BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditional courses were set up without the knowledge of what professional tournament golf would grow into, and despite their charm, these courses have many drawbacks for hosting tournaments.

Virtually all new courses are designed around a land developer's marketing plan.

The golf course is provided primarily as an amenity to the home sites and is routed to maximize the number of available home sites. The resulting course is necessarily spread over a large area, with non-contiguous holes typically having large distances between greens and tees, yielding a course that is inappropriate for tournament play.

Further, the need for the course to be member friendly typically takes precedence over designing a course to challenge the best golfers in the world. Also, many of these courses are eventually turned over to the membership. Once this happens, professional tournaments are often forced to move from the course because the members refuse to give up the course for several days for each tournament.

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) through its Tournament Players' Course (TPC) program has made attempts to design new tournament courses to make them more enjoyable for on-site spectator viewing and to provide a permanent site for tournaments. Many are merely an extension of, and in many cases a joint venture with, a

typical golf course land developer. While these changes have led to some improvements, they do not satisfy all of the demands created by the increased magnitude of popularity of major tournament golf in the 1990s.

With purses now routinely in the multi-million dollar range, professional golf has changed. To afford these purses, corporate sponsorship of tournaments has replaced the old celebrity backed events. While the costs to fund the purses continues to increase, the corporate experience purchased with this sponsorship money has not substantially changed.

Television coverage of major tournaments has gone from three hours of weekend coverage to complete coverage of all 72 holes for major tournaments. Even with these annual television needs, most courses are not prepared to seamlessly handle television production. Preparing a course for television coverage can typically cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per tournament. Even after this expenditure, many cables are still exposed, and ideal television camera locations are not guaranteed.

Further, tournament golf courses have fallen greatly behind other sports in terms of their on-site spectator enjoyment, for several reasons. For example, in golf, unlike other sports, the on-site spectator gives up many of the benefits enjoyed by the television spectator. Replays, hole by hole coverage, expert commentary, and even the ability to see a significant number of meaningful shots has to be sacrificed by the on-site spectator.

Also, because of the sheer size of golf courses, golf is one of the few major sports where prime spectator seating allows viewing of only a very small percentage of the event.

Sitting at the 18th hole is analogous to having the football score displayed during the game but only being able to watch the final two minutes of the action. These problems are further exacerbated by the lack of broadcast, announcement, or otherwise transmitted video or audio information about the event.

Another problem with existing art is the inability of many in a viewing crowd to observe tee shots. Typically, only the group in the immediate vicinity (e. g., in the front of the crowd) of a tee can see the tee shot. Spectators behind the front observers, even if on a hill, cannot see the tee shot because the crowd obstructs the view.

As a result, with presently existing methods of viewing golf, essentially, most of the fans are faced with one of the following choices. A fan can select a player and follow that player through the play of holes; however, as the player reaches the end of the tournament and nears the final holes, the fan is unlikely to see that player finish the tournament in any meaningful way. This is because crowds, having gathering all day long around various tees and greens at the finishing holes, make it impossible for trailing fans to continue watching players.

Thus, the second option is to, for example, pick up a lawn chair and stake out the 18th green and sit there all day long waiting for the golfers in the hope that the tournament isn't decided on an earlier hole. A disadvantage of the second option is that the fan can watch only a single hole and must watch it over and over. An analogy would be having only the last 30 seconds of a National Football League game played within the stadium. By the time the teams showed up the score might already be 40 to nothing, but the last 30 seconds would be all the fan would be able to watch.

Another problem with the existing art is the tremendous distances between greens and tees. These distances can be disconcerting to the players, especially for those generating extremely large crowds. The PGA has actually put marshals around some of these players--on either side of the player they carry a rope in order to escort the player through the crowd from tee to green. With the popularity of golf growing, and more and more fans on site, this won't only be a problem for celebrity players in the future; it will become a problem for all the players. The distraction caused by the fans may lessen the quality of the play.

From the sponsors'standpoint, the problems of current approaches to golf tournaments are essentially questions of return on invested money. The purse is going up astronomically--for example, the PGA Tour total purse in 2002 is projected to be $158 million from the present purse of $75 million--yet sponsors don't get anything more from their experience than the fans. The sponsors do obtain the benefits of television for the tournament--i. e., traditional advertising--but a tremendous amount of what a sponsor would like to obtain from a golf tournament is the ability to provide a

week's worth of upscale corporate hospitality to their most important clients and personnel. However, with existing golf courses, sponsor guests are not treated a whole lot differently than any other spectators.

Furthermore, the sponsors'corporate hospitality center is typically far away from the action in an open air tent, which hardly facilitates wining and dining important guests. Their experience of attending a golf tournament, therefore, is not comparable to the experience of attending such sporting events as the Superbowl, which allows guests to stay in a luxury suite, and truly be entertained as part of the event.

Problems with existing approaches to media coverage of golf include the following. First, the coverage can be intrusive to players. For example, in one of Tiger Woods'first tournaments, when he was chipping to the green, the television coverage couldn't move the cables out of his way, and he was forced to chip over the wires that were set up for the coverage. In that particular case, the lack of prewiring interfered with play. Another problem is that the optimum viewing angles are generally not determined in advance, so that while the media can sometimes get good shots, they often miss many shots that could be obtained with preplanning. Another issue is the cost to set up media coverage for each event. The studio facilities often consist only of a trailer placed near the course. As a result, coverage is often ad hoc in nature.

Other existing approaches to viewing golf that have been attempted are not truly designed for tournament level golf, essentially allowing only limited, short, or abbreviated courses, with few or none of the features of existing tournament courses.

Further, these approaches generally do not provide the wide range of facilities and services for players, fans, sponsors, and the media that arenas and stadiums provide in other sports, or that make up critical aspects of the golf tournament experience.

For example, stadium golf, as briefly described in"Now That's Stadium Golf', Golf Digest, March 1987, essentially provides a golf course fully enclosed within an existing stadium that was designed for events other than golf. However, that stadium allows only an 18-hole par 3 golf course with few, if any, of the features that a true landscaped and natural setting course provides.

Another example is Boswell, TEE AND GREEN STRUCTURES FOR A GOLF- TYPE GAME, U. S. Pat. No. 5,031,916, July 16,1991, which describes play of golf within an existing open-air or domed arena. As described and claimed, that patent includes a movable plurality of tee structures placed on a rail system at one end of the field, with movable green structures at the other end. The green structures include a putting surface formed by a seamed carpet. By moving the tees and the green structures, different combinations of hole challenges can be produced, simulating a golf course.

This approach is markedly different and limited compared to existing tournament golf courses used on the PGA TOUR because it provides few of the variations, natural obstacles and other aspects, and look and feel of full courses.

Another approach of the existing art is F. Hubbard, SPORTS THEATER FOR GOLF, U. S. Pat. No. 2,550,480, April 24,1951. This patent describes a raised centrally- located circular theater for golf, in which at least a majority of the holes terminate at the theater and extend radially from the theater. Spectators are able to watch the finish of most of the holes as the players approach the theater. However, the close proximity of the holes resulting from including a majority of the holes as terminating at the theater limits the layout and variations of holes that may be included in the course. Further, while the theater allows viewing from seats, few of the other amenities of typical stadiums for other sports, such as skyboxes, media areas, lockers, restaurants, and television viewing, are described. Further, the patent provides no features to improve hole by hole television coverage or to allow better viewing by spectators on the courses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the problems with the existing art, it is an object of the present invention, referred to as"tournament stadium design,"to provide a facility contiguous to the course built from the ground up to meet the needs of modern professional tournament golf at its highest levels and to provide the capability of handling multiple tournaments per year.

It is a further object of the present invention to include a grandstand within the facility. It is a further object of the present invention to include a clubhouse as part of the facility. It is a further object of the present invention to provide large viewing screens about the stadium so that spectators can observe the leaders of the tournament without leaving the stadium.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a course routing plan that has a central hub and a plurality of spokes, each spoke containing a plurality of holes. It is a further object of the present invention to include the stadium within the central hub.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide player/spectator nodes within each spoke for additional spectator convenience. It is a further object of the present invention to provide enhanced walking areas within or around the spokes to enable easy spectator walking. It is a further object of the present invention to orient the spokes so as to eliminate the various problems that can arise from playing golf into the morning or afternoons sun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide areas to facilitate viewing of a plurality of holes, such as three or four, for many spectators.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide raised tees and inclined viewing areas near the raised tees to facilitate crowd viewing of tee shots.

It is a further object of the present invention to include skyboxes within the facility.

It is a further object of the present invention to include a hotel within the facility.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a full 18 hole course.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a course approved for professional tournament play.

It is a further object of the present invention to incorporate a plurality of television cameras, television camera locations, and necessary wiring within the course and situated so as to facilitate viewing and play.

It is a further object of the present invention to include a second course proximate to the tournament course.

To achieve the stated and other objects of the present invention, as embodied and described below, the invention includes incorporating a stadium contiguous with a tournament golf course, incorporating a grandstand, a hotel, a clubhouse, a pro shop, a plurality of viewing screens, and a press area within the stadium, and positioning the stadium such that play on a plurality of holes terminates at the stadium.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C present an overview of a tournament golf course of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 presents the overall facility layout for an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 presents an example embodiments of the present invention for the final few holes of the course.

Figure 4 presents an alternative example embodiment of the present invention for the final few holes of the course.

Figure 5 presents a diagram of the lower level of the stadium facility for an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 presents a diagram of an upper level of the stadium facility for an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 presents a rear elevation concept view.

Figure 8 presents an aerial view from the rear of the facility.

Figure 9 presents an aerial view from the course-side (front) of the facility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a method and system to bring golf in line with coverage of other sports, allowing the viewing of a tournament in a manner that is much more enjoyable for all the constituents involved--the players, the spectators, the sponsors, and the media.

The present invention, referred to as"tournament stadium design,"provides a facility (a stadium) and a golf course built from the ground up to meet the needs of modern professional tournament golf at its highest levels and provides the capability of handling multiple tournaments per year. The general concept of an embodiment of the present invention is to incorporate into the course itself a single building that includes the clubhouse, pro shop, grandstands, and other features. The clubhouse is also expanded into a building much grander than conventional clubhouses, making it the centerpiece of the facility--a stadium. The stadium of the present invention thus becomes a service center for all the fans, providing for golf those services that have in the past been more closely been associated with the stadiums of other sports.

Since the stadium of the present invention is a grand permanent structure, many things that are disjointed on conventional courses--facilities placed about the course in a temporary way--are included within the stadium. As a result, spectator viewing is greatly facilitated, and spectator flow and enjoyment are improved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the golf course is semi-private and designed to be one of the premier tournament golf courses in the world. A top designer designs the facility using the necessary budget to make it world class. The final few holes initiate or terminate near the stadium and are designed with high risk and reward opportunities for the golfers to keep the lead in doubt.

In an embodiment of the present invention, additional design input is provided by professional golfers, professional tournament operations experts, and television production experts to ensure that the layout is player friendly, works well for crowd flow, and has built-in unobtrusive optimal television camera and crew locations.

The clubhouse of the present invention includes a number of important features, such as proper incorporation of the use of land and planned extension of the building in order to make it both attractive and to incorporate many additional facilities for tournament viewing to assure a much grander event for spectators.

From a player's perspective, the present invention essentially provides a giant arena to the finishing several holes, the number of which are proximate to the stadium depending upon a given layout. The stadium facility, the additional mounding and laying out the course for play, and other incorporated advances, such as placement of large screen televisions among different areas, allow full viewing of the true end of the tournament--not just a shot at the 18th, but the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th are brought into view of the stadium.

The finishing arena of the final holes allows the players to play free from interference from the fans since the fans are located just outside the arena in prime viewing locations. The viewing is great for the fans because they don't have to look over other people since there are no spectators around the viewed greens and tees. In addition, viewing at the building facility is further augmented by mounding and an intelligent layout of the finishing holes. Furthermore, depending on a particular implementation of the present invention and depending on the lay of the land where the invention is situated, the stadium and the general course routing can be repeated on other locations.

Other advantages for the fans and other viewers include the following. They no longer have to compromise in terms of what they want to do: with the present invention, fans are able to watch players from start to finish and easily walk and see most of the action, yet, the fans are also able to return to the finishing holes and take a seat--a reserved seat or a bleacher seat--or sit or stand anywhere on the mounding around the stadium area. This allows the fans to see the true end of the tournament along with the finish of the player they have watched throughout the action.

The present invention also greatly enhances the viewers'experience simply because the stadium becomes the center of the course, and the course returns to being

contiguous, no longer having housing between holes. Further, the stadium facilities are never far from the spectator, wherever the spectator is on the course. Also, less obvious associated features, such as permanent bathrooms, which are improvements over fan experiences that typically can include trudging through mud to portable toilets, as well as the presence at the stadium facility of quality food, beverage and other amenities, further enhance the spectators'enjoyment of tournament play.

Thus, in an embodiment of the present invention, much of the action for the spectators occurs around the stadium, the point from which their needs can be catered.

At the next level of fans, which can include VIPs and sponsors, the stadium provides the fans with permanent seating, both indoor and outdoor--the equivalent of box seats and skyboxes. The stadium is able to provide these fans with more extensive services, including virtually anything available from dining facilities. Thus, the stadium can provide these fans with much more than the beer and a hot dog that typical golf events now provide.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the stadium facility has the capability to segment in terms of having meeting rooms/luxury skyboxes, air conditioned space, televisions, and all the other advantages that fans expect from skyboxes. In addition, the stadium can provide outdoor seating immediately outside luxury skyboxes so that these fans can still enjoy the view from the outside if they so desire. Also, for VIPs and sponsors, the stadium can include hotel features--they can actually stay right in the facility where the event is being held, and they can use facilities and equipment that the players use. This allows these fans, essentially, to mingle with the players during the week of tournament play in a reasonable way. Mingling certainly does not include interference with the players, but staying in the same facility allows fans to"rub elbows"with the players. This approach transforms a nice event into something very memorable for the fans, in which they feel more like participants in the event.

From the media perspective, the present invention also provides advantages. The required wiring infrastructure and ideal television camera positions are incorporated as a permanent part of the design of the course and the facility, which greatly lowers the costs

of media set-up fees, provides great pictures for television audiences and stadium viewers, and eliminates exposed cabling. A further advantage of the present invention is that, because costs to produce events are lowered, certain marginally profitable events may be played at the stadium that would be difficult to profitably play elsewhere.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the wiring layout is designed by experts. Television cameras are simply plugged in at permanent television camera locations, and the layout allows one person in a command room to film an entire corporate outing, edit it, and produce a video for the corporate sponsor. The television camera locations are situated so as to provide not only good angles, but also good backdrops for particular shots. Thus, viewers at home have great angles for the various shots and also beautiful settings. Since the television camera locations are permanent, time and money for setting up television cameras for a tournament course are saved.

The facility layout also enhances player interaction with the media. Press access areas (media rooms) are designed as part of the facility, but players will also have areas that are off limits to the press, allowing the players to avoid the press within the stadium if they so desire. The media rooms contain the latest technology communications and media teleconferencing equipment and facilities.

An embodiment of the present invention provides many player advantages as well. Much more than with existing facilities, the players play in their tournament with the fans able to appreciate their play, but with far less of an issue of fan obstruction between the greens and the tees, from the course to the locker room after the tournament, and from the practice driving area; the players are reasonably isolated without being totally isolated. Then, when the players get to the end of the course, they play the last several holes completely within an arena style, so that when they hit to the various areas around the greens, they are hitting to pure green, on a course that is not mobbed by people. When the tournament is over, the players walk directly into the stadium facility, and all the amenities are immediately available, including the player locker room and everything else the players require.

Another feature of an embodiment of the present invention contrasts with existing art relating to player equipment. During tournaments, a PGA truck generally transports to the facility the various exercise equipment that the players like to use but that is not normally available in the existing clubhouse. With the present invention, this equipment is set up as part of the lockerroom facility so that the players have their complete workout facility available without leaving the clubhouse.

Furthermore, after the tournament, players can either shower in the locker room or simply return to their own rooms to shower, change, and anything else they would do in any other hotel room. With the present invention, the players come to the stadium to play golf, they are immersed in the tournament, and they have as much or as little exposure to media and spectators as they want. The present invention really allows the players to pick and choose how much exposure they get because the facility completely handles all their needs, including eating, sleeping, and exercising.

An embodiment of the present invention includes other enhancements for the viewing experience of the fans and press, including the following. Viewing is enhanced by"StadiumVision,"a large screen display located in a prime viewing area of the stadium. Replays and views from other locations on the course are provided, improving the ability to follow the leaders from the finishing holes without having to give up prime seats for the end of the tournament.

Another feature of the present invention for enhanced enjoyment is "StadiumSound,"the local radio broadcast of the tournament. An embodiment of this feature of the present invention includes radio-like single earpiece listening devices that provide reception anywhere on the golf course.

Another feature of an embodiment of the present invention is"Arena Areas," which are locations designated to facilitate viewing of a plurality of holes (such as three or four holes) for many spectators in a given area. Another feature of an embodiment of the present invention is"Pedestal Tees"--raised tees with small depressions around them. The viewing crowd is held behind these depressions on an inclined slope, which allows unobstructed views for everyone in the crowd.

References will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1A, 1B, and I C present an overview of a tournament golf course of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1A shows, at its center, a schematic representation of the stadium facility 1. The facility 1 includes the stadium building, large promenade areas around the stadium, food and beverage service locations, bathrooms, and merchandising and other facilities. This facility 1 forms the central core of the entire course 2. As shown in Figure lA, the central facility 1 and surrounding course 2 thus forms a"hub and spoke"set-up, in which the spectators are never far from the main facilities.

The hub and spoke concept also serves as a routing plan that eases spectator travel about the facility 1 and the course 2 as they follow players. Each"spoke"2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d contains several of the holes in a group. In an embodiment of the present invention, there are four spokes. In another embodiment of the present invention, there are three spokes. In another embodiment of the present invention, there are five spokes.

For example, spoke 2a may contain holes one through five. Thus, for example, if a spectator wants to see a player whom the spectator knows in on holes 10-12, the spectator can simply travel to the appropriate spoke or spokes. In addition, the spectator can cut through the facility 1 from the spoke that the spectator is on to the spoke to which the spectator is traveling. This layout thus greatly reduces the spectators'travel time about the course.

As shown in Figure 1B, the hub and spoke concept also facilitates arterial flow of spectators about the course 2 around the central facility 1 ; in addition traffic flows 3 arterially about the central facility 1. As shown in Figure 1B, the central facility 1 is at the center of the course 2. Spectators move about the course 2 via spectator alleys and in a general direction of flow 4,5,6, and 7. The spectator alleys facilitate movement by spectators to the holes about the course 2. The spectator alleys are designed with the idea of tournament golf being played at the facility, and thus, the alleys are designed so as to both facilitate viewing of the course 2 from the central facility 1 and to be wide

enough to carry rapidly any anticipated crowd from the central facility 1 to a wing of the course 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d, as shown in Figure 1A. The alleys can be wide because spectators are limited to movement in the alleys and because residential areas 20 of the facility do not impinge on the holes of the course 2. Further, this approach conserves the use of land on the course 2.

The alleys allow the spectators to reach spectator nodes 8,9,10, and 11 to watch holes being played or to join groups traveling down the alleys. The spectator nodes 8,9, 10, and 11 also include spectator services similar to those provided at the central facility 1. These spectator services include food, beverage, and bathroom facilities, as well as merchandising. In addition, television camera locations and television viewing locations are integral with the spectator nodes 8,9,10, and 11.

This integration also eases land use and the aesthetic appearance of the nodes 8, 9,10, and 11 in relation to the course 2. The nodes 8,9,10, and 11 and the associated facilities are designed so as to take advantage of the mounding and contouring of the land of the facility associated with spectator viewing so as to camouflage the facilities within the nodes 8,9,10, and 11.

Consistent with the hub and spoke design of the facility, the facility is also laid out radially such that, as players progress through the course and the sun moves across the sky, the players are able to continually play without playing into the sun. In the morning and afternoon, the course layout results in sun position perpendicular to the direction of play. This proper orientation witht he sun works if a player is beginning the round on the first hole and finishing on the eighteenth hole or if the player is beginning the round on the tenth hole and finishing on the ninth hole, as occurs with half the field during the Thursday and Friday rounds of any regular tour event.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the facility 1 includes a stadium containing 1,500 to 3,000 permanent luxury sky box seats. These seats are positioned on the side of the stadium and extending from various terraces of the facility hotel rooms, which are oriented toward the finishing holes. In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, temporary seating is included adjacent to the stadium. This temporary

seating, which will include 2,000 to 3,000 seats, is preplanned so as not to interfere with spectator arterial flow about the course or with play. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, extensive mounding and contouring is included about the final holes to facilitate further spectator viewing. This contouring accommodates up to 30,000 to 50,000 additional spectators.

Figure 1 C presents a more detailed layout of the course 2 relative to the central facility 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the layout includes four spokes 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Within the course are enhanced spectator viewing areas, the mounding and contoured areas 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f, 13g, 13h, 13j, 13k, 13m, 13n, 13p, and 13q. Arrows 3 indicate the paths of spectator travel about the course 2 and to spectator nodes 8,9,10, and 11. Included within the central facility 1 is a stadium 15 that is situated so as to direct the spectators'attention toward the final holes, which are located in the fourth spoke 2d. In Figure 1 C, the direction of orientation with regard to North of the layout for an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

Figure 2 presents an embodiment of the present invention for the routing scheme associated with the overview described by Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C. As shown in Figure 2, the central facility 1 includes a stadium 15. This embodiment of the routing scheme also includes residential land development 20 as part of the overall layout 21, at the same time maintaining isolation of each individual home 20a from the holes of the course 2.

In particular, in an embodiment of the present invention, each home 20a in the layout abuts the course 2 over a body of water 23. The abutting water 23 serves to prevent interference with line of sight between each home 20a from the course 2. Each water body 23 also isolates the course 2 from each residential development 20. In an embodiment of the present invention, the layout 21 also includes a bridge 24 for each water body 23 connecting the course 2 and the development 20. This approach of development 20, water bodies 23, and course 2 is repeated throughout the various sections of the layout 21.

The positioning of each development 20 in the hub and spoke scheme and the limiting of spectator access of the present invention lend themselves to high value for the development 20 real estate that has southwest exposures.

Vehicle entrance 25 to the central facility 1 is from a nearby main road 26. In an embodiment of the present invention, a second entrance 27 from a second nearby main road 28 is also provided.

Spectators can approach the central facility 1 on foot via each bridge 24 connecting each development 20 and the course 2. Each bridge 24 serves an artery 29, which traverses the course 2. In an embodiment of the present invention (not shown), entrance to the course 2 on foot by spectators from the development area 20 is isolated from the development area 20 access. The artery 29 connects sections of the course 2 with the promenade 30 near the central facility 1. This promenade 30 is elevated above the vehicle entrance 25.

Figures 3 and 4 present example alternative embodiments of the present invention with respect to the final few holes of the course. Each figure presents the 15th hole 40, the 16th hole 41, the 17th hole 42, and the 18th hole 43, with variations in the relation between water bodies 49 and the holes 40,41,42, and 43. In addition, each figure presents the stadium 15 in relation to these holes. Spectators stand in gallery areas (mounding and contouring) 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d partially surrounding the holes 40, 41,42, and 43. In Figures 3 and 4, the direction of orientation with regard to North of the layout for an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The direction of play of these holes in this embodiment of the present invention is generally counterclockwise as shown in Figures 3 and 4 from the beginning (tee) 40a to the end (green) 40b of the first hole (15th) 40, from the tee 41 a to the green 41 b of the second hole (16th) 41, from the tee 42a to the green 42b of the third hole (17th) 42, and from the tee 43a to the green 43b of the fourth hole (18th) 43. In an embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the direction of play in these holes is generally in the clockwise direction.

Excellent viewing angles of multiple holes are available to a large number of spectators. Spectator viewing angles include the stadium facility 15 and the enhanced spectator viewing areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d, which include mounding, contouring, and temporary bleachers. By keeping the crowd off the finishing holes, views are made available to a much larger number of spectators.

The layout of the holes 40,41,42, and 43, as shown in Figure 3, maximizes the excitement at the end of the tournament. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first hole (15th) 40 and the last hole (18th) 43 shown in Figure 3 are reachable par fives.

Each of these holes is in the order of 550 yards. These holes are difficult to reach in two strokes, have smallish greens, high rough around the greens, and include turns and water hazards for high risk to the players. These features will also enhance viewing by removing obstructions. The third hole (17th) 42 is a traditional long par four hole that is difficult to par. Players will rarely either birdie or double bogie this hole.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 3, the second hole (16th) 41 is a shorter par three island hole. The orientation and location of the second hole (16th) 41 is such that nearly everyone in the stadium 15 can observe all the shots on that hole 41. In addition, in this embodiment, a large screen television/viewing screen is built to the side of the tee and at the same elevation as the hole 41 as seen from the stadium 15, such that spectators in the stadium 15 can see directly the shot from the tee 41 a of that hole 41 and also the end of the shot on the green 41 b via the television/viewing screen. Further, views of the green for this hole 41 will be available from the final hole (18th) 43 direction from the green 41b (left to right as shown in Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the green 41 b of the second hole (16th) 41 is tilted from higher in the back (toward the top as shown in Figure 3) to lower in the front (toward the bottom as shown in Figure 3) and from higher opposite the final hole (18th) 43 side (toward the right as shown in Figure 3) and lower toward the final hole (18th) 43 side (toward the left as shown in Figure 3). This angling also enhances

television camera and spectator view of the green 41 b for the second hole (16th) 41.

This angling also adds risk to the hole for the players.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the course includes cart paths 48.

These cart paths 48 also serve as highways for spectator movement among the viewing areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d. The cart path 48 in many places becomes essentially the lower portion of the viewing area. This cart path 48 enhances spectator travel, as travel on the mounded viewing areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d is more difficult than cart path 48 travel. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cart path 48 widens as it nears the stadium 15 to handle higher flows anticipated nearer the stadium 15. During the tournament, spectators are only allowed to travel on portions of the cart path 48 that are external to the final four holes of play.

In an embodiment of the present invention, television cameras are mounted on the stadium 15 such that a full 360 degree view of the course is provided and such that, particularly, television camera angles are maximized for the finishing holes 40,41,42, and 43 shown in Figure 3. Television cameras are also located on the mounding 45d near the third hole (17th) 42 green 42b. These television camera angles are predetermined so as to provide excellent backdrops for viewing shots. The backdrops can include water, flowers, trees, or other flora, and other natural and man-made features of the course.

Figure 4 presents another embodiment of the finishing holes shown in Figure 3.

The primary difference between Figures 3 and 4 are the layouts of the holes 40,41,42, and 43, the use of contiguous mounding 45, and obstacles on the course, such as water 49. In particular, in Figure 4, the orientation of the second hole (16th) 41 is altered, and this change in orientation of the second hole 41 changes the orientation of the other holes 40,42, and 43, as well. In Figure 4, the second hole 41 is more surrounded by water than the traditional island approach of the second hole 41, as shown in Figure 3. The orientation of the second hole 41, as shown in Figure 4, is such that the direction of hitting from the tee 41 a from the second hole 41 is toward the stadium 15. In this embodiment, the large television/viewing screen is shifted to the third hole (17th) 42 tee

42a. This embodiment allows the spectators in the stadium 15 to watch the shot from the tee 42a simultaneously with the end of the shot toward the hole 42b on the television/viewing screen. Excitement of the third hole 42 is increased by virtue of its characteristics of long par four and dog-leg (curve) left. In Figure 4, the first hole (15th) 40 and the last hole (18th) 43 are similar to those corresponding holes in Figure 3.

Figure 5 presents a diagram of the lower level of the stadium facility for an embodiment of the present invention. In general, the stadium (facility) 15 as shown in Figure 5 is designed, like sports complexes in other sports, to assist a professional in preparing to play the game on a professional level. The facility 15 includes a hotel (not shown in Figure 5; see Figure 6) in which the professionals can stay and have all of their needs met without leaving the facility and in which non-professionals can stay as a resort during non-tournament periods.

The facility 15 includes a training area 60 for players containing all equipment that PGA players typically use. The training area 60 is for use by the players during a tournament and by non-professionals during non-tournament periods. In order to handle the non-tournament use, the training facility is much larger than typical training facilities at existing courses. This allows the non-professionals to train in the same manner year- round as the professionals.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, as the players leave the 18th green, they enter the facility 15 through the crowd near the stadium 15 via a tunnel opening 61 that leads to a vestibule 62. After entering through the vestibule 62, the players proceed to the scoring area 63. Players then proceed directly to the media area 64 or to the men's locker room 65 or women's locker room 66. Alternatively, the players can enter the men's lounge 67 or women's lounge 68 to relax after the tournament. These lounges 67 and 68 are also connected to skyboxes dedicated to the players in the upper level (not shown in Figure 5; see Figure 6). These skyboxes are segregated from spectator skyboxes and allow players who are finished with the tournament to watch in air conditioned comfort other players as those other players finish.

The media area 64, which is located at the core of the facility 15, is set up for interviews, and a working area for the media 69 is set up across from the media area 64 so that the needs of the press are taken care of during the entire tournament.

Also on this level of the facility 15 are a storage area 70 and additional meeting room areas 71. These meeting room areas 71 have windows facing the course and are prime viewing areas for the course. These meeting rooms 71 are connected to the ultra VIP sections on the upper level (not shown in Figure 5; see Figure 6). The meeting rooms 71 allow the ultra VIPs to move from their luxury skyboxes to the lower level for meeting and dining during the tournament.

Another key feature of the lower level of the facility 15 as shown in Figure 5 are the bathrooms 72 at each end, which replace the portable toilets of most existing facilities, and are designed to handle large crowds as they return to the facility 15 hub from the spokes of the course. Other features of the lower level of the facility 15 include merchandise, food and beverage facilities, and other areas. The other areas include an area for production vehicles 73, women's grooming 74 and men's grooming 75, a buffet 76, a golf cart barn 77, and club storage 78. The reason many features are present is because the facility 15 serves multiple purposes, including as a clubhouse, grandstands, and hotel.

The grandstands or bleachers area 79 contains nice seats, the golf version of luxury skyboxes. In an embodiment of the present invention, there are several levels of skyboxes in the bleachers area 79. The bleachers area 79 is also connected to the skybox area on the upper level (see Figure 6). The use of bleachers that are more like skyboxes allow the sponsors or other spectators using these areas to provide their customers, clients, important employees, or anyone else, with a top-level tournament experience.

These seats are reserved so that the spectators can come and go from the seats, including visiting very nice restaurants within this area (not shown). These dining areas also contain excellent views of the final holes area.

Figure 6 presents the level of the facility 15 immediately above the level shown in Figure 5 for an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present

invention, private luxury boxes 90 are located above and behind the bleacher seats area 79. In an embodiment of the present invention, the walls of the private boxes 90 are removable. In an embodiment of the present invention, each box 90 as shown in Figure 6 is approximately the size of a typical hotel room. The idea behind these boxes 90 is that they provide the spectators with meeting space in the immediate vicinity of the hotel suites 91. During non-tournament periods, the boxes provide meeting/function rooms with a view of the final holes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the hotel portion of the facility 15 contains approximately 250 rooms. In another embodiment of the present invention, the number of rooms for the facility 15 is increased by expanding the size of the facility, without changing the basic layout.

Other features of the upper level of an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, include an overlook area 92, a large hotel foyer 93, a pro shop 94 adjacent to the foyer 93, support facilities 95, and a hotel administration area 96. The overlook area provides to the guest an excellent view of the course and highlights the open space and size of the facility 15.

Figures 7,8, and 9 present various views of the facility 15 of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 presents a rear elevation concept view. Figure 8 presents an aerial view from the rear of the facility. Figure 9 presents an aerial view from the course-side (front) of the facility.