There is provided a skill level determination and management system and method. The system includes a sensor for automatically sensing shot data of a golf shot hit by a golfer on a range area towards a target on the range area. A comparing component is provided for comparing an end location of the golf shot to a target location and grading the shot, taking into consideration at least a difference between the end location of the golf shot and the target location, and a skill level associated with the golfer. A skill level management component is provided for updating the skill level associated with the golfer based on the grade.

The linear orientation of the user combined with a straight forward sliding stroke motion of present invention presents a novel new way to strike a golf ball toward the hole/target. By utilizing a linear line of site between the user's eyes, present invention, golf ball and the cup, this modern orientation of the golfer is similar to a marksman, the rifle, aiming site/scope and the bull's-eye of his target. While transversely rotating the body 90 degrees left or right (depending on handedness) compared to what has come before and incorporating the invention presented here, a new dimension in putting is opened, more accurately matching ones natural connection between their stance and aim. In nearly every other sport, this similar stance stoke/throw/shot is linear and constant due to its recognized effectiveness.

A golf bunker cleaning device includes a base having an open top end and an open bottom end defining an interior open space therebetween and the base configured to be buried below a ground surface of a golf bunker without filling in the interior open space. An extension collar is configured to be removably secured over the open top end of the base to increase a height of the interior open space to above the ground surface of the golf bunker, and a lid is configured to be removably secured over either the top end of the base or over the extension collar to enclose the interior open space. The extension collar comprises a plurality of collar latches each extending to a respective free end, and the base comprises a plurality of base locking apertures configured to releasable engage the respective free end of the plurality of collar latches.

A publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex is disclosed, with a man-made tropical, pristine-clear lagoon as the centerpiece of the complex. The lagoon includes a surf feature and surrounding the lagoon are entertainment, educational, sports, and commercial facilities. The complex has a controlled public access and provides the look and feel of a tropical beach with clear waters and sandy beaches. In addition a method for efficiently utilizing facilities and land that are vacant, underutilized, have limited uses, or that are contiguous to or nearby recreational, educational, sports, or commercial venues is disclosed. The method providing a publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex with a centerpiece man-made tropical-style pristine-clear lagoon having a surf feature. The method allows for generating revenue and increasing efficiency by pairing vacant sites, underutilized sites, limited use land, or sites that are contiguous to entertainment, educational, sports, and/or commercial venues with urban beach entertainment complexes. The complex preferably has a controlled public access, thereby allowing entrance upon payment of a fee.

The invention relates to the field of sports and in particular to the construction of a sports and recreational facility in the form of a golf course. The essence of the invention lies in the fact that in the golf course where there is a traditional number of holes containing a set of deterministic elements—tees, greens, fairways and hazards, at least one tee is within the standard playing distance at least up to two greens, thereby forming new holes that create new routes for playing the course, corresponding to all established game standards. The technical result of the invention consists in the fact that in the presence of a traditional number of the same elements, it is possible to create different full-length routes on the golf course, which significantly increases the variability of the game and contributes to reducing the construction expenses.

The present invention relates to a player matching device and a player matching method. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a player matching device for matching a virtual user capable of playing a virtual golf game with a player on a virtual golf course with the player, the player matching device including: a level determination unit configured to determine at least one of the skill level of the player and the skill level of a virtual user; and an opponent determination unit configured to determine an opponent capable of playing a virtual golf game with the player, wherein the opponent determination unit extracts one or more virtual users having a skill level within a predetermined range based on the skill level of the player, and determines the opponent to be a virtual user including at least part of the extracted virtual users.

A golf system includes a striking area; a target area including a plurality of physical targets positioned at different locations relative to the striking area; and at least one sensing device for sensing parameters regarding the travel of a physical golf ball. A processor is configured to: access a database including golf hole data, the golf hole data defining relative positions of a tee-off location and a pin location for a virtual golf hole; based on the one or more parameters regarding the travel of the physical golf ball struck from the striking area, update a virtual location of a virtual golf ball on the virtual golf hole; and generate signals to provide an indication of which of the plurality of physical targets represents a direction of the pin location based on the virtual location of the virtual golf ball and the locations of the physical targets.

A releasable net system using a releasable net attachment mechanism is provided. The releasable net system includes two or more upright structures with lateral support structures extending therebetween, and at least one net configured with the lateral support structures to form a net wall. The at least one net is attached to the lateral support structures using one or more releasable attachment mechanisms that are adapted to break under a predetermined load. In this way, the releasable attachment mechanisms may release the net from the support structures under environmental load conditions (high winds, snow, freezing rain) prior to the collapse of the support structures. The system may be used with outdoor netting systems such as those used for errant ball containment at golf driving ranges.

A game-play environment includes a tee box, a range surface, and a monitor. The tee box is configured to permit a player to hit a golf ball onto the range surface. The range surface has a plurality of physical markers. The monitor depicts a virtual environment that includes a plurality of virtual components. Some of the virtual components are visual cues that correspond to the physical markers. A player is able to play the game by targeting the appropriate physical marker that corresponds to the desired visual cue.

A system is for determining a position on a golf course. The system has a master unit and at least one slave unit. The master unit and the at least one slave unit are adapted to communicate through a telecommunications network. The master unit comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being operable at a fixed position on the golf course. The master unit is configured to: obtain a position determined by the receiver; process the displacement between the obtained position and the fixed position; and make the processed displacement available to the at least one slave unit through the telecommunications network. A slave unit then makes use of the processed displacement to improve positions determined by itself.