Golf game utilizing a shortened fairway having full scale realism

• US 4,836,551 A
• Filed: 01/25/1988
• Issued: 06/06/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lowell L. Lasalle
• Original Assignee: Lowell L. Lasalle
• Inventors: LaSalle, Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US07/147,744
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 273/185 R, 273/185 A, 273/185 B, 273/186 R, 434/44
• US Class Current: 473/152
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3697 with putting taking place on a green other than the target green
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A system enabling a simulated golf game is set forth and includes a tee area opposite an upright screen having an image formed thereon to provide a simulated visual appearance of the golf hole. It is enclosed in a building having a ceiling of perhaps fifteen feet above the tee area with a ceiling portion sloping upwardly away from the golfer to permit the golfer to hit nine iron shots which are lofted toward the ceiling, the ceiling intercepting such shots and deflecting them away from the golfer. A sensor observes the flight of the ball and transmits the flight data to a CPU which computes the trajectory of the ball and its ultimate resting place or lie. A display apparatus communicates to the golfer the resting place of the ball on the fairway based on the calculations of the CPU. A separate approach area including a green with cup is used to complete the play of the simulated hole.

Claims

1. A system providing a simulated golf game for a user comprising:

(a) at least one building having an indoor driving section ending at an upright screen;

(b) a tee area positioned in said indoor driving section of said building, said tee area enabling a user to hit a ball using the full range of clubs customarily available for tee shots, said building confining the tee shot with an overhead ceiling and said ceiling has a first section positioned over said tee area and substantially parallel to the floor, a second angled section connected to said first section and positioned immediately in front of said tee area to deflect golf balls away from said tee area and towards said screen, a third section connected to said second section positioned opposite from said tee area and substantially parallel to said floor;

(c) said upright screen having an image forming surface facing said indoor driving section of said building wherein said screen is spaced from said tee area to intercept the tee shot;

(d) a simulated approach section at the end of a fairway positioned remote from said driving section of said building;

(e) a green area having a cup therein, said green area positioned adjacent to said end of fairway of said approach section;

(f) trajectory computing means for determiming the flight of the ball hit from said tee area said trajectory computing means operative in said indoor driving section of said building; and

(g) said trajectory computing means determining the position of the ball after the tee shot dependent on the range and direction of the tee shot, said means further determining ball position relative to said green area as part of a simulated golf hole having a tee area and green area, said means indicating a specific ball placement prior to completion of the simulated golf hole by the user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said tee area has length and width, thereby enabling multiple tee positions within said tee area to thereby define long and short tee positions.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said tee area is spaced from said upright screen by a distance sufficient to enable the ball hit from said tee area to have trajectory to enable said trajectory computing means to determine the flight of the ball extended beyond said screen, and wherein image projector means forms an image on said screen which has the appearance of a golf hole as viewed from said tee area.

4. The system of claim 3 including said image projector means to form an image on left and right side screens to present to the user left and right views of the fairway of a simulated golf hole, wherein images placed on said left, said right and said upright screens comprise an image from the simulated golf hole as viewed from the tee area thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said trajectory means determines the trajectory of a shot from said tee area which first strikes either said screen or said ceiling.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sidewalls confine tee shots from said tee area, said tee shots being deflected so that the ball does not escape the area between said tee area and said screen and is retrievable by the user.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said trajectory means detects flight of the ball and determines trajectory including loft of the ball during flight, direction of the ball, curving of the ball during flight to the left or right and roll after the flight of the ball.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said trajectory computing means determines the position of the ball after the tee shot wherein the position is located along the fairway of a simulated golf hole and provides an indication to the user to hit a second shot from said tee area in simulation of an approach shot toward said green area, and further wherein first and second images are placed on said upright screen wherein said first image is the image obtained from the tee area of the simulated golf hole, and said second image is the image obtained from the fairway of said simulated golf hole.

9. The system of claim 1 further including at least one hazard in said indoor approach area positioned between said green area and said end of fairway.

10. A system providing a simulated golf game for a user comprising:

(a) at least one elongate building having walls, a ceiling and a floor;

(b) a tee area positioned on one end of said elongate building;

(c) said walls, ceiling and floor of said elongate building arranged about said tee area to enable a user to hit a ball using the full range of clubs available for tee shots;

(d) a screen mounted on an interior wall of said building at the opposite end of said building from said tee area, said screen having an image forming surface and said ceiling has a first section positioned over said tee area and substantially parallel to the floor, a second angled section connected to said first section and positioned immediately in front of said tee area to deflect golf balls away from said tee area and towards said screen, a third section connected to said second section positioned opposite from said tee area and substantially parallel to said floor and in front of said screen;

(e) at least one outdoor approach area including an end of fairway, a green area and a cup positioned in said green area;

(f) trajectory computing means for determining the flight of the ball hit from said tee area; and

(g) said trajectory computing means determining the position of the ball after the tee shot dependent on the range and direction of the tee shot, said means further determining ball position relative to said green area as part of a simulated golf hole having a tee area and green area, said means indicating a specific ball placement prior to completion of the simulated golf hole by the user.

11. The system of claim 10 further including at least one hazard in said outdoor approach area positioned between said green area and said end of fairway.

12. A simulated golf course providing a nine hole course for use by a golfer wherein the total area involved in simulation is reduced, the golf course comprising;

(a) plural enclosed driving areas, each thereof having;

(1) a tee box area for hitting a golf ball in simulation of teeing off at a hole;

(2) an upstanding screen spaced from said tee box for intercepting a golf ball tee shot from said tee box;

(3) wherein said screen also responds to an image projected thereon to provide a simulated view from a tee box area;

(b) separate plural approach areas including greens with cups therein, said approach areas including varied green surfaces and hazards; and

(c) wherein said driving areas and approach areas form, in combination, a set of nine golf holes all of which have a tee box enabling a simulated tee shot to be hit against said screen and further wherein said approach area enables putting out the nine golf holes wherein each one of the nine golf holes is different from the remaining eight golf holes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said approach areas are defined by an XY coordinate system to enable means to spot the golf ball relative to a simulated golf hole after hitting the golf ball from said tee box such that play begins at one of said enclosed areas and finishes by putting on one of said approch areas.

14. A simulated golf course providing a nine hole course for use by a golfer wherein the total area involved in simulation is reduced, the golf course comprising:

(a) plural enclosed driving areas, each thereof having;

(1) a tee box area for hitting a golf ball in simulation of teeing off at a hole;

(2) an upstanding screen spaced from said tee box for intercepting a golf ball tee shot from said tee box;

(3) wherein said screen also responds to an image projected thereon to provide a simulated view from a tee box area;

(4) a multisection ceiling over said driving area extending from said tee area and having a section sloped in front of said screen to deflect golf balls away from said tee area;

(b) separate plural approach areas including greens with cups therein, said approach areas including varied green surfaces and hazards; and

(c) wherein said driving areas and approach areas form, in combination, a set of nine golf holes all of which have a tee box enabling a simulated tee shot to be hit against said screen and further wherein said approach area enables putting out the nine golf holes wherein each one of the nine golf holes is different from the remaining eight golf holes.