Golf practice putting game

Abstract

A golf practice green is provided. The golf practice green includes a platform for supporting a user and an elongated putting surface that is selectively raised at various positions to adjust the contour and slope of a putting surface. The putting surface is flexible and is supported by numerous adjustable support members having opposed ends that are each independently adjustable in height and are selectively positioned to provide a putting surface having a desired slope and contour. The adjustable support members include plates which are constructed of a semi-rigid material and have edges which bend under the weight of the putting surface to provide for a contoured support surface for the putting surface. The adjustable support members are independently adjustable for an unlimited number of combinations of contours and slops providing for a realistic putting surface. In addition, a magnetic latch is provided to retain the position of each end of the support platform.

1 . A golf practice putting game comprising: 
 a user support platform;    a putting platform integral with said user support platform;    a flexible putting surface laid across said user support platform and along said putting platform;    a plurality of support members having a pair of opposed ends, each of said plurality of support members are positioned transversely across and at a spaced distance along said putting platform above said deck and below said flexible putting surface, each of said plurality of support members are vertically positionable at a desired elevation independent from one another and each end of said support member is vertically positionable at a desired elevation independent from the opposite end to raise or lower a section of said flexible putting surface to create a desired contour and slope;    a plurality of support plates one attached to each of said plurality of support members so as to be positioned between said support member and said flexible putting surface, each of said plurality of support plates is of a semi-rigid material which allows said support plate to flex slightly downwardly under the weight of said flexible putting surface to create a smooth transition between contours and slops created in said flexible putting surface; and    a ball receiving cup received by said putting platform for receiving a putted ball.    
   
   
       2 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 1 , wherein said putting platform includes a pair of side rails and an end rail which extend to height above said flexible putting surface, and further wherein each end of said opposed ends of each support member extends through a cooperating slot formed through a respective side rail.  
   
   
       3 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of magnetic latches one positioned approximate to each end of said opposed ends of said plurality of support members for retaining the respective end at a desired elevation.    
   
   
       4 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of actuators one attached to each end of said opposed ends of each of said plurality of support members, each actuator is operable to adjust the elevation of said end to which it is attached; and    a control system connected to each of said plurality of actuators for controlling the operation of each actuator.    
   
   
       5 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of actuators are selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a linear actuator, a pneumatic cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       6 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 4 , wherein said control system includes: 
 a programmable logic controller;    a ball position sensor connected to said programmable logic controller;    a user interface connected to said programmable logic controller; and    wherein said control system controls the operation of each of said plurality of actuators based upon a preprogrammed sequence.    
   
   
       7 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 6 , wherein said programmed sequence includes a plurality of different putting configurations designed to simulate the putting on the greens of an actual golf course or of a virtual golf course.  
   
   
       8 . A golf practice putting game comprising: 
 a user support platform;    a putting platform integral with and extending from said user support platform; said putting platform including a pair of side rails and an end rail;    a flexible putting surface laid across a deck of said user support platform and said putting platform;    a plurality of support members having a pair of opposed ends, each of said plurality of support members are positioned transversely across and at a spaced distance along said putting platform above said deck and below said flexible putting surface, each of said plurality of support members are vertically positionable at a desired elevation independent from one another and each end of said support member is vertically positionable at a desired elevation independent from the opposite end to raise or lower a section of said flexible putting surface to create a desired contour and slope;    a plurality of support plates one attached to each of said plurality of support members so as to be positioned between said support member and said flexible putting surface, each support plate is of a semi-rigid material which allows said support plate to flex slightly downwardly under the weight of said flexible putting surface to create a smooth transition between contours created in said flexible putting surface;    a ball receiving cup received by said putting platform for receiving a putted ball; and    a ball return chute connected at one end to said ball receiving cup and terminating at second open end for discharging a ball from said putting platform.    
   
   
       9 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a foam layer positioned above said deck along said putting platform and said user support platform, said foam layer includes one cooperating slot for each one of said plurality of support members, said foam layer is of a thickness so that each support member is received by its respective cooperating slot flush therewithin, and    an intermediate layer positioned above said foam layer and below said flexible putting surface, said intermediate layer includes one cooperating opening for each one of said plurality of support plates, said intermediate layer is of a thickness so that each support plate is received by its respective cooperating opening flush therewith.    
   
   
       10 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of magnetic latches one positioned approximate to each end of said opposed ends of said plurality of support members for retaining the respective end at a desired elevation.    
   
   
       11 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 10 , wherein each end of said opposed ends of each support member extends through a cooperating slot formed through a respective side rail of a distance so that a user can grasp said end to adjust the elevation thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of actuators one attached to each end of said opposed ends of each of said plurality of support members, each actuator is operable to adjust the elevation of said end to which it is attached; and    a control system connected to each of said plurality of actuators for controlling the operation of each actuator.    
   
   
       13 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of actuators are selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a linear actuator, a pneumatic cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       14 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 12 , wherein said control system includes: 
 a programmable logic controller;    a user interface connected to said programmable logic controller; and    wherein said control system controls the operation of each of said plurality of actuators based upon a preprogrammed sequence.    
   
   
       15 . The golf practice putting game of  claim 14 , wherein said programmed sequence includes a plurality of different putting configurations designed to simulate the putting on the greens of an actual golf course or of a virtual golf course.  
   
   
       16 . A method of practicing putting comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a golf putting practice green comprising a user support platform, a putting platform integral with said user support platform, a flexible putting surface laid across said user support platform and along said putting platform, a plurality of support members positioned below said flexible putting surface which are operable to raise a section of said flexible putting surface independently of each other, each support member having opposed ends which are each independently vertically adjustable to a desired height, a plurality of support plates one attached to each of said plurality of support members so as to be positioned between said support member and said flexible putting surface, each support plate is of a semi-rigid material which allows said support plate to flex slightly downwardly under the weight of said flexible putting surface to create a smooth transition between contours created in said flexible putting surface, and a ball receiving cup received by said putting platform for receiving a putted ball;    (b) adjusting the elevation of at least one end of at least one support member to create a desired putting surface within said flexible putting surface;    (c) putting a golf ball across said flexible putting surface into said ball receiving cup; and    repeating steps (b) and (c) until the act of practicing putting is complete.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said golf putting practice green further comprises: 
 a plurality of actuators one attached to each end of said opposed ends of each of said plurality of support members, each actuator is operable to adjust the elevation of said end to which it is attached; and    a control system connected to each of said plurality of actuators for controlling the operation of each actuator.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said control system includes: 
 a programmable logic controller;    a user interface connected to said programmable logic controller; and    wherein said control system controls the operation of each of said plurality of actuators based upon a preprogrammed sequence.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said programmed sequence includes a plurality of different putting configurations designed to simulate the putting on the greens of an actual golf course or of a virtual golf course.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each of said plurality of actuators are selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a linear actuator, a pneumatic cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder.