A golf club dispenser comprises a vending subsystem, an information panel, and a golf club dispenser. The vending subsystem is configured to vend at least one golf club to a golfer through one or more suitable payment methods. At least one gravity slide is adapted to receive a golf club on the back side of the dispenser, and to allow the golf club to slide forward and downward until dispensed at the front side. A discharge assistant adjacent to the front side is configured to selectively release the golf club from the at least one gravity slide responsive to a control signal from the vending subsystem. The discharge assistant in different embodiments may comprise a sequential solenoid activation, a helical screw, or a rotating sprocket. In addition to the discharge assistant, a similar apparatus is preferably provided as an inlet assistant adjacent to the back side of the dispenser.

A device and method for dropping ball and non-transitory computer-readable medium are provided in this disclosure. The device includes a launcher, a display and a processor. The launcher is configured to launch a first ball according to a control signal. The display is configured to display a gameplay frame. The processor is configured to transmit the control signal to the launcher according to a trigger signal, wherein, when the first ball dropped into a trigger unit when the launcher is launches the first ball; the trigger unit is configured to transmit a dropping ball result to the processor, and the processer is configured to transmit the gameplay frame to the display according to the dropping ball result.

A display signal associated with a pinball machine display is received. The display signal is interpreted. A network message is transmitted via a network interface based at least in part on the interpretation of the display signal. A network message is received via a network interface. A maintenance signal associated with the network message is submitted via a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to a pinball machine coin door panel driver board.

A display signal associated with a pinball machine display is received. The display signal is interpreted. A network message is transmitted via a network interface based at least in part on the interpretation of the display signal. A network message is received via a network interface. A maintenance signal associated with the network message is submitted via a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to a pinball machine coin door panel driver board.

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.

A dual matrix tracking apparatus, system, and method are described herein. The dual matrix tracking apparatus may be implemented at a driving range to facilitate skill-based games, wagering games, and the combination thereof. The dual matrix tracking apparatus includes a first shadow sensor array, a second shadow sensor array, and a control unit. The dual matrix tracking apparatus senses a first projectile position within the first shadow sensor array and associates a first time with the first position. The dual matrix tracking apparatus further senses a second projectile position within the second shadow sensor array and associates a second time with the second position. The control unit then determines a predicted ball flight path from the first ball position, the second ball position, the first time, and the second time.

A dual matrix tracking apparatus, system, and method are described herein. The dual matrix tracking apparatus may be implemented at a driving range to facilitate skill-based games, wagering games, and the combination thereof. The dual matrix tracking apparatus includes a first shadow sensor array, a second shadow sensor array, and a control unit. The dual matrix tracking apparatus senses a first projectile position within the first shadow sensor array and associates a first time with the first position. The dual matrix tracking apparatus further senses a second projectile position within the second shadow sensor array and associates a second time with the second position. The control unit then determines a predicted ball flight path from the first ball position, the second ball position, the first time, and the second time.

A pool table has a removable dining surface and a gravity-based ball-return system located transversely between end legs of the pool table. Balls that have been pocketed during a game on the table's playing bed are commonly collected in one of inclined two gullies that connect together multiple pockets. The gullies are peripheral to the table and directly beneath pockets that are, preferably, either side of a central longitudinal axis of the table. The ball return system includes a stacked arrangement of runners that receive a pocketed ball from a cascading drop at the end of each gully. Once into the stack, a ball separation device identifies and selectively separates a cue ball from object balls, with the cue ball directed downwards towards a free-return box while object balls are directed along a different downward path. Object balls are then retained behind a ball retainer and release mechanism which, when in a release position, causes delivery of all object balls to a ball picking slot at an end of the pool table common with the free-return box. Pool table depth is therefore minimized while space under the table's bed is maximized to accommodate seating.

A pool table has a removable dining surface and a gravity-based ball-return system located transversely between end legs of the pool table. Balls that have been pocketed during a game on the table's playing bed are commonly collected in one of inclined two gullies that connect together multiple pockets. The gullies are peripheral to the table and directly beneath pockets that are, preferably, either side of a central longitudinal axis of the table. The ball return system includes a stacked arrangement of runners that receive a pocketed ball from a cascading drop at the end of each gully. Once into the stack, a ball separation device identifies and selectively separates a cue ball from object balls, with the cue ball directed downwards towards a free-return box while object balls are directed along a different downward path. Object balls are then retained behind a ball retainer and release mechanism which, when in a release position, causes delivery of all object balls to a ball picking slot at an end of the pool table common with the free-return box. Pool table depth is therefore minimized while space under the table's bed is maximized to accommodate seating.

A multi-sport challenge system may include a multi-sport facility, a sport challenge menu including a plurality of selectable sport challenges, and a fee/prize subsystem. The multi-sport facility may include a plurality of sport grounds, wherein each of the sport grounds includes a full, partial, or simulated sport grounds. The sport challenge menu may include an entry fee and financial prize corresponding to each selectable sport challenge of the menu, wherein the entry fee is to be paid by a participant that selects the corresponding sport challenge for an opportunity to attempt the sport challenge. The financial prize may be awarded to the participant if the attempt successfully completes the sport challenge. The fee/prize subsystem may be configured to receive sport challenge selections made by participants and to collect the corresponding entry fees from the participants and output corresponding financial prizes upon successful completion of the selected sport challenges.