Putting practice apparatus

Abstract

A putting practice device includes a generally horizontal rectangular putting board including a base member, and a layer of grass-like synthetic plastic material bonded to the upper surface of the base member, thereby to define a putting board. Two diagonally-arranged corner portions of the putting board contain putting holes that extend downwardly through the grass-like layer partially into the base member. At least one alignment string is supported in space relation above the grass-like layer, which alignment string extends over one of the putting holes in a direction parallel with a longitudinal edge of the putting board. Vertical adjustment devices are provided at the corner portions of the putting board for varying the heights of the corner portions relative to a fixed support. Preferably, to provide a universal putting board, putting holes are provided in all four corners, and the two non-used holds are filled by a removable filler plug.

1 . Putting practice apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a generally horizontal rigid rectangular base member having top and bottom surfaces, and opposed pairs of longitudinal side edges and transverse end edges that cooperate to define four corners;   (b) a layer of grass-like synthetic plastic material bonded to said base member upper surface, thereby to cooperate with said base member to define a laminated putting board, a pair of diagonally-arranged corner portions of said putting board containing putting holes each extending downwardly through said grass-like layer and partially into said base;   (c) at least one first generally horizontal alignment string;   (d) first string support means supporting said first alignment string in spaced parallel relation above said grass-like layer, said first alignment string extending parallel with a longitudinal side edge of said board from a first location adjacent one end edge of said putting board over one of said putting holes toward the remote end edge of said putting board; and   (e) vertically adjustable support means arranged beneath the four corner portions of said putting board for varying the respective heights of said corner portions relative to a horizontal support surface.   
   
   
       2 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , and further including a second alignment string, and second support means supporting said second alignment string parallel with said first alignment string in spaced relation above the other one of said putting holes. 
   
   
       3 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second support means comprises a pair of support pegs removably mounted in corresponding openings contained in said putting board. 
   
   
       4 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base member is formed of wood. 
   
   
       5 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holes are arranged on said putting board for use by a right-handed putter. 
   
   
       6 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holes are arranged on said putting board for use by a left-handed putter. 
   
   
       7 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the four corner portions of said putting board contains a putting hole; and further including:
 (f) a pair of plug members removably inserted into a diagonally-arranged pair of said holes, respectively, thereby to permit selective use of the putting board by right-handed and left-handed putters, respectively, each of said plug members including a base layer, and a synthetic plastic grass-like layer bonded to the upper surface of said base layer, the upper surfaces of said plug members being coplanar with the supper surface of said putting board.   
   
   
       8 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vertically adjustable support means includes a vertical outer tubular sleeve member connected at its upper end with the bottom surface of said base member, and a foot member extending within and threadably connected with said sleeve member. 
   
   
       9 . Putting practice apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base member has a length of 8 feet, a width of 4 feet, and a thickness of 4 inches; and further wherein said putting hole has a diameter of 4.25 inches.