Patent Publication Number: US-2002004425-A1

Title: Method for marking a fairway

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a method for marking a fairway to enable golf players to assess the accuracy of their strokes.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002] Golf is one of the most popular past times in the western world. A consequence of the popularity of the game of golf has been the development of golf driving ranges where the golfer can practice and refine his skills.  
       [0003] Golf driving ranges are usually simple in layout. They typically have an area from which to tee off, a grassed area into which the balls are driven, fences to contain wayward shots, and distance markers in the form of signposts.  
       [0004] Current golf driving ranges have some inherent inadequacies to a golfer who wishes to hone his skills. Golf is a game that requires accuracy and skill, not simply power. The provisions available on current golf driving ranges for a golfer to judge his skill are minimal, typically consisting of the distance marker. These distance markers allow a golfer who is stood in line with them to judge the approximate distance he has hit the ball, but not the accuracy.  
       [0005] Most driving ranges have a single line of distance markers extending from the teeing area. Parallax error reduces their usefulness if the golfer is not in front of the distance markers. If the golfer angles his shot towards the distance markers, the increased distance travelled because of the angled shot similarly reduces the usefulness of the distance markers.  
       [0006] A further difficulty with existing distance markers is that they are usually spaced apart by 25 or 50 meters. However, the difference in the distance a golf ball travels between two adjacent clubs. such as a 2-iron and a 3-iron. is typically 10 meters.  
       [0007] Consequently, the large spacing between distance markers makes it difficult for a golfer to accurately judge the distance the ball travels when using a particular club, which is an important element of the game of golf. This problem is exacerbated by parallax error if the golfer is not in line with the distance markers  
       [0008] Further, existing golf driving ranges have no facility for a golfer to judge the accuracy of his strokes, particularly in the direction parallel to the teeing area.  
       [0009] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”. will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.  
       [0010] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise. the word fairway will be understood to include any open space, including a golf driving range or golf course.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for marking a fairway, having a teeing area associated therewith. to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, said method comprising the steps of:  
       [0012] marking distance indicating means on the fairway in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced from the teeing area and are spaced apart, with each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area; and  
       [0013] marking accuracy indicating means on the fairway in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area  
       [0014] Preferably, said lines in lie first set of lines. are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke or adjacent clubs.  
       [0015] Preferably. said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 meters.  
       [0016] Preferably, said lines in the second set of lines are spaced apart by the width of a typical fairway on a golf course.  
       [0017] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of marking obstacle-indicating means on the fairway.  
       [0018] Preferably, the obstacle-indicating means take the form of a first set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.  
       [0019] Preferably, the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.  
       [0020] Preferably, said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.  
       [0021] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of marking target-indicating means on the fairway.  
       [0022] Preferably, the target indicating means takes the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.  
       [0023] Preferably. the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.  
       [0024] In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided in a fairway having a teeing area associated therewith, an improved set of markings on said fairway to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from said teeing area, comprising:  
       [0025] distance indicating means in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced from the teeing area and are spaced apart with each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area;  
       [0026] accuracy indicting means in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area.  
       [0027] Preferably, said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the typical difference between lengths of stroke of adjacent clubs.  
       [0028] Preferably. said lines in the first set of lines are spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 meters.  
       [0029] Preferably. the lines in the second set of lines are spaced apart by the width of a typical fairway on a golf course (30 to 40 meters), or tailored to the actual golf course that is attached to the driving range.  
       [0030] Preferably, the markings further comprise obstacle-indicating means.  
       [0031] Preferably, the obstacle-indicating means comprise a first set of marks that are painted onto the fairway  
       [0032] Preferably, the first set of marks represent the location of sand bunkers, bodies of water and rough terrain.  
       [0033] Preferably, said first set of marks is colour-coded according to the type of obstacle represented.  
       [0034] Preferably. said markings further comprise target-indicating means.  
       [0035] Preferably, the target indicating means take the form of a second set of marks that are painted onto the fairway.  
       [0036] Preferably. the second set of marks indicates the location of greens.  
       [0037] In accordance with a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for marking a fairway, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, comprising the step of marking distance indicating means on the fairway in the form of a first set of lines that are spaced from the teeing area and are spaced apart, with each line being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area.  
       [0038] In accordance with a fourth aspect of this invention. there is provided a method for marking a fairway, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, comprising the step of marking accuracy indicating means on the fairway in the form of a second set of lines that extend outwardly from the teeing area and are substantially normal to the teeing area.  
       [0039] In accordance with a fifth aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for marking a fairway, having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, comprising the step of marking obstacle-indicating means on the fairway.  
       [0040] In accordance with a sixth aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for marking a fairway. having a teeing area associated therewith, to enable a golfer to judge distance and accuracy of golf balls struck onto said fairway from the teeing area, comprising the step of marking target-indicating means on the fairway.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     
    
    
     [0041] The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawing, in which:  
     [0042]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of markings on a golf driving range in accordance with the embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
     [0043] The embodiment is directed towards a golf driving range fairway  10  having improved markings formed thereon. The markings comprise distance indicating lines  12  and accuracy indicating fines  14 . The fairway  10  has an associated teeing area  16 .  
     [0044] The distance indicating lines  12  are spaced from the teeing area  16  and are spaced apart, with each line  12  being a substantially constant distance from the teeing area  16 .  
     [0045] The accuracy indicating lines  14  extend outwardly from the teeing area  16  and are substantially normal thereto. The accuracy indicating lines  14  are spaced apart by approximately the width of a typical fairway on a golf course, such as 30 m.  
     [0046] The golf driving range fairway  10  further comprises obstacle indicating marks  18  that are painted on the golf driving range fairway  10 . The obstacle indicating marks  18  represent the location of sand bunkers  18 A, bodies of water  18 B and rough terrain  18 C. The obstacle indicating marks  18  are colour-coded according to the type of obstacle. In the embodiment, the sand bunkers  18 A are painted yellow. bodies of water  18 B are painted blue. and areas of rough terrain  18 C are painted red.  
     [0047] The golf driving range fairway  10  further comprises target indicating marks  20  that are painted onto the golf driving range fairway  10 . The target indicating marks  20  represent the location of greens and are painted dark green.  
     [0048] In use, the golf driving range fairway  10  with the improved markings outlined above. provides a goiter (not shown) with a means that enables him to better judge the distance and accuracy of his shots.  
     [0049] The distance indicating marks  12  allow the golfer to gauge the distance of his shot reasonably accurately when hitting from anywhere in the teeing area  16 . The marks  12  run substantially parallel to the teeing area  16  and hence there is no parallax error. In the preferred embodiment, the marks  12  are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the typical range difference of adjacent golf clubs, such as 10 meters. This allows the golfer to better judge the distance he achieves with each of his clubs  
     [0050] The accuracy indicating marks  14  are spaced a distance equivalent to the width of a typical golf course fairway. The golfer can use the lines to judge whether his shot was straight and would have made it onto the fairway. Or alternatively, if the golfer tears off next to an accuracy indicating mark he can imagine that his shot landed on the edge of the fairway. and try to hit the ball back towards the centre of the two lines, i.e. towards what would be the centre of the fairway.  
     [0051] Of further assistance are the obstacle indicating marks  18  and target indicating marks  20 . These provide the golfer with a further means to hone his skills by representing obstacles and targets that one would typically find on a golf course such as sand bunker  18 A, bodies of water  18 B, rough terrain  18 C and greens  20 . In one embodiment, the obstacles are arranged according to the specific golf course that the driving range is provided at.