Golf spectator control system and method

Abstract

A spectator system and a method for controlling spectators at a golf outing is disclosed. One or more preferred viewing areas are located throughout the golf course where holders of a certain class of tickets are allowed access, but not holders of any other class of ticket. These preferred viewing areas may be in the form of relatively narrow lanes which extend along the entire extent or a portion of the extent of the tees box, the fairway, and/or green. A plurality of viewing enclosures are located throughout the golf course where holders of tickets which provide access to the preferred viewing areas may congregate for socialization and/or a viewing of the golf action while being protected from the elements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spectator system for a golf course, comprising: 
 a first tee box;    a first green associated with said first tee box;    a first area extending from said first tee box to said first green;    a first partition extending along at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green;    a second partition, spaced from said first partition, extending along said at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green; and    spectators in an area between said first and second partitions and spectators in an area behind said second partition.    
     
     
         2 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first area comprises a fairway, wherein said first and second partitions each extend along a first side of said fairway and spaced from said fairway.    
     
     
         3 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of said first and second partitions are selected from the group consisting essentially of rope, twine, cable, and fencing.    
     
     
         4 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first and second partitions are separated by a distance within a range of about 6 feet to about 8 feet.    
     
     
         5 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first partition is disposed closer to said at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green than said second partition, wherein said system further comprises a plurality of first spectators in a first space between said first and second partitions and a plurality of second spectators positioned on a side of said second partition opposite said first space and further from said at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green than said plurality of first spectators in said first space.    
     
     
         6 . A system, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a number of said first spectators is less than a number of said second spectators.    
     
     
         7 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first space between said first and second partitions, wherein an area of said first space is substantially less than an area on a side of said second partition opposite said first space and behind said second partition.    
     
     
         8 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a first space is defamed between said first and second partitions, said assembly further comprising a first access to said first space and a second access to said first space.    
     
     
         9 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of said first and second partitions extend from a location at least generally proximate said first tee box to a location at least generally proximate said first green.    
     
     
         10 . A system, as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a first space is defined between said first and second partitions, said assembly further comprising at least one access to said first space, wherein a number of said accesses to said first space is within a range of one to three.    
     
     
         11 . A system, as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a first access to said first space located at least generally proximate said first tee box and a second access to said first space located at least generally proximate said first green.    
     
     
         12 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a first space is defamed between said first and second partitions, said system further comprising a first spectator viewing structure comprising a roof, said system further comprising a private path from said first structure to said first space.    
     
     
         13 . A system, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first structure is elevated a distance of at least about 10 feet above a ground that supports said first structure.    
     
     
         14 . A system, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first structure comprises a first computer operatively interfaced with a second computer located outside of said first structure, wherein access to tournament information is available on said first computer through said second computer.    
     
     
         15 . A system, as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 seating associated with said first structure.    
     
     
         16 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said seating comprises bleachers.    
     
     
         17 . A system, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first structure is disposed at least generally proximate one of at said first green and said first tee box.    
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling spectators at a golf tournament on a golf course comprising eighteen holes, said method comprising the steps of: 
 issuing a first class of tickets;    issuing a second class of tickets different from said first class of tickets;    establishing a plurality of first viewing areas on each of said eighteen holes of said golf course;    providing access to said first viewing areas to only holders of said first class of tickets;    establishing a plurality of second viewing areas on each of said eighteen holes of said golf course; and    providing access to said second viewing areas to holders of at least said second class of tickets.    
     
     
         19 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said issuing a first class of tickets comprises the step of issuing a first number of said first class of tickets;    said issuing a second class of tickets comprises the step of issuing a second number of said second class of tickets; and    wherein said first number is less than said second number.    
     
     
         20 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 one of said holes comprises a first tee box, a first green, and a first fairway disposed between said first tee box and said first green, wherein one of said first viewing areas is disposed between said first fairway and one of said second viewing areas, whereby holders of said first class of tickets in said one of said first viewing areas are closer to said first fairway than holders of said second class of tickets in said one of said second viewing areas.    
     
     
         21 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said establishing a plurality of first viewing areas comprises establishing at least one of said plurality of first viewing areas at a location having an at least partially enclosed first structure having a floor disposed above the ground on which said first structure is positioned, wherein there is a space between said floor and said ground.    
     
     
         22 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said establishing a plurality of first viewing areas comprises establishing one of said first viewing areas on only a first side of one of said holes; and    said establishing a plurality of second viewing areas comprises establishing one of said second viewing areas on only a second side of said one of said holes opposite said first side.    
     
     
         23 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein one of said holes comprises a first tee box, a first green, and a first area extending between said first tee box and said first green; 
 said establishing a plurality of first viewing areas comprises installing a first partition along at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green; and    said establishing a plurality of second viewing areas comprises installing a second partition along said at least a portion of a boundary associated with at least one of said first tee box, said first area, and said first green to define a first space between said first partition and said second partition, wherein only holders of said first class of tickets are allowed in said first space and wherein holders of said second class of tickets are isolated from said first space by said second partition.    
     
     
         24 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of said eighteen holes comprises a green, wherein: 
 said establishing a plurality of first viewing areas step comprises retaining access to at least a portion of each of said eighteen greens for said establishing a plurality of second view areas step.    
     
     
         25 . A method, as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 limiting a flow of holders of said first class of tickets through at least one of said plurality of first viewing areas to only one direction.    
     
     
         26 . A golf spectator system, comprising: 
 eighteen golf holes each comprising a tee box, a green, and a first area extending from said tee box to said green;    a portable first structure comprising a roof, at least one concession area under said roof, and spectator seating, said first structure being no more than about 40 feet from at least one of said greens and said tee boxes.    
     
     
         27 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 at least a portion of said spectator seating is disposed under said roof.    
     
     
         28 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 at least a portion of said spectator seating is disposed out from under said roof.    
     
     
         29 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said portable first structure comprises a floor, said roof being disposed above at least said floor, wherein said floor is disposed above ground which supports said first structure a distance of at least about 4 feet.    
     
     
         30 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said portable first structure further comprises first and second types of communication devices.    
     
     
         31 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a golf announcer's stand at least generally proximate one of said greens, wherein said portable first structure is different from said announcer's stand and is also disposed proximate said one of said greens.    
     
     
         32 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 at least four of said portable first structures, each of said portable first structures being positioned on a different hole.    
     
     
         33 . A system, as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said first structure is elevated a distance of at least about 10 feet above said one of said greens and said tee boxes.