A golf mat

Abstract

A golf mat comprises a planar metal plate (20, figure 3) with a handle 40 connected thereto. The plate has a rim disposed around its upper periphery which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a remova

Description

Field This invention relates to golf mats and more particularly, but not exclusively to golf mats that are used when play commences from a tee. Background In some countries it is necessary to protect parts of a golf course, especially the area from where a tee shot is played, from damage during play, such as when prolonged periods of cold weather limit the amount of grass growth or in prolonged wet conditions. When this is the case, rules may require the use of mats on parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less, when a putter is not being used for the stroke. When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height (or lower) and a putter is not being used for the stroke, rules may permit the player to take free relief by lifting the original ball and placing the original ball, or another ball, on an artificial mat and play it from there. The mat must be placed on top of the spot where the ball comes to rest. Prior Art An example of an existing mat is rectangular in shape and made from a plastics material, with a protruding pattern on its upper surface. It typically has an artificial turf with a synthetic plastics base or a combination of both adhered together. Some mats have no means to secure to the fairway on the underside of the mat. Other mats have small, spike shaped feet and some have claws that project forward. Many existing mats are discarded when worn or damaged due to being a single component. Some existing mats have a hole located through the mat to allow traditional tees to be pushed through into the turf when playing from the tee box location. Whilst generally successful, many of types of these existing mats have suffered from a number of drawbacks. An aim of the invention is to provide a mat that overcomes these drawbacks. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a golf mat comprising a planar metal plate with a handle connected thereto, the plate has a rim disposed around its upper periphery which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a removable overlay and legs extend from a base of the metal plate for engaging with the ground. Preferably the removable overlay is formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or a synthetic rubber, such as silicon rubber. In some embodiments a handle is connected to the metal plate and ideally angled downwards from the metal plate so as to avoid impact with a golf club. Preferably at least four spiked feet protrude from an underside of the metal plate and these are ideally in the form of a right-angled, orthogonal triangular spike extending to a tip from the underside of the plate. This helps the golf mat to engage with the ground and avoids slippage during play. In some embodiments the removable overlay has a portion on which a logo or advertisement or user information is displayed. This is particularly advantageous because at the end of a gold season or when the overlay has become won, a new one can be purchased with new information. Ideally a smooth non-patterned area on top of the mat surface allows for companies to, company / logo name advertise, product advertise, company / product marketing and promotion. The golf mat includes a golf tee receptacle or recess which is dimensioned to receive a golf tee inserted therein. Alternatively in some embodiments the mat has a golf tee holder also formed or moulded in place. The golf ball is struck from this location. Preferably the mat is rectangular in form. In some embodiments the mat has a pattern moulded on the surface. The removable overlay or rubber mat has a collar that wraps and secures over and around the perimeter of the aluminium base plate. The handle is also formed from aluminium and is secured to the base. The mat can be easily removed from the base plate with a new mat when worn or change of a company product promotion. Ideally the golf mat has a rectangular fabricated powder coated aluminium base plate over which the removable overlay is fitted and secured around the perimeter of the plate. In some embodiments right-angled, orthogonal triangular spiked feet protrude from the underside of the plate to provide secure operational use of the product. A preferred embodiment will now be descried with reference to the drawings in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 is an overall view from above of one example of a removable overlay for a golf mat; Figure 2 is an overall view from below of one example of a removable overlay for a golf mat; Figure 3 is an overall view from above of one example of a planar metal plate for a golf mat; Figure 4 is an overall view from below of one example of a planar metal plate for a golf mat; Figure 5 is an overall view from above of one example of the golf mat comprising a planar metal plate with the overlay fitted thereon; and Figure 6 is an overall view from below of the golf mat comprising the planar metal plate with the overlay fitted thereon. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment shown in the Figures Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows an overall view from above of one example of a removable overlay 10 for a golf mat. Figure 2 shows an overall view from below of the removable overlay 10. Figure 3 is an overall view from above of one example of a planar metal plate 20 for a golf mat. Figure 4 is an overall view from below of the planar metal plate 20. Figure 5 is an overall view from above of one example of golf mat 30 comprising a planar metal plate with the overlay fitted thereon. Figure 6 is an overall view from below of the golf mat comprising the planar metal plate 20 with the overlay 10 fitter thereon. The golf mat 30 provides an artificial mat moulded in silicone rubber with pattern 30 on top of the overlay 10 that allows a golf ball (not shown) to sit in a raised manner for easy striking of the ball. The golf mat has an aluminium base plate 20 with a fabricated handle 40 allowing the silicone rubber mat 10 to wrap over and secure around and under the plate perimeter 50. The golf mat has a space 60 on its silicone rubber surface to advertise, market or promote a company name, logo, product or show other information. The golf mat has a golf tee holder 70 and a fabricated aluminium powder coated base with grip triangular spiked feet 90. The golf mat 30 complies with Golf Local Rule E-12 Compulsory Use of Fairway Mats that came into effect January 1st 2023. The use of a portable artificial mats that can be placed on the golf course fairways or close-cut grass areas. The golf ball is lifted from the fairway, cleaned and placed on the mat in the location of where the ball came to rest. The golf ball is struck of the mat by the golf club thus preventing divot damage to the grass and mud splatter over the golfer during wet winter conditions. No existing winter fairway golf mat is a two-component mat providing the means to easily discard one component and wrap over a new replacement. No existing mat has a predetermined location to the top of the mat surface, solely to advertise, market or promote a company name, logo or product. No existing mat base plate secondary component has right-angled, orthogonal triangular spiked feet that protrude from the underside of the plate. No existing mat incorporates soft silicone rubber and powder coated aluminium materials. No existing mat has a protruding upwards handle incorporated into the secondary base plate component. The silicone rubber mat pattern is designed to lift the golf ball above the solid surface silicone rubber below, similar to that of grass on a fairway preferred lie that holds the ball above the top soil below. This provides a true feel of the club strike and reduces thinning the ball during a shot. The silicone rubber mat will be made in various colours. Some may be bright in colour to visually stand out in the grass if dropped or lost during use. Will be of a colour to suit advertising, promotion of a company name, logo or product. The predetermined location to the top of the mat surface allows for 3D or 2D printing to solely advertise, market or promote a company name, logo or product. This helps golf clubs to promote such products that sell from the club shop or club house. The silicone rubber mat incorporates a collar that wraps over and around the perimeter and through the centre hole of the base plate. This secures the silicone rubber mat to the aluminium base during play however it allows easy removal as and when required. When a company wishes to promote or launch a product the mat can be replaced from the base plate. When or if either of the two components, that being the silicone rubber mat or powder coated aluminium base plate are worn or damaged they individually can easily be replaced. The silicone rubber mat incorporated a moulded tee location that grips conventional tees without them passing through the mat into the turf when using the mat from the tee box. The aluminium base plate provides a solid base for the soft flexible silicone rubber mat and allows downward force to be used to push the base feet into the turf. The right-angled, orthogonal triangular spiked feet protrude from the underside of the plate to provide secure operational use of the product. The vertical (opposite) side of the triangle to the angled hypotenuse faces the front of the mat to help secure the mat during operational use. The base plate is formed from a polyester powder coated in various colours. Some may be bright in colour to stand out in the grass if dropped or lost during use. Also, to visually stand out allowing ground staff to see and recognise the mat during mowing of the grass. The base plate incorporates a solid secured handle that protrudes upwards away from the turf to allow the mat / plate to be easily lifted after operational use without the golfer’s hand touching the ground and wet mud conditions. The handle shape allows the mat / base to be hung over a fixture on the golf trolley, bag for ease of use. The handle shape allows for a standard size golf ball to nestle securely in the handle while practice shots are being taken from the mat. The invention has been described by way of example only and it well be appreciated that variation to the embodiment described may be made without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A golf mat comprises a planar metal plate with a handle connected thereto, the plate has a rim disposed around its upper periphery which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a removable overlay and legs extend from a base of the metal plate for engaging with the ground.

2. A golf mat according to claim 1 wherein the removable overlay is formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or a synthetic rubber.

3. A golf mat according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a handle is connected to the metal plate.

4. A golf mat according to claim 3 wherein the handle is angled downwards from the metal plate.

5. A golf mat according to any preceding claim wherein at least four spiked feet protrude from an underside of the metal plate.

6. A golf mat according to claim 5 wherein the at least four spiked feet are in the form of a right-angled, orthogonal triangular spike extending to a tip from the underside of the plate.

7. A golf mat according to any preceding claim wherein the removable overlay has a portion on which a logo or advertisement or user information is displayed.

8. A golf mat according to any preceding claim includes a golf tee receptacle which is dimensioned to receive a golf tee inserted therein.

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