Golf hazard training methods and apparatus

Abstract

A portable golf training apparatus for enhancing a player's skills relating to overcoming a golf course hazard includes a substantially flexible base and at least first and second regions formed on an upper surface of, and supported by, the base. The first region has a first cross-sectional thickness and the second region has a second cross-sectional thickness. An opening is formed in at least one of the first and second regions, the opening being adapted to receive a ball with which the golf training apparatus is used. The player, shooting the ball from an area outside of the golf training apparatus, is assigned a prescribed point value as a function of a location on the golf training apparatus on which the ball lands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable golf training apparatus for enhancing a player's skills relating to overcoming a golf course hazard, the apparatus comprising:
 a substantially flexible base;   at least first and second regions formed on an upper surface of, and supported by, the base, the first region having a first cross-sectional thickness and the second region having a second cross-sectional thickness; and   an opening formed in at least one of the first and second regions, the opening being adapted to receive a ball with which the golf training apparatus is used;   wherein the player, shooting the ball from an area outside of the golf training apparatus, is assigned a prescribed point value as a function of a location on the golf training apparatus on which the ball lands.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second region is formed at least partially within the first region, and the opening is formed at least partially within the second region. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third region formed on the base and having a third cross-sectional thickness, the third region being adapted to display advertising indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of an upper surface of the first region is different relative to a corresponding at least one characteristic of an upper surface of the second region, such that a movement of the ball is affected differently as a function of the region over which the ball moves. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the upper surface of each of the first and second regions comprises at least one of material type, hardness, texture, and pile. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a container attached to the golf training apparatus and adapted to receive and hold the ball after said ball passes through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the container is formed having a lip along a circumference of a top edge thereof which is configured to prevent said container from passing completely through the opening when the container is inserted through the opening from an upper surface of the golf training apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the container is adapted to be removably attached to the golf training apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second regions are circularly shaped and are concentric to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cross-sectional thicknesses are substantially equal to one another. 
     
     
         11 . A portable golf hazard apparatus for use in conjunction with a golf training apparatus for enhancing a player's skills relating to overcoming a golf course hazard, the golf hazard apparatus comprising:
 a substantially rigid base having an opening therein for receiving a container adapted to hold a material simulating a sand trap; and   at least a first base support attached to a bottom surface of the base, the first base support comprising a height adjustment mechanism for controlling an angle of an upper surface of the base relative to a surface upon which the portable golf hazard apparatus is placed.   
     
     
         12 . The golf hazard apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a layer of turf material formed on an upper surface of the base and at least partially surrounding the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The golf hazard apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the turf material comprises artificial grass. 
     
     
         14 . The golf hazard apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising at least a second base support attached to the bottom surface of the base and laterally disposed from the first base support, the second base support comprising a height adjustment mechanism, wherein adjustment of a height of the first and second base supports is configured to simulate one of an uphill lie and a downhill lie of a ball as said ball is played from an upper surface of the material simulating the sand trap. 
     
     
         15 . A method of play for a golf training game, the method comprising:
 providing a portable golf training apparatus, the golf training apparatus including: a flexible base; at least first and second regions formed on an upper surface of, and supported by, the base, the first region having a first cross-sectional thickness and the second region having a second cross-sectional thickness; and an opening formed in at least one of the first and second regions, the opening being adapted to receive a golf ball;   placing said portable golf training apparatus at a prescribed distance from a player of said golf training game;   shooting the golf ball by the player of said golf training game, from an area at the prescribed distance from the portable golf training apparatus in a direction toward said portable golf training apparatus; and   assigning a prescribed point value to the player as a function of a location on the golf training apparatus on which the golf ball lands.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the prescribed point value assigned to the player for a given shot increases as a distance from the location on the golf training apparatus on which the golf ball lands to the opening in the portable golf training apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 repeating the steps of shooting the golf ball and assigning a prescribed point value to the player for each of multiple golf balls; and   determining a score of a given round of play based on adding together the respective point values assigned for the multiple golf balls.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising designating a first subset of the multiple golf balls which are scored according to a first point assignment scheme, and designating a second subset of the multiple golf balls which are scored according to a second point assignment scheme, the second point assignment scheme being different than the first point assignment scheme. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing an obstacle between the player and the portable golf training apparatus, the obstacle being configured to increase a difficulty level to the player of shooting the golf ball into the opening in the golf training apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising controlling the difficulty level by controlling at least one of a vertical height and a horizontal width of said obstacle.