AU3320999A - An improved golf green and method of construction - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: 0t**

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Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Keith Alan Borland 52 Fernleigh Road, CARINGBAH NSW 2229 AS ABOVE ANDERSON-TAYLOR ASSOCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 10 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AN IMPROVED GOLF GREEN AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- This invention relates to landscaping. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses an improved method of constructing greens such as those on golf courses.

The standard of a golf course is to a large extent determined by the quality of its greens. Existing greens are formed from specially prepared soil and grass which is kept closely cropped. In order to maintain the manicured surface necessary for accurate consistent putting the grass has to be constantly tended with fertilisers, pesticides and water. The cost of maintaining golf greens is therefore substantial even in temperate areas of adequate rainfall. In other less favourable areas where rainfall is low and/or the environment is otherwise unsuitable for grass the cost of maintaining traditional greens can be financially crippling for a golf .e club. While it is known to form greens in arid areas simply from compacted sand which has been stabilised by spraying e with sump oil these tend to be unattractive and moreover do not provide the same shock absorption to ball impact as grass.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a green is disclosed for golf or other recreational or commercial activities, said green having a first base layer of conformable granulated material for forming the contours of said green, a second layer extending over said base layer to provide surface resilience for the green under the impact of a game ball or the weight of players, said second layer including a resiliently deformable sheet material or sand impregnated with a mixture including linseed oil and a third layer of synthetic grass extending over said second layer.

Preferably a further layer of sand is spread over said synthetic grass to provide a surface texture approximating a traditional grass green.

In another aspect this invention discloses a method of constructing the aforementioned green, said method including the steps of: spreading a first base layer of conformable granulated material over the site of the green to form the contours of said green, disposing a second layer over said base layer to provide surface resilience for the green under the impact of a game ball or the weight of players, said second layer including a resiliently deformable sheet material or sand impregnated with a mixture including linseed oil overlaying said second layer with a layer of synthetic grass, and securing the edges of said synthetic grass to form the periphery of said green.

One currently preferred form of this invention will now be described with reference to figure 1. This is a perspective view which shows a vertical cross-section and adjacent surface portion of a golf green according to this concept.

The green may be constructed in the following manner.

The size and shape of the green 1 is pegged out at the site.

A base layer 1A of blue metal dust, preferably at least thick, is spread out over the area of the green. This layer is contoured to provide the surface mounds and levels of the green.

A trench is dug around the periphery of the green.

A formwork 2, preferably of treated pine or other rot resistant material, is constructed around the periphery e• of the green. The level of the top of the framework is set so that the upper surface 3 of the green conforms to the surrounding surface 4 of the fairway. Sufficient space is preferably left on the outside of the formwork to allow for securing of the synthetic grass layer as described hereunder.

A layer 5 of sand, preferably about 5 cm. thick, is spread over the base layer.

The sand layer is compacted and rolled.

A mixture preferably of 50% water and 50% boiled linseed oil is sprayed over the sand layer. With the current embodiment about 1/2 litre of mixture per square metre of sand is used. After a suitable reaction time of say 2 days this treatment causes the sand to coalesce so that the upper surface becomes resilient to ball impact and the weight of players.

A layer 6 of synthetic grass such as that known under the proprietary trade mark "Supergrasse" is arranged over the treated sand layer in accordance with a predetermined plan for running direction and water drainage etc.

Apertures are cut through the synthetic grass layer for the green holes and timber is placed thereunder.

The joints in the synthetic grass are secured with tape and glue.

•r The synthetic grass layer is rolled outwardly from the centre of the green to the edges.

An initial top surface layer 7 of sand (preferably kiln dried) is spread out over the synthetic grass.

The edges of the synthetic grass are cut and tacked over the formwork to define the boundry of the green.

oee" Holes are cut in the sand layer below said apertures and the cups 9 are inserted.

The density of the sand layer on the synthetic grass is adjusted to provide a surface texture and resiliency which is comparable with a conventional grass green.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention abutting sheets of impregnated bitumen (preferably those manufactured by Fernz Construction Materials of Wetherill Park New South Wales under the trade name "JOINTEX") followed by 10 mm thick foam sheets (preferably as sold by Dunlop Flexible Foam of Wetherill Park NSW under the trade name "PEEL FOAM") may be layed over the base layer instead of the impregnated sand layer 5 referred to earlier. This has been found to reduce construction time and produce at least comparable cushioning effect and surface resilience under ball impact. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to the use of the particular sheet materials mentioned as other equivalent products may also be used.

U. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments described provides a novel, low maintenance and durable green for golf courses. Clearly however the examples disclosed are only the currently preferred forms of this invention and a wide variety of o modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the type and thickness of material used to form the base layer may be changed according to application. The thickness of the sand underlayer, the amount and composition of coalescing spray applied and the type of synthetic grass used may also all be varied according to design preference or the texture and resilience desired for the green surface.

Claims (11)

1. A green for golf or other recreational or commercial activities, said green having a first base layer of conformable granulated material for forming the contours of said green, a second layer extending over said base layer to provide surface resilience for the green under the impact of a game ball or the weight of players, said second layer including a resiliently deformable sheet material or sand impregnated with a mixture which includes linseed oil and a third layer of synthetic grass extending over said second layer.

2. The green as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second layer comprises resiliently deformable sheets of impregnated bitumen and foam.

3. The green as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sheets of foam overlay the sheets of impregnated bitumen.

4. The green as claimed in claim 3 wherein said foam sheets are about 10 mm thick.

The green as claimed in claim 3 wherein said base layer comprises blue metal dust.

6. The green as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second layer comprises sand impregnated with a mixture of boiled linseed -7- oil and water.

7. The green as claimed in claim 6 wherein said base layer comprises blue metal dust.

8. The green as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said base layer is about 5 cm thick.

9. The green as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a further layer of sand is spread over said synthetic grass to provide a surface texture approximating a conventional grass green. A green for golf or other recreational or commercial °activities, said green being substantially as described herein.

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11. A method of constructing a green for golf or other recreational or commercial activities, said method including the steps of:- spreading a first base layer of conformable granulated material over the site of the green to form the contours of said green, disposing a second layer over said base layer to provide surface resilience for the green under the impact of a game ball or the weight of players, said second layer including a resiliently deformable sheet material or sand impregnated with a mixture which includes linseed oil, overlaying said second layer with a layer of synthetic grass, and securing the edges of said synthetic grass to form the periphery of said green. Dated this 9' day of Tl1999 Keith Alan Borland By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR