System and method for short-game golf training, practice, and play

Abstract

Representative methods include providing a plurality of golf areas each consisting of a chipping zone, a putting zone, and a cup within the putting zone. A first play includes a second play and a third play. The second play includes a chip shot between the chipping zone and the putting zone. The third play includes a putt within the putting zone toward the cup. The first play includes the golfer striking the golf ball with a goal of disposing the golf ball within the cup. The second play utilizes: one or more wedges; one or more short irons; or one or more wedges and one or more short irons. The third play utilizes a putter. The plurality of golf areas comprises a short-game golf course.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of golf areas, wherein each golf area of the plurality of golf areas consists essential of:
 a chipping zone; 
 a putting zone; and 
 a cup disposed within the putting zone, wherein each golf area of the plurality of golf areas is configured for a golfer to:
 chip a golf ball from the chipping zone toward the putting zone; and 
 putt the golf ball in the putting zone toward the cup; 
 
   wherein.
 a first play comprises:
 a second play between the chipping zone and the putting zone, wherein the second play comprises the chip; and 
 a third play within the putting zone toward the cup, wherein the third play comprises the putt; 
 
 the first play comprises the golfer striking the golf ball with a goal of disposing the golf ball within the cup; 
 the second play consists essentially of utilizing:
 one or more wedges; 
 one or more short irons; or 
 one or more wedges and one or more short irons; 
 
 the third play consists essentially of utilizing a putter; and 
 the plurality of golf areas comprises a short-game golf course. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first play utilizes only:
 one or more wedges and one or more putters;   one or more short irons and one or more putters;   one or more short irons, one or more wedges, and one or more putters;   a short iron, a wedge, and the putter;   a pitching wedge and one or more putters;   a sand wedge and one or more putters;   one or more short irons, a pitching wedge, and the putter;   one or more short irons, a sand wedge, and the putter;   a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and the putter; or   a wedge and the putter.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the chipping zone comprises one or more chipping locations; or   the chipping zone is at a first vertical elevation, and the putting zone is at a second vertical elevation different than the first vertical elevation.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the short-game golf course includes a plurality of cups; and   the plurality of cups includes at least one of between:
 2 cups and 9 cups; or 
 10 cups and 18 cups. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of golf areas are disposed indoors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of golf areas comprises a simulated outdoor environment; and   the simulated outdoor environment comprises at least one of simulated lighting, simulated sound, simulated video, simulated visual content, simulated smells, flora, simulated flora, simulated fauna, turf, simulated turf, sand, water features, or simulated water features.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of golf areas is a par 2; and   each distance between the chipping zone and the putting zone for each of the plurality of golf areas is up to about 100 yards.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein repeated performance of the first play for each of the plurality of golf areas is employed for at least one of:
 league play;   speed golf;   a team-building exercise; or   a short-game golf class.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first play does not include tee shots for any of the plurality of golf areas, or fairway shots for any of the plurality of golf areas, and does not utilize a driver for any of the plurality of golf areas, a fairway club for any of the plurality of golf areas, or a long iron club for any of the plurality of golf areas. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of golf areas, wherein each of the plurality of golf areas consists essentially of:
 a chipping zone; 
 a putting zone; and 
 a cup disposed in the putting zone; 
   wherein each of the plurality of golf areas is configured for a golfer to:
 chip a golf ball from the chipping zone toward the putting zone; and 
 putt the golf ball within the putting zone toward the cup. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the plurality of golf areas are partitioned from each other;   the plurality of golf areas are contiguously adjacent to each other; and   each partition between the plurality of golf areas comprises at least one of a wall portion or a mesh portion interposed between adjacent golf areas of the plurality of golf areas, wherein:
 the wall portion is substantially solid; and 
 the mesh portion is substantially porous. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the mesh portion is a net;   at least one of:
 the wall portion has a first vertical length of about 20′, and the net has a second vertical length of about 20′; or 
 the net has a third vertical length of about 40′; and 
   the net has a discrete nodal pitch less than a diameter of the golf ball, wherein:
 impact of the golf ball with the net prevents passage of the golf ball from a first facing surface of the net through and out of an opposing second facing surface of the net; and 
   errant strikes of the golf ball are prevented from exiting a first golf area of the plurality of golf areas and entering a second golf area of the plurality of golf areas adjacent the first golf area.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the net extends from a first wall to a ceiling;   the net further extends from a second wall to the ceiling;   the net further extends from a third wall to the ceiling;   the net further extends from a fourth wall to the ceiling;   at least a portion of the ceiling is lined with at least a portion of the net; and   the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, the fourth wall, and the net surround respective ones of the plurality of golf areas, such that errant shots do not interfere with play in adjacent ones of the plurality of golf areas.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the chipping zone comprises one or more chipping locations; and   the plurality of golf areas includes:
 between 2 and 8 golf areas; 
 between 10 and 17 golf areas; 
 9 golf areas; or 
 18 golf areas. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of golf areas are disposed indoors; and   each of the plurality of golf areas comprises a simulated outdoor environment.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the simulated outdoor environment comprises at least one of simulated lighting, simulated sound, simulated video, simulated visual content, simulated smells, flora, simulated flora, simulated fauna, turf, simulated turf, sand, water features, or simulated water features;   ambient wind is separately controlled for each of the plurality of golf areas; and   ambient lighting is separately controlled for each of the plurality of golf areas.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of golf areas is a par 2; and   the plurality of golf areas are disposed in a building that is designed with Universal Design Standards.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the chipping zone is at a first vertical elevation and the putting zone is at a second vertical elevation different than the first vertical elevation; and   distance between the chipping zone and the putting zone for each of the plurality of golf areas is up to about 100 yards.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an interadjacent zone disposed between the chipping zone and the cup, wherein the interadjacent zone comprises a third vertical elevation different than at least one of the first vertical elevation and the second vertical elevation. 
     
     
         20 . A method consisting essentially of:
 providing a plurality of golf areas, wherein each of the plurality of golf areas consists essentially of a chipping zone, a putting zone, and a cup disposed in the putting zone;   wherein:
 each the plurality of golf areas is configured for a golfer to:
 chip a golf ball from the chipping zone toward the putting zone, and 
 thereafter putt the golf ball within the putting zone toward the cup; 
 
 first play comprises the golfer striking the golf ball with a goal of disposing the golf ball within the cup; 
 the first play consists essentially of a second play and a third play, 
 the second play consists essentially of striking the golf ball from the chipping zone toward the putting zone, the second play utilizing only: 
 one or more wedges; 
 one or more short irons; 
 one or more short irons and one or more wedges; 
 a short iron and a wedge; 
 a pitching wedge; 
 a sand wedge; 
 one or more short irons and a pitching wedge; 
 one or more short irons and a sand wedge; or 
 a pitching wedge and a sand wedge; 
   the third play consists essentially of striking the golf ball within the putting zone the cup, the third play utilizing one or more putters;   the plurality of golf areas comprises a short-game golf course,   the short-game golf course is disposed indoors and comprises a plurality of cups;   the chipping zone comprises one or more chipping locations;   the chipping zone is at a first vertical elevation;   the putting zone is at a second vertical elevation different than the first vertical elevation;   each the of plurality of golf areas comprises a simulated outdoor environment;   the simulated outdoor environment comprises at least one of simulated lighting simulated sound, simulated video, simulated visual content, simulated smells, flora, simulated flora, simulated fauna, turf, simulated turf, sand, water features, or simulated water features;   each distance between the chipping zone and the putting zone for each golf area of the plurality of golf areas is up to about 100 yards; and   each golf area of the plurality of golf areas is a par 2.