Biodegradable, short-range practice golf balls

Abstract

A short-range golf ball made of one or more of a variety of materials in such a manner that upon exposure to natural weather conditions (such as ultraviolet solar radiation, dew, rain, wind, or dirt), the golf ball material will quickly oxidize, degrade, disintegrate, melt or otherwise decompose to leave products harmless to, or beneficial to, the natural environment. Such breakdown products should be non-toxic to animals and plants and should not contaminate water supplies, soil or other parts of the ecological system. The short-range golf ball preferably has a maximum range of less than 100 yards.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A short-range golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially spherical and substantially biodegradable outer shell, said outer shell defining an interior cavity; and    a substantially biodegradable force-absorbing member disposed within said interior cavity, said force-absorbing member being operational to affect said performance characteristics of said golf ball so that a maximum range of said golf ball is less than approximately 75 yards.    
     
     
         2 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said maximum range of said golf ball is less than approximately 50 yards.  
     
     
         3 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said maximum range of said golf ball is less than approximately 25 yards.  
     
     
         4 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said maximum range of said golf ball is less than approximately 15 yards.  
     
     
         5 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said force-absorbing member is operational to at least partially absorb a force exerted on said golf ball by a golf club as said golf ball is struck by said golf club.  
     
     
         6 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said golf ball is entirely biodegradable.  
     
     
         7 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein said golf ball is disposable.  
     
     
         8 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein said golf ball is configured to begin dissolving upon contact with water.  
     
     
         9 . A reduced-weight golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially spherical outer shell, said outer shell defining an interior cavity and having an outer diameter that is greater than about 1.40 inches and less than about 1.80 inches; and    a low-density core material disposed within said interior cavity;    wherein a combined weight of said outer shell and said core material is less than 25% of a weight of a standard golf ball.    
     
     
         10 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein said golf ball is biodegradable.  
     
     
         11 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein said core material substantially fills said cavity.  
     
     
         12 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein said core material comprises a foam portion.  
     
     
         13 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein said combined weight of said outer shell and said core material is less than 10 grams.  
     
     
         14 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein said core material comprises a material that is selected from the group consisting of: vegetable starch, corn starch and potato starch.  
     
     
         15 . The reduced-weight golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein said outer diameter of said outer shell is about 1.68 inches.  
     
     
         16 . A practice golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially spherical outer shell defining an interior cavity; and    a malleable core material disposed within said interior cavity,    said golf ball being configured so that, in response to said golf ball being struck by a golf club, said malleable core permanently deforms, and thereby at least partially absorbs a force exerted on said golf ball by said golf club as said golf club strikes said golf ball.    
     
     
         17 . The practice golf ball of said  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said outer shell is malleable and configured so that, in response to said golf ball being struck by a golf club, said malleable outer shell permanently deforms, and thereby at least partially absorbs a force exerted on said golf ball by said golf club as said golf club strikes said golf ball.    
     
     
         18 . The practice golf ball of said  claim 16 , wherein said malleable core material is operational to affect one or more performance characteristics of said golf ball so that a maximum range of said golf ball is less than 25 yards.  
     
     
         19 . The practice golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein said outer shell and said core material both comprise biodegradable material.  
     
     
         20 . The practice golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein said golf ball is disposable.  
     
     
         21 . The practice golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein said outer shell and said core material both consist of biodegradable material.  
     
     
         22 . A short-range golf ball, said golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially uniform, substantially solid sphere comprising energy-absorbent material,    said energy-absorbent material being biodegradable and operational to affect one or more performance characteristics of said ball so that a maximum range of said golf ball is less than 50 yards.    
     
     
         23 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein said energy-absorbent material comprises vegetable starch.  
     
     
         24 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein said energy-absorbent material comprises wheat starch.  
     
     
         25 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein said golf ball is disposable.  
     
     
         26 . A short-range golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially hollow sphere comprised at least partially of biodegradable, energy-absorbent material, said biodegradable, energy-absorbent material being operational to affect said performance characteristics of said golf ball so that a maximum range of said golf ball is less than 50 yards.    
     
     
         27 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein said golf ball is entirely biodegradable.  
     
     
         28 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 27 , wherein said biodegradable, energy-absorbent material defines one or more holes in an exterior portion of said substantially hollow sphere for increasing the friction between said golf ball and a gaseous medium when said golf ball is traveling through said gaseous medium.  
     
     
         29 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein said biodegradable, energy-absorbent material comprises vegetable starch.  
     
     
         30 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein said outer diameter of said outer shell is about 1.68 inches.  
     
     
         31 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein a weight of said golf ball is less than or equal to about 10 grams.  
     
     
         32 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein said golf ball is disposable.  
     
     
         33 . A practice golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially spherical and substantially biodegradable outer shell, said outer shell defining an interior cavity;    liquid disposed within said interior cavity;    a liquid-impermeable barrier disposed between said biodegradable outer shell and said liquid so that, before said golf ball is struck for a first time with a golf club, said liquid-impermeable barrier separates said liquid from said biodegradable outer shell.    
     
     
         34 . The practice golf ball of  claim 33 , wherein said liquid-impermeable barrier is configured so that after said golf ball is struck for a first time with a golf club, said liquid is no longer separated from said biodegradable outer shell.  
     
     
         35 . The practice golf ball of  claim 34 , wherein said biodegradable outer shell is water-soluble.  
     
     
         36 . The practice golf ball of  claim 35 , wherein said liquid is water.  
     
     
         37 . The practice golf ball of  claim 34 , wherein said barrier is configured to tear in response to said golf ball being struck for a first time by a golf club.  
     
     
         38 . A method of practicing a golf swing, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a biodegradable golf ball, said golf ball having a maximum range of less than 50 yards;    hitting said golf ball a first time with a golf club;    before hitting said golf ball a second time with a golf club, allowing said golf ball to biodegrade.    
     
     
         39 . The short-range golf ball of  claim 38 , wherein an outer diameter of said golf ball is about 1.68 inches.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein a weight of said golf ball is less than or equal to 10 grams.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said golf ball comprises vegetable starch.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said maximum range of said golf ball is less than 20 yards.  
     
     
         43 . A method of marketing a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of: 
 communicating to a customer that said golf ball has a maximum range of 50 yards or less;    communicating to said customer that said golf ball is biodegradable; and    offering to sell said golf ball to said customer.    
     
     
         44 . The method of marketing a golf ball of  claim 43 , further including the step of communicating to said customer that said golf ball is configured for only one use.  
     
     
         45 . The method of marketing a golf ball of  claim 43 , further including the step of communicating to said customer that said golf ball is configured for driving practice in areas other than a driving range.  
     
     
         46 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a substantially-spherical central body portion having an exterior surface and configured for being supported by a top surface of a golf tee; and    a fastener disposed on said exterior surface, said fastener being configured for attaching to said top surface of said golf tee and for releasing from said top surface of said golf tee in response to said golf ball being hit by a golf club.    
     
     
         47 . The golf ball of  claim 46 , wherein said fastener comprises: 
 a piece of film having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a first layer of adhesive disposed on said top surface of said film; and    a second layer of adhesive disposed on said bottom surface of said film.    
     
     
         48 . The golf ball of  claim 46 , wherein said golf ball is configured for use with a golf tee having ball-supporting top surface and defining a peg receptacle, said peg receptacle being open to said ball-supporting top surface, and wherein said short-range golf ball further comprises a peg that is configured for insertion into said peg receptacle.  
     
     
         49 . The golf ball of  claim 48 , wherein said peg is configured for attaching said golf ball to said top surface of said golf tee and for releasing from said top surface of said golf tee in response to said golf ball being hit by a golf club.