Pitch mark repair device and a method for repairing a pitch mark on a golf green

Abstract

A pitch mark repair device including a pushing tool ( 12 ) and a restoring tool ( 14 ). The pushing tool ( 12 ) defines a cone-shaped pushing formation ( 20 ) the restoring tool ( 14 ) comprises two spaced elongate tines ( 22.1 ) and ( 22.2 ) that extend outwardly from the pushing tool ( 12 ). In use, to repair a pitch mark, the pushing formation ( 20 ) is pushed into the pitch mark thereby forming a deepened cone-shaped depression. As such, the damaged grass on the surface of the turf is pushed deeper into the ground. The tines of the restoring tool ( 14 ) are then inserted into the turf spaced sufficiently from the peripheral edge of the depressed pitch mark so as to leave a region of healthy grass between the tines and the depressed pitch mark. By levering the tines towards the inside of the depressed pitch mark, the pitch mark is filled in with turf having a healthy grass layer.

1 . A method of repairing a pitch mark on a golf green, including 
 pushing damaged turf of the pitch mark, downwardly into the green with a pushing tool so as to deepen the depression of the pitch mark;    inserting an elongate tine into the turf surrounding the depressed pitch mark, at a position spaced slightly outwardly from a periphery of the depressed pitch mark so as to leave a region of healthy grass between the tine and the depressed pitch mark; and    urging the turf with a healthy grass layer thereon, laterally inwardly into the depressed pitch mark by levering the tine towards the inside of the depressed pitch mark about a fulcrum defined at the lower end of the tine, thereby to fill the pitch mark with said turf having a healthy grass layer thereon.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes repeatedly inserting and levering the tine towards the inside of the depressed pitch mark from a number of positions surrounding the pitch mark, thereby to urge said turf having a healthy grass layer thereon laterally inwardly into the depressed pitch mark until the pitch mark is completely filled in with turf having a healthy grass layer thereon.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  which includes levelling the filled-in pitch mark by pressing down on the turf within the pitch mark until it is level with turf surrounding the pitch mark.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes inserting the tine into the turf surrounding the pitch mark at an angle of approximately 65° relative to the surface of the healthy turf surrounding the pitch mark.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes inserting the tine approximately 10 mm away from a peripheral edge of the depressed pitch mark, prior to levering the tine towards the inside of the depressed pitch mark.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes depressing the damaged turf of the pitch mark, by approximately 10 mm.  
   
   
       7 . A pitch mark repair device for use in repairing a pitch mark on a golf green, includes: 
 a pushing tool for pushing damaged turf of the pitch mark downwardly into the green so as to deepen the depression of the pitch mark; and    a restoring tool that is connected to the pushing tool and that has at least one elongate tine that can be inserted into the turf surrounding the depressed pitch mark, at a position spaced slightly outwardly from the periphery of the depressed pitch mark so as to leave a region of healthy grass between the tine and the depressed pitch mark and that can be levered towards the inside of the depressed pitch mark, thereby to fill the pitch mark with turf having a healthy grass layer thereon, in use.    
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the pushing tool defines a cone-shaped pushing formation that can be pushed into damaged turf of a pitch mark.  
   
   
       9 . A device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cone angle of the pushing formation is approximately 30°.  
   
   
       10 . A device as claimed in  claim 8  or  claim 9 , wherein the pushing tool defines an annular step formation that is disposed operatively above the pushing formation.  
   
   
       11 . A device as claimed in any one of  claims 7  to  10 , wherein the restoring tool comprises two spaced, parallel elongate tines that extend outwardly from an upper region of the pushing formation of the pushing tool.  
   
   
       12 . A new method substantially as described in the specification.  
   
   
       13 . A method substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.  
   
   
       14 . A new pitch mark repair device substantially as described in the specification.  
   
   
       15 . A pitch mark repair device substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.