The disc  14  may be thrown horizontally or in a vertical arc through the air, skipped off the ground surface  12 , bounced off the ground surface  12 , or slid or rolled across the ground surface  12  as discussed in more detail below. 
     The vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  18  presents an outer surface  24 , an inner surface  26 , an upper edge  28 , and a lower edge  30  ( FIG. 2 ). The cylindrical sidewall  18  is approximately 8 inches to approximately 30 inches in diameter and is configured to be inserted approximately 3 inches to approximately 10 inches into the ground surface  12 . The cylindrical sidewall  18  is configured to extend partially above the ground surface  12  when the receptacle  10  is installed, as described below. 
     The outer surface  24  extends from the upper edge  28  to the lower edge  30  on the outside of the cylindrical sidewall  18  and includes an upper portion  31  that extends approximately 0.125 to approximately 5 inches above the ground surface  12  to the upper edge  28  when the receptacle is installed in the ground surface  12 . The upper portion  31  is configured to block or reject the disc  14  from entering the interior chamber  22  if the disc  14  is travelling lower than the upper edge  28  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  or sliding along the ground surface  12 . 
     The inner surface  26  extends from the upper edge  28  to the outer edge  32  of the floor  20  (and may extend to the lower edge  30  of the cylindrical sidewall  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ) on the inside of the cylindrical sidewall  18  and helps stop and retain a well thrown disc  14  in the interior chamber  22 . The upper edge  28  extends around the top circumference of the cylindrical sidewall  18  and is sufficiently low for the disc  14  to fly, skip, bounce, or roll over the cylindrical sidewall  18  and fall into the interior chamber  22 . 
     The floor  20  is connected to the cylindrical sidewall  18  at the outer edge  32  of the floor  20 . The floor  20  and the inner surface  26  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  cooperatively define the open-topped interior chamber  22 . The floor  20  is reinforced by one or more ribs  33  or other supports and may have a funnel shape (as best shown in  FIG. 2 ), a set of radial holes  34  for draining rainwater from the interior chamber  22 , and a central hole  36  for receiving a flagpole  38  therein (as best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ). The floor  20  may have a slope of approximately 1 inch rise per 8 inches run for effectively removing rainwater. 
     The radial holes  34  may be randomly or intermittently disposed on the floor  20  or may form a pattern or an array of various parameters such as 2 to 8 columns of 2 to 5 holes each. The columns may be evenly spaced from each other and the radial holes  34  may be evenly spaced from each other within the columns, or the radial holes  34  may be increasingly spaced from each other. The radial holes  34  may be of any size, shape, or pattern, such as each hole in a pattern increasing in one dimension ( FIG. 3 ) or each hole having increasing diameters of 9/16 inches, 10/16 inches, 11/16, 12/16 inches, and 13/16 inches from the central-most hole to the outer-most hole. In one particular embodiment, the radial holes  34  form symmetrical quadrilateral shapes radially increasing in width ( FIG. 4 ). 
     The central hole  36  is provided for receiving the flagpole  38  therein and for draining rainwater ( FIGS. 2-4 ). The central hole  36  is disposed in the middle of the floor  20  and at a bottommost point of the funnel shape. The central hole  36  may be defined by a tapered or slanted wall  40  having an upper diameter of approximately 1 inch for receiving an inverse cone-shaped base of the flagpole  38  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The receptacle  10  may alternatively be installed in the ground surface  12  so that the vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  18  extends essentially to the top of the ground surface  12 . This configuration is less desirable than the vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  18  extending above the ground surface  12  because in this configuration, the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  will not block or reject a disc that is slid across the ground surface  12  or thrown low to the ground surface  12 . 
     The above-described receptacle  10  may be used in a disc golf course  42  having 1, 3, 9, 18, or any other number of disc golf holes of different lengths, elevations, conditions, and variables such as holes  44   a - c , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The disc golf course  42  may be laid out on existing terrain, on sculpted and landscaped terrain, or on any suitable playing surface. The disc golf course  42  may be operated by a government entity, resort, hotel, school, club, business, individual, or any organization and may be free, pay-to-play, public, private, or part of an amateur or professional tournament, contest, or tour. Each disc golf hole  44   a - c  includes one or more tee areas  46 , a fairway area  48 , a number of fairway area hazards  50 , a rough area  52 , a green area  54 , a hole-in-the-playing-surface  56 , and a receptacle such as receptacle  10  (as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The tee areas  46  are the positions where a disc golf player makes an initial throw attempt on each disc golf hole and may include grass, dirt, gravel, rocks, sand, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, and any other natural or man-made material. The tee areas  46  are positioned at a first end of the fairway area  48 . Each tee area  46  may have a color or other designation such as “Professional”, “Championship”, “Men&#39;s”, “Women&#39;s”, “Seniors”, “Juniors”, and “Beginners”, corresponding to a distance from the tee areas  46  to the green area  54  on each disc golf hole. 
     The fairway area  48  is the optimal position where the disc golf players may attempt subsequent throws if their initial throw from the tee areas  46  do not reach the green area  54  and is usually defined by a playing surface of grass that is cut shorter than the grass within the rough area  52  and cut longer than the grass within the green area  54 . The playing surface of the fairway area  48  may include other vegetation, dirt, gravel, pebbles, rocks, sand, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, and any other natural or man-made material. The fairway area  48  may be bordered by boundaries and numerous obstacles within the rough area  52  so that the path within the fairway area  48  is relatively free of fairway area hazards  50  to provide an optimal route for a disc to travel toward the green area  54 . 
     Within the fairway area  48 , there are a number of fairway area hazards  50  to challenge the path of play for a disc golf player. The fairway area hazards  50  within the fairway area  48  may be higher than, lower than, or on the playing surface of the fairway area  48  and may include obstacles such as dirt, sand, pebbles, gravel, rocks, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, rope, wire, nets, sculptures, structures, ornamental grasses, trees, bushes hedges, shrubbery, other vegetation, fences, walls, mounds, bunkers, water features, and any other natural or man-made material or object. 
     The rough area  52  surrounds and borders the tee areas  46 , the fairway area  48 , and the green area  54  and defines the longest cut of grass on a disc golf hole. The playing surface of the rough area  52  may include other vegetation, dirt, gravel, pebbles, rocks, sand, pine needles, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, and any other natural or man-made material. The rough area  52  may also include a relatively numerous amount of obstacles that provide challenges to the disc golf player&#39;s path of play from the tee areas  46  to the green area  54  and may include dirt, sand, pebbles, gravel, rocks, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, rope, wire, nets, sculptures, structures, ornamental grasses, trees, bushes, hedges, shrubbery, other vegetation, fences, walls, mounds, bunkers, water features, any other natural or man-made material or objects, and boundaries. 
     The green area  54  is positioned at the finishing or second end of each fairway area  48  and may be approximately 18 feet to 1800 feet from the beginning tee areas  46  depending on the size, scope, and scale of the particular disc golf course and depending on the specific size, scope, or scale of the particular discs  14  in use. The green area  54  immediately surrounds the targeted receptacle  10  and defines a smooth layer of grass on the ground surface  12  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ) that is cut shorter than the bordering grasses of the fairway area  48  and of the rough area  52 . The playing surface of the green area  54  may also or instead include other vegetation, dirt, gravel, pebbles, rocks, sand, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, concrete, and any other natural man-made material. The green area  54  is a substantially flat surface and may include gradual undulations, different levels, and separations. The green area  54  allows a disc golf player to throw, skip, bounce, slide, or roll the disc toward the targeted receptacle  10 . 
     The hole-in-the-playing-surface  56  is cylindrical in shape and extends into the ground surface  12  of the green area  54  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ) and receives the receptacle  10  therein. The cylindrical hole-in-the-playing surface  56  is approximately 3 inches to approximately 10 inches deep and approximately 8 inches to approximately 30 inches in diameter depending on the size, scope, or scale of the particular disc golf course  42  and depending on the specific size, scope, or scale of the particular discs  14  in use. 
     The object of the disc golf game includes players  16  throwing the disc  14  from the tee areas  46  into the receptacle  10  with the fewest number of throws as possible on each disc golf hole  44  or the fewest total cumulative number of throws as possible on a collective number of disc golf holes  44   a - c.    
     Play begins with players  16  selecting a disc golf hole  44  within the above-described disc golf course  42 . If there is more than one tee area  46  on a given disc golf hole  44 , then players select the appropriate tee area  46  on the selected disc golf hole  44  according to their gender or skill level or according to the current course conditions or guidelines of a specific contest, tournament, or tour. 
     Standing on or within the selected tee area  46 , the player  16  will then survey the optimal path from the tee area  46  toward the targeted receptacle  10 , select a disc  14  and then make their initial throw of the disc toward the receptacle  10 . Longer disc golf holes may require the player  16  to make one or more throws toward the targeted receptacle  10  before being in range to throw the disc into the receptacle  10 . If the initial throw of the disc  14  from the tee area  46  is not propelled into the receptacle  10 , then the player  16  will make a second throw from where the disc came to rest and so on until the player  16  successfully throws the disc  14  into the receptacle  10  to complete the hole. The player  16  then approaches the tee areas  46  on the next disc golf hole and repeats the above steps until the disc golf course  42  is completed. 
     The player  16  may propel the disc  14  in a number of ways when playing the above-described disc golf course  42  and any technique of throwing the disc  14  with the player&#39;s hand is allowed. For example, the player  16  may flip the disc  14  such that the disc  14  tumbles end over end or the player  16  may fling the disc  14  such that the disc spins around its central axis. The player  16  may flip or fling the disc  14  substantially horizontally or with a vertical arc through the air or roll, skip, or bounce the disc  14  on the playing surface. To complete a disc golf hole the player  16  must propel the disc  14  into the interior chamber  22  of the receptacle  10  by flipping or flinging the disc  14  substantially horizontally or with a vertical arc through the air so that the disc  14  travels over the upper edge  28  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  of the receptacle  10  and into the interior chamber  22 . The player  16  may skip the disc off of the ground surface  12 , bounce the disc off of the ground surface  12 , or roll the disc on the ground surface  12  so that the disc skips, bounces, or rolls over the upper edge  28  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  of the receptacle  10  and falls into the interior chamber  22 . The disc  14  will be blocked or rejected from the interior chamber  22  by the upper portion  31  of the outer surface  24  of the cylindrical sidewall  18  when travelling, flying, skipping, bouncing, or sliding lower than the upper edge  28 . It will be understood that the player  16  may use a different disc depending on the situation. For example, the player  16  may use a driver disc when throwing from the tee area  46  and a putting disc when throwing from the green area  54 . 
     A receptacle  100  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The receptacle  100  is configured to be placed on the ground surface  12  and broadly includes a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  102  presenting an outer surface  104 , an inner surface  106 , a lower edge  108  and an upper edge  110 . The receptacle  100  may be formed of metal, plastic, rubber, recycled material, composite, or any other material. The receptacle  100  may be painted or color coded to be easily visible and/or marked with indicia to indicate a hole number (e.g., hole number 9 or 18) or to indicate a hole location or “pin placement” (such as hole location number 1, 2, or 3). 
     The cylindrical sidewall  102  is approximately 8 inches to approximately 30 inches in diameter. The cylindrical sidewall  102  and the ground surface  12  cooperatively define an open-topped interior chamber  112  configured to catch and retain a well thrown disc therein. The outer surface  104  of the cylindrical sidewall  102  extends from the lower edge  108  to the upper edge  110  from approximately 0.125 inches to approximately 5 inches above the ground surface  12  and is configured to block and reject the disc from entering the interior chamber  112  if the disc is travelling lower than the upper edge  110  or sliding along the ground surface  12 . The inner surface  106  extends from the upper edge  110  to the lower edge  108  on the inside of the cylindrical sidewall  102  and helps catch and retains a well thrown disc in the interior chamber  112 . The lower edge  108  extends around the bottom circumference of the cylindrical sidewall  102  and contacts the ground surface  12 . The upper edge  110  extends around the top circumference of the cylindrical sidewall  102  and is sufficiently low for the disc to fly, skip, bounce, or roll over it and fall into the interior chamber  112 . 
     A receptacle  200  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . The receptacle  200  is configured to be placed on the ground surface  12  and broadly includes a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall  202  and a floor  204 . The cylindrical sidewall  202  presents an outer surface  206 , an inner surface  208 , a lower edge  210 , and an upper edge  212 . The receptacle  200  may be formed of metal, plastic, rubber, recycled material, composite, or any other material. The receptacle  200  may be painted or color coded to be easily visible and/or marked with indicia to indicate a hole number (e.g., hole number 9 or 18) or to indicate a hole location or “pin placement” (such as hole location number 1, 2, or 3). 
     The cylindrical sidewall  202  is approximately 8 inches to approximately 30 inches in diameter. The cylindrical sidewall  202  and the floor  204  cooperatively define an open-topped interior chamber  214  configured to catch and retain a well thrown disc. The outer surface  206  of the cylindrical sidewall  202  extends from the lower edge  210  to the upper edge  212  from approximately 0.125 inches to approximately 5 inches above the ground surface  12  and is configured to block and reject the disc from entering the interior chamber  214  if the disc is travelling lower than the upper edge  212  or sliding along the ground surface  12 . The inner surface  108  extends from the upper edge  212  to the lower edge  210  on the inside of the cylindrical sidewall  202  and helps catch and retains a well thrown disc in the interior chamber  214 . The lower edge  210  extends around the bottom circumference of the cylindrical sidewall  202  and contacts the ground surface  12  along with a lower surface of the floor  204 . The upper edge  212  extends around the top circumference of the cylindrical sidewall  202  and is sufficiently low for the disc to fly, skip, bounce, or roll over it and fall into the interior chamber  214 . 
     The above-described receptacles may be installed into or on a ground/playing surface or elevated playing surface of the green area in a number of ways, as shown in  FIGS. 8   a - g . For example, the receptacle  10  may be installed directly in the ground surface  12  with the upper portion of the receptacle  10  extending above the ground surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 8   a.    
     The receptacle  10  may be installed in the ground surface  12  with the top edge of the receptacle  10  being level with the ground surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 8   b.    
     The receptacle  10  may be installed above the ground surface  12  with an upper portion of the receptacle  10  extending above a playing surface  300  that is raised above the ground surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 8   c . The playing surface  300  extends down to the ground surface  12  to form a continuous surface between the playing surface  300  and the rest of the disc golf hole. The playing surface  300  may be formed of any natural or any man-made material and may have an additional layer of grass, other vegetation, dirt, gravel, sand, any natural material, any man-made material, or any combination of natural material and man-made material. 
     The receptacle  10  may be installed above the ground surface  12  with an upper edge of the receptacle  10  being level with the playing surface  300 , as shown in  FIG. 8   d . The playing surface  300  is elevated above the ground surface  12  and extends down to the ground surface  12  to form a continuous surface between the playing surface  300  and the rest of the disc golf hole. 
     The receptacle  10  may be installed above the ground surface  12  with an upper portion of the receptacle  10  extending above or level with a playing surface  400  that is elevated above the ground surface  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 8   e  and  8   f . The playing surface  400  does not extend down to the ground surface  12  so that a gap, step, space, or discontinuous elevation change is formed between the playing surface  400  and the ground surface  12 . The playing surface  400  may be formed of any natural or man-made material and may have an additional layer of grass, other vegetation, dirt, gravel, sand, any natural material, any man-made material, or any combination of natural material and man-made material. 
     The receptacle  100  (or receptacle  200 ) may be placed on the ground surface  12 , as shown in  FIG. 8   g.    
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.