Golf putting practice device, method for practicing putting using same, and method for advertising using same

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes a golf putting practice device, a method for practicing putting using same, and a method for advertising using same. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a golf putting practice device is provided. The golf putting practice device includes a substantially bell shaped member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on a putting surface, and a sidewall for joining the upper and lower surfaces and receiving impact from golf balls during putting practice. At least one visual target is located in or on the sidewall for providing an area of visual focus for a golfer during putting practice.

1 . A golf putting practice device comprising:
 a substantially bell shaped member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on a putting surface, and at least one sidewall joining the upper and lower surfaces and configured to receive impact from golf balls during putting practice; and   at least one visual target located in or on the sidewall for providing an area of visual focus for a golfer during putting practice.   
   
   
       2 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall forms a flange adjacent to the lower surface for repelling golf balls away from the sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall includes a convex portion adjacent to the upper surface and a concave portion adjacent to the convex portion, wherein the combination of the concave and convex portions form a grip for a golfer to grip the substantially bell shaped member. 
   
   
       4 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface is substantially flat for receiving an advertising logo. 
   
   
       5 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein a maximum diameter enclosed by the sidewall is selected from a value ranging from a value that is substantially less than a diameter of a golf hole to a value that is substantially equal to the diameter of the golf hole. 
   
   
       6 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 5  wherein the maximum diameter enclosed by the sidewall is equal to about one half of the diameter of the golf hole. 
   
   
       7 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one visual target comprises two visual targets located in on opposing sides of the at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       8 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one visual target is located substantially in or on a concave portion of the at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       9 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one visual target comprises an indicia of at least two dimensions that is visually distinguishable from a remainder of the at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       10 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 9  wherein the visual target comprises a logo for at least one of an entity, a product, a service, or an event. 
   
   
       11 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one visual target includes a circle. 
   
   
       12 . A golf putting practice device comprising:
 a member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on a putting surface, and at least one sidewall joining the upper and lower surfaces, the at least one sidewall being positioned to receive impact from golf balls during putting practice;   the at least one sidewall forming a convex portion adjacent to the upper surface;   the at least one sidewall forming a concave portion adjacent to the convex portion; and   the at least one sidewall forming a cone shaped portion extending angularly outward from the concave portion and terminating in the lower surface.   
   
   
       13 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 12  wherein the upper surface is substantially flat for receiving an advertising logo. 
   
   
       14 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 12  comprising at least one visual target located substantially in or on the concave portion. 
   
   
       15 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 14  wherein the visual target comprises a logo for at least one of an entity, a product, a service, or an event. 
   
   
       16 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 14  wherein the at least one visual target includes a circle. 
   
   
       17 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 12  wherein the cone shaped portion has a substantially constant slope. 
   
   
       18 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 12  wherein an average diameter of the convex portion is greater than an average diameter of the concave portion. 
   
   
       19 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 12  wherein a maximum diameter of the cone shaped portion is selected from a value ranging from a value that is substantially less than a diameter of a golf hole to a value that is substantially equal to a diameter of a golf hole. 
   
   
       20 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 19  wherein the maximum diameter of the cone shaped portion is equal to a value that is about one half of the diameter of a golf hole. 
   
   
       21 . A method for practicing golf putting, the method comprising:
 placing, on a putting surface, a substantially bell shaped member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on the putting surface, and at least one sidewall joining the upper and lower surfaces and configured to receive impact from golf balls during putting practice and at least one visual target located in or on the sidewall for providing an area of visual focus for a golfer during putting practice; and   visually focusing on the at least one visual target and putting a golf ball at the substantially bell shaped member in a direction corresponding to the focusing.   
   
   
       22 . A method for practicing golf putting, the method comprising:
 placing, on a putting surface, a member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on the putting surface, and at least one sidewall joining the upper and lower surfaces, the at least one sidewall being positioned to receive impact from golf balls during putting practice, the at least one sidewall forming a convex portion adjacent to the upper surface, the at least one sidewall forming a concave portion adjacent to the convex portion, and the at least one sidewall forming a cone shaped portion extending angularly outward from the concave portion and terminating in the lower surface; and   putting a golf ball at the member.   
   
   
       23 . A method of advertising at least one of an entity, a product, a service, or an event to golfers, the method comprising:
 placing logos for an entity, a product, a service, or an event on each of a plurality of golf putting practice devices, each golf putting practice device comprising a member having an upper surface, a lower surface for resting on a putting surface, and at least one sidewall joining the upper and lower surfaces, the at least one sidewall being positioned to receive contact from golf balls during putting practice; and   distributing a plurality of the golf putting practice devices having the logos to golfers.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the golf putting practice device comprises a substantially bell shaped member having a visual target located in or on the sidewall. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein placing the logos on each of the golf putting practice devices includes placing the logo on at least one of the sidewall and the upper surface of each golf putting practice device.