Abstract:
An educational golf facility is provided in accordance with the present invention. The facility includes a target chipping zone, at least one inclined chipping/putting lane and a putting zone. The chipping/putting facility includes an extended surface having a striking area in front of which a student may swing a golf club and strike a golf ball. The facility further includes an inclined surface extending from the striking area. The inclined surface has long strand oriented such that balls struck up the inclined surface are caught and returned to the student; The striking area which includes an enclosure protecting students in the vicinity of the striking area. The enclosure includes a forward horizontal bar and a rear horizontal bar, wherein the forward horizontal bar is positioned to control the permissible back swing of a student utilizing the chipping/putting facility and the rear horizontal bar provides a safety area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an educational golf system. More particularly, the invention relates to an educational golf system incorporating a series of stations training students in various aspects of the game of golf. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The game of golf has increased in popularity tremendously over the past ten years. However, most children are still not exposed to the game of golf, unless a parent undertakes to teach a child the game. 
     Schools attempt to exposed children to the golf, but are generally limited to permitting children to swing a golf club and possibly hit a few wiffle balls around the playing field. Even when schools attempt to teach children at this very minimal level, the mere fact that one child is swinging a club presents a serious hazard. As such, and in view of the minimal benefit obtained from such an unstructured teaching environment, most schools have never added, or removed after trying, golf from the physical education curriculum. 
     As such, those individuals who enjoy the game of golf and those educators appreciating the educational value associated with teaching the game of golf desire a system and facility which may be used to teach students the game of golf in a controlled and enjoyable environment. The present invention provides such a system and facility. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an educational golf facility including a target chipping zone, at least one inclined chipping/putting lane and a putting zone. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a chipping/putting facility. The chipping/putting facility includes an extended surface having a striking area in front of which a student may swing a golf club and strike a golf ball. The facility further includes an inclined surface extending from the striking area. The inclined surface is oriented such that balls struck up the inclined surface return to the student standing in the striking area. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chipping/putting facility having a striking area which includes an enclosure protecting students in the vicinity of the striking area. The enclosure includes a forward horizontal bar and a rear horizontal bar, wherein the forward horizontal bar is positioned to control the permissible back swing of a student utilizing the chipping/putting facility and the rear horizontal bar is positioned to keep other students from getting too close to those students using the chipping putting facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for teaching students the game of golf. The system includes a plurality of stations where students may perform different golf shots. Each station includes targets associated with preassigned scores directly related to traditional scoring techniques used in the game of golf. The system also includes the use of score cards upon which student write scores awarded as they participate at the plurality of stations. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic of the present educational golf facility. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable textured target in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the portable textured target in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a score card used in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a chart showing the traditional scoring and symbols used in the game of golf. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the putting zone in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a putting surface in accordance with present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the chipping/putting lanes. 
     FIG. 8 a  is a detailed view of the enclosure used in conjunction with the chipping/putting lanes. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the turf used with the chipping putting lanes. 
     FIG. 10 is an alternate embodiment of a target in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an alternate embodiment of a ramp type educational device in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a multipurpose educational golf facility  10  is disclosed. The educational golf facility  10  is intended for use at schools, and other education facilities, by building the educational golf facility  10  within the school building or constructing a separate facility adjacent the school. While it is contemplated that the educational golf facility should be maintained at a fixed location, those skilled in the art will appreciate the possibility of constructing each of the training components discussed below as a portable structure which may be moved from location to location without substantial difficulty. 
     The educational golf facility  10  is generally composed of a target chipping zone  12 , putting zone  14  and inclined chipping/putting lanes  16 . With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the target chipping zone  12  generally includes a portable textured target  18  at which the student may chip a golf ball from a mat  20  in an effort to develop the skills necessary to effectively learn a “short game”, that is, short distance shots generally performed in the vicinity of a golf green. The mat  20  is marked with tee markers  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  similar to those found upon a conventional golf course. The portable textured target  18  is supported vertically by a leg  26  secured to the back thereof. 
     The portable textured target  18  includes a central hole  22 , have a closed end wall  23 , into which a student attempts to chip a golf ball. The central hole  22  is preferably 4 inches, although those skilled in the art will appreciate the various hole sizes which may be used based upon the skill level of the students using the portable textured target  18 . Immediately surrounding the central hole  22  is a first ring  24  immediately surrounding the hole section and a first section  25  replicating a putting green. A second section  26  replicating the fringe around a putting green surrounds the first section  25 . The second section  26  may be provided with a water hazard boundary  30 , out of bounds stakes  31  and sand traps  32  to lend an element of the reality to the portable textured target  18 . 
     Use of the portable textured target  18  is facilitated by covering the closed end wall  23  of the hole  22 , the first ring  24 , the first section  25  and the second section  26  with Velcro, hook and loop, fastening material  34   a ,  34   b  and using a golf ball provided with a surface adapted to “stick” to the Velcro surface. In this way, the chipped ball will stick to the portable textured target  18  allowing students to readily determine the position at which it struck the portable textured target  18 . 
     In addition to the physical training provided by the present portable textured target  18 , students learn the scoring elements of golf by using the portable textured target  18  in conjunction with a scoring system and score sheet  36  (see FIG.  4 ). Specifically, students are provided with a score sheet  36  on which to keep score as they chip at the portable textured target  18 . Before beginning use of the portable textured target  18 , students are taught (with reference to the chart shown in FIG. 5) that an eagle means two under par, a birdie means one under par, a par indicates a score allotted for the hole, a bogey indicates a score of one over par, and a double bogey indicates a score of two over par. Students are then instructed that chipping the ball into the hole  22  is an eagle, chipping the ball so it sticks to within the first ring  24  is a birdie, chipping the ball so it sticks within the first section  25  scores a par, chipping the ball so it sticks to the second section (including the sand trap  32 )  26  scores a bogey and missing the target  18  entirely scores a double bogey. 
     Armed with this information, students use the portable textured target  18  while marking their score each time they chip. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, if Sue chips it through the hole  22  the first time, an eagle would be scored on the first hole; that is, since the first hole is a par four, the student would be required to write a two with the eagle symbol indicating that an eagle had been scored on the hole. Scoring proceeds in a similar manner for as many “holes” as the students are required to “play”. 
     An alternate embodiment of a portable textured target  118  is disclosed in FIG.  10 . This alternate embodiment is generally composed of a flexible sheet  120  of material having a Velcro, hook and loop type, material on a contact side  122  thereof. The material of the flexible sheet  120  may be either the hook or loop type material so long as the ball used in conjunction with the disclosed portable textured target cooperates with the chosen material to “stick” thereto when struck by a student. 
     The upper end  124  of the portable textured target  118  includes a relatively stiff support member  126  with end tabs  128  secured to opposite ends thereof. The end tabs  128  are shaped and dimensioned for positioning within the top portion of conventional cones  130 . In this way, the portable textured target  118  may be readily unrolled, secured across a pair of cones  130 , utilized by students and conveniently returned to a storage room after the class is over. 
     The portable textured target  118  is provided with a putting green design  132  with associated hazards, for example, a sand trap  134 . As such, student using the present portable textured target keep score in the same manner described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     As mentioned above, the present educational golf facility  10  is further provide with a putting zone  14 . The putting zone  14  generally consists of putting carpet  38  formed of synthetic grass  40  having various golf elements and indicia formed thereon. These elements and indicia are repeated on opposite ends of the putting carpet  38 . With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, each end of the putting carpet  38  includes three tee markers  42 ,  44 ,  46  and a hole  48 . These are indicative of tee markers commonly found on conventional golf courses and generally relate to the “Championship Tees”  42 , “Traditional Tees”  44 , and “Women&#39;s Tees”  46 . 
     Using these indicia, students practice putting while also learning the rules and traditions of golf. For example, the students first decide whether they will be playing from the “Championship Tees”  42 , “Traditional Tees”  44 , and “Women&#39;s Tees”  46 . Once they begin putting, scoring is performed in much the same manner as discussed above with regard to the target chipping zone  12 . A birdie is awarded where the ball comes to rest in the hole  48 , a par is awarded where the ball comes to rest within the putting green boundary  56  (a ball touching a part of the putting green boundary  56  is considered to be a par), a bogey is awarded where the ball comes to rest any place on the putting carpet  38  surface outside of the putting green boundary  56  and a double bogey is awarded if the ball rolls off the putting carpet  38  surface. 
     Controlled putting is further enhanced by providing a putting hole  48  have a defined depth. The defined depth is intended to teach students that putts should be struck with a speed such that they will pass approximately 15 inches past the hole  48 . If a ball reaches the hole at such a speed, the ball will stop within the hole  48 . If, however, the ball is moving faster than desired, the ball will pass through the hole  48  and come to rest somewhere behind the hole  48 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hole  48  is formed with a depth of approximately ½ inch. 
     As with the target chipping zone  12 , the putting zone  14  provides students with an opportunity to develop their physical skills while also learning the rules of golf. 
     Further to the putting zone  14  and the target chipping zone  12 , the present educational golf facility is provided with chipping/putting lanes  16 . Referring to FIGS. 1,  8  and  8   a , the chipping/putting lanes  16  generally include a plurality of lanes  58  offering the student the chance to chip or putt at a hole  60 . 
     With reference to the first lane  58   a , (all the lanes  58  are substantially the same in their general physical makeup, although they may be aesthetically varied to offer different challenges to the students), the participating student faces an inclined surface  62  up which he or she is instructed to hit the golf ball at a target or hole  60 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inclined surface  62  is two tiered and includes a lower first tier  64  inclined at a slope of approximately a 12.5 degrees and an upper second tier  66  inclined at a slope of approximately 20 degrees. While a specific incline construction is proposed for use in accordance with the present invention, other incline structures may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     With this in mind, the student may choose to pitch or putt the ball toward the hole  60   a  outlined at the upper end of the lane  58   a . Since the lane  58   a  is inclined up from the hitting area  68 , all balls struck toward the hole  60   a  will roll back to the participating student. 
     The return of struck balls, especially when the student is chipping, is ensured by constructing the lanes  58  of long stranded  70  artificial turf  72  with the grain  74  of the turf  72  directed toward the student (see FIG.  9 ). For example, and in accordance with the present invention, the turf is composed of polypropylene strands having a length of approximately 1.0 to 2.5 inches. In this way, the turf  72  “catches” the ball as it lands upon the inclined surface  62  and acts as bite or backspin. This prevents the ball from freely rolling to the top of the inclined surface  62  and permits the student to better determine where the ball is landing based upon the strength of his or her shot. 
     As with the putting zone  14  and target chipping zone  12 , the student is told to keep score based upon a set of instructions relating to the landing point of the struck ball. For example, a ball striking the inner circle  60  will be awarded a birdie, a ball striking the marked “putting green”  76  will be awarded a par, a ball striking outside of the “putting green”  78  will be awarded a bogey, and a ball striking the water  80  or out of the lane  58  will be awarded a double bogey. 
     The safety of the students participating around the chipping/putting lanes is ensured by providing a safety area  68  in front of which the student stands as he or she uses the chipping/putting lanes  16 . The safety area  68  is defined by an enclosure  82  consisting of a forward horizontal bar  84 , upper and lower rear horizontal bars  86 ,  88 , lateral and vertical support bars  90 ,  92 . The arrangement of these bars prevents the student from over-swinging and striking another student. In addition, the defined striking area limits other students&#39; access to the area immediately surrounding the student striking the golf balls, and creates a safety zone  90 . 
     In addition to providing for the safety of the students using the present educational golf facility  10 , the forward horizontal bar  84  acts to respectively control the back swing of students practicing at the chipping/putting lanes  16 . By preferably providing the horizontal bar  84  at a height of approximately 36 inches, students are taught a proper chipping technique that prevents over swinging. 
     A further educational device which may be used by younger children (for example, kindergarten through 2 rd  grade) as a replacement for the ramp disclosed in FIGS. 1,  8  and  8   a , is disclosed in FIG.  11 . This device allows younger children to either roll (by hand) or putt a ball toward a smaller scale target. The ramp  210  disclosed in FIG. 11 generally includes a ramped support surface  212  with designs relating to a green  214 , hole  216  (preferably formed in the ramp) and sand traps  218  imprinted thereon. The support surface  212  is provided with Velcro, hook and loop type, material  220   a ,  220   b  at predetermined locations thereon. The material used may be either the hook or loop type material, so long as the ball used in conjunction with the disclosed ramp cooperates with the chosen material to “stick” thereto when struck by a club or rolled by hand. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Velcro material is secured at locations in line with the hole  220   a  and in the sand trap  220   b . In this way, the ball will stick in these areas allowing a student to easily determine the points which should be scored. With this in mind, students putt or roll balls up the ramp, determine where the balls stop and are instructed to keep score in much the same manner as with the prior devices discussed in accordance with the present invention. 
     With the foregoing in mind, the present educational golf facility offers students the opportunity to both physically and mentally learn the game of golf in a controlled, student friendly environment. Students learn effective techniques for striking a golf ball, while simultaneously learning the scoring system and many of the rules integrally associated with the game of golf. 
     In addition, students are instructed to move around the educational golf facility in “foursomes” so as to teach another element of the game of golf. Students are also taught courtesy; for example, be considerate of other golfers by not talking, moving or standing near players as they hit, be careful, be ready when it is your turn and remember playing take turns in an orderly manner. 
     While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.