Golf practice device for putting

Abstract

The present invention discloses a golf practice device and method of use wherein the golf practice device is comprised generally of a relatively thin and relatively lightweight platform having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and multiple sides; an artificial turf layer securely fixed to the top surface of said platform; one or more sets of paired implantation holes in said artificial turf layer which are configured to receive one or more pegs (for instance, golf tees), adjustable wickets, or other obstructing elements; one or more progressively narrower apertures created by implantation of said obstructing elements; one or more leveling screws removeably attached to the bottom surface of said platform; and a rebound return element. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the rebound return element can be replaced by a ramp return element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf putting practice device, comprising:
 a) a platform having a substantially planar top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of sides and a proximal end and a distal end;   b) an artificial turf layer attached to the top surface of the platform;   c) one or more sets of gap paired implantation holes present in the artificial turf layer and top surface of the platform, each configured to receive one or more obstructing elements;   d) one or more obstructing elements, each configured to be received by the one or more sets of gap paired implantation holes;   e) one or more leveling screws attached to the bottom surface of the platform, and   f) a return attached to the distal end of the platform.   
     
     
         2 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is substantially rectangular and is substantially thin. 
     
     
         3 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a tough flexible lightweight material selected from the group comprising wood, rubber, thermoplastic polymer, foam, durable fabric, and combinations thereof and wherein the artificial turf layer comprises a tough flexible lightweight material selected from the group comprising felt and felt-like materials. 
     
     
         4 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 3 , wherein the platform layer is attached by a securing method selected from the group comprising sewing, gluing, stapling, nailing and combinations thereof; and wherein the artificial turf layer is attached by a securing method selected from the group comprising sewing, gluing, stapling, nailing and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more sets of gap paired implantation holes present in the artificial turf layer and top surface of the platform are sufficiently deep to receive the one or more obstructing elements. 
     
     
         6 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , further comprising structure supports for the one of more obstructing elements selected from the group comprising metal grommets, rubber grommets, or sleeve-like anchors. 
     
     
         7 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more sets of gap paired implantation holes present in the artificial turf layer and top surface of the platform are spaced progressively narrower closer to the return attached to the distal end of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more obstructing elements independently is selected from the group comprising pegs, golf tees, or wickets. 
     
     
         9 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more leveling screws attached to the bottom surface of the platform are configured and adjustable to provide a plurality of directions for the putt to break. 
     
     
         10 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the return on the distal end of the platform comprises a rigid support structure with a rebound surface, wherein the rigid support structure is substantially vertical with respect to the platform, and wherein the rigid support surface is affixed to the distal end of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 10 , wherein the rebound surface is substantially planar with the rigid support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 10 , wherein the rebound surface is substantially is slightly convex with the rigid support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 10 , wherein rigid support structure is a dense material selected from the group comprising wood, metal, hard plastic, hard rubber, ceramic tile, composite material, and combinations thereof; and the rebound surface comprises a relatively high coefficient of restitution material selected from the group comprising solid rubber, gas-inflated rubber, highly resilient thermoplastic, wood, metal, ceramic tile and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the return at the distal end of the platform is a ramp which comprises a concave channel that bends around the platform and is tilted downward from its highest point, where a putted ball is received, to its lowest point, where the putted golf ball is returned by gravity to a return tray. 
     
     
         15 . The golf putting practice device of  claim 14 , wherein the concave channel is in shape of one half of a cylindrical tube cut or molded in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the concave channel is composed of a rigid but lightweight material selected from group comprising PVC tubing, plastic or thermoplastic tubing, thin metal tubing, lightweight wood, bamboo, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A golf ball return device, comprising a rigid support structure with a rebound surface, wherein the rigid support structure is substantially vertical, and wherein the rebound surface is affixed to the rigid support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball return device of  claim 16  wherein the rebound surface is substantially planar with the rigid support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball return device of  claim 16  wherein the rebound surface is slightly convex with the rigid support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball return device of  claim 16 , wherein rigid support structure comprises a solid or dense material selected from the group comprising wood, metal, hard plastic, hard rubber, ceramic tile, composite material and combinations thereof and the rebound surface comprises a relatively high coefficient of restitution material selected from the group comprising solid rubber, gas-inflated rubber, highly resilient thermoplastic, wood, metal, ceramic tile and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method of testing an individual's level of skill in golf putting, comprising an individual putting a golf ball on the golf putting device of  claim 1 , wherein a widest gap pair of implantation holes is the appropriate setting to test a beginner and a narrowest gap pair is the appropriate setting to test the most highly skilled golfer.