GB2286972A - Golf driving bay - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf driving bay comprises a framework which may be temporarily anchored to the ground to allow for mobility and has side and rear (5) panels with an open front (7) and canopy (6). The canopy may be retractable either manually or by power operation using a winch (8). A driving area (14) with a mat is provided and a walkway (13) behind it. <IMAGE>

Description

GOLF DRIVING BAY Field of the Invention The present invention relates to golf driving bays.

Background to the Invention Golf driving ranges are used to enable golfers to practise strokes in all weather conditions and light levels. They generally consist of a number booths or bays (one for each golfer) which provide shelter and lighting, among other features, giving a convenient environment in which to practise.

Typically, a driving range may consist of up to sixteen bays which have such prominence in the landscape that planning permission must usually be obtained before the range can be constructed.

Each bay must be well-provided with electrical lighting (mains powered, for example) as the bays are typically very enclosed from natural light and rather claustrophobic. This adds to the permanence of the construction, as the lighting system must be dismantled if the driving range is to be moved elsewhere.

However, once built, the range is not generally relocatable as further planning permission would be required to move the range to a new site owing to its visual impact on the surrounding area.

The present invention seeks to reduce a driving bay's visual prominence and make the bay more easily portable.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention, in its broadest sense, there is provided a golf driving bay comprising; (i) a frame; (ii) a mat lying, in use, wholly or substantially within the frame area; (iii) a canopy occupying, in use, a top portion of the frame; and (iv) rear sheeting, said canopy being adapted to be retractable - preferably using a powered retracting means. Preferably said rear sheeting is constructed from a wholly or partially translucent material.

Such a driving bay may be unobtrusive in appearance and easily portable owing to its lightweight construction. It also overcomes the claustrophobic atmosphere of a conventional bay. It can be anchored in use by (for example) quick-release hold-down anchors and readily moved from one site of use to another.

The mat and frame of the driving bay may be adapted to remain in place while the rest of the driving bay may be moved to another location.

The frame of the driving bay may incorporate one or more lighting units which are adapted to be powered from a non-mains electrical source. The lighting units can be lightweight enough for the driving bay still to be relatively easily portable whilst the lighting units remain in position on it.

The driving bay could be assembled from a kit of parts; this kit of parts could be in the form of a so-called "flat pack".

The individual driving bays may be fixed together to form a complete driving range of a desired length.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a golf driving bay embodying the invention.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic top view of a golf driving bay embodying the invention, with details such as the lighting unit omitted for clarity.

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic rear elevation of a golf driving bay embodying the invention.

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a golf driving range embodying the invention.

Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of a golf driving range.

Figure 6 shows a further front perspective view of a golf driving range.

Figure 7 shows a side perspective view of a golf driving range.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, a skeletal frame 1, typically constructed from stainless steel tubes with square cross-section, is fixed to the ground by means of a number of quick-release hold-down anchors 2 (in this embodiment, four anchors are used) which are indicated in positional terms only; their detail forms no part of the present invention.

A mat 3, on which the golfer stands while driving, lies or is fixed on the ground within the area defined by the frame, as shown in Figure 2.

The golf driving bay can have up to two side panels 4, (only shown in Figure 3) which are preferably made from a curtain-like material which slides or folds back and forth along an axis parallel to the sides of the bay.

In an alternative embodiment, the side panels 4 may comprise solid sheets which hang down vertically; these panels may be hinged so that in gusts of high wind they can "flap" i.e. vent the bay automatically, reducing the risk of the whole bay being lifted up under wind pressure. For example, the minor lower portion of the panel could hinge about a substantially horizontal axis and be left unsecured to the frame 1; the arrangement being such that in normal calm weather the panel hangs substantially undisturbed, but is blown up by strong winds.

The side panels may be made from a translucent material in order to reduce the overall visual impact of the golf driving bay and/or to make it less claustrophobic.

Figure 1 shows the rear sheeting 5 which preferably is made from a translucent plastics material such as that used currently in conservatory roofs.

The plastics material is in the form of a sheet or sheets which can be curved to the required shape.

Occupying a top portion of the frame 1, is a canopy 6. In use, the canopy 6 is in an extended position (as shown in Figure 1) where it forms a "roof' over the golf driving bay and is held in place by one or more stay-bars 7, which connect the front edge of the canopy with the frame 1; alternatively, the front edge of the canopy could contain a "hoop" i.e. an inverted U which provides sufficient rigidity to attach the canopy 6 directly to the frame 1.

In order to reduce the golf driving bay's visual prominence and to reduce the risk of wind damage, the canopy can be "rolled" into a retracted position using a powered retracting means 8, preferably in the form of a powered roller. The roller is contained inside a cover 9 in order to protect it from adverse weather conditions and to improve the overall appearance.

The golf driving bay preferably has two types of lighting; an external floodlight unit 10, and an internal spotlight unit 11. These units are lightweight enough to remain integral to the golf driving bay and can be easily connected to a remote (non-mains) electrical source such as that used in a caravan.

Inside the golf driving bay is a guard rail 12, which defines an area between the guard rail 12 and rear sheeting 5 which is used as a pedestrian way 13.

A number of golf driving bays can be fixed together, adjacent to one another, in order to create a golf driving range of the desired length as shown in Figures 4-7. In this arrangement, each individual golf driving bay has at least one partition 14, instead of complete side panels in order to separate the bays, with only the end-most bays having a full side panel.

The golf driving bay is easily transportable from one location to another.

Preferably with canopy 6 in its retracted position, the anchors 2 are released, allowing the whole bay to be lifted from the ground, leaving only the mat 3 and a portion of the frame 1 in position on the ground. The whole bay can either be carried to a new location where it can be re-anchored to the ground or removed completely for storage thus reducing the impact on the local landscape.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. i A golf driving bay comprising; (i) a frame; (ii) a mat lying, in use, wholly or substantially within the frame area; (iii) a canopy occupying, in use, a top portion of the frame; and (iv) rear sheeting, said canopy being adapted to be retractable - preferably using a powered retracting means.

2. A driving bay according to claim 1 wherein said rear sheeting is constructed from a wholly or partially translucent material.

3. A driving bay according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said mat and frame are adapted to remain in place while the rest of the driving bay may be moved to another location.

4. A driving bay according to any of the preceding claims having at least one quick-release anchor; said anchor or anchors being adapted to hold the frame in position, in use.

5. A driving bay according to any of the preceding claims wherein the frame incorporates one or more lighting units; said lighting units are adapted to be powered from a non-mains electrical source and the lighting units are lightweight enough for the frame still to be relatively easily portable with the unit or units in place on the frame.

6. A kit of parts assemblable into a golf driving bay and incorporating any of the integers from any of the preceding claims.

7. A kit of parts according to claim 6 characterised in that said kit of parts is in the form of a so-called "flat pack".

8. A golf driving bay substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A golf driving range comprising two or more golf driving bays as described in any of the preceding claims.