Nonobstructuional golf practice device

Abstract

Golf practice devices are configured to facilitate putting without obstructing the greens. According to one example, a golf practice device can provide a visible indicator projected onto a surface of a golf green with a golf practice device coupled to a pole positioned vertically on the surface of a golf green. The golf practice device includes a base, a sight and a turret. The turret rotationally couples the sight to the base providing for rotationally positioning the sight to selectively place the visible indictor on the surface of the golf green, thereby providing a determined putting distance between the visible indicator and the pole. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf practice device with a plane, a vertical axis and a rotational axis, the golf practice device comprising:
 a first member comprising a coupling aligned about the vertical axis and a turret base;   a second member comprising:
 a turret coupled to the turret base, and rotationally positionable about the rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis intersects the plane; and 
 a sight positionable within the plane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis intersects the plane orthogonally. 
     
     
         3 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the sight comprises a laser directed along a sight centerline “SCL”, a battery, a switch and connecting circuitry. 
     
     
         4 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a selector coupled to one of the first member and the second member; and   a putting distance indicator coupled to the other of the first member and the second member, wherein a putting distance “PD” is indicated by the selector.   
     
     
         5 . The golf practice device of  claim 4 , wherein the selector is adjacent the turret base and aligned with the rotational axis and the putting distance indicator is rotationally aligned about the rotational axis on the turret. 
     
     
         6 . The golf practice device of  claim 4 , wherein the putting distance indicator includes minor and major tick marks respective of rotational angles and corresponding putting distances. 
     
     
         7 . The golf practice device of  claim 4 , wherein the putting distance “PD” of the putting distance indicator as indicated by the selector has the mathematical relationship PD=PH*Tan(β), where PD is the desired putting distance, PH is a distance determined from a surface of a golf green and the rotational axis, and β is an angle between the vertical axis and a sight centerline “SCL” of the sight located in the plane. 
     
     
         8 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the turret further includes a clip for releasably retaining the sight in the plane. 
     
     
         9 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the turret includes a body base having a surface for releasably retaining the second member to the turret base of the first member. 
     
     
         10 . The golf practice device of  claim 9 , wherein the surface for releasably retaining the second member to the turret base of the first member is a friction surface. 
     
     
         11 . The golf practice device of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring fastener for releasably retaining the second member to the turret base of the first member. 
     
     
         12 . The golf practice device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling of the first member is a bottom coupler, and further comprising a top coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The golf practice device of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom coupler includes a socket adapted to fit and be received in a corresponding top coupler of another device providing rotational coupling to a pole of a golf practice green and allowing rotational positioning of the first member about the vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The golf practice device of  claim 12 , wherein the top coupler is made of a ferrous material and the bottom coupler includes a magnetic element. 
     
     
         15 . The golf practice device of  claim 14 , wherein the top coupler is adapted to fit and rotationally receive about the vertical axis a bottom coupler of a second golf practice device. 
     
     
         16 . A golf practice device having a plane, a vertical axis and a rotational axis, comprising:
 a base comprising a coupling aligned about the vertical axis and a turret base;   a turret rotationally positionable about the rotational axis and coupled to the turret base;   a sight coupled to the turret, the sight positionable within the plane intersecting the rotational axis;   a selector coupled to one of the base and the turret; and   a putting distance indicator coupled to the other of the base and the turret, wherein a putting distance “PD” is indicated on the putting distance indicator by the selector.   
     
     
         17 . The golf practice device of  claim 16 , wherein the selector is adjacent the turret base and aligned with the rotational axis, and the putting distance indicator is rotationally aligned about the rotational axis on the turret; wherein the putting distance indicator includes minor and major tick marks respective of rotational angles and corresponding putting distances; and wherein the putting distance “PD” of the putting distance indicator as indicated by the selector has the mathematical relationship PD=PH*Tan(β), where PD is the desired putting distance, PH is a distance determined from a surface of a golf green and the rotational axis, and β is an angle between the vertical axis and a sight centerline SCL of the sight. 
     
     
         18 . The golf practice device of  claim 16 , wherein the sight comprises a laser directed along a sight centerline “SCL”, a battery, a switch and connecting circuitry; and wherein the turret further includes a clip for releasably retaining the sight in the plane, and a body base having a surface for releasably retaining the turret to the turret base of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The golf practice device of  claim 16 , wherein the coupling of the base is a bottom coupler and further comprises a top coupler, wherein the bottom coupler includes a socket that is adapted to fit and be received in a corresponding top coupler of another device providing rotational coupling to a pole of a golf practice green and allowing rotational positioning of the base about the vertical axis. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a golf practice device comprising:
 coupling a golf practice device vertically to a pole on a golf green, the golf practice device comprising:
 a base comprising a coupling aligned about a vertical axis and a turret base; 
 a turret rotationally positionable about a rotational axis and coupled to the turret base; 
 a sight positionable about a rotational axis and coupled to the turret; 
 a selector coupled to one of the base and the turret; and 
 a putting distance indicator coupled to the other of the base and the turret, wherein a putting distance “PD” is indicated by the selector; 
   selecting a putting distance “PD”; and   wherein selecting a putting distance “PD” provides a visible indicator on a surface of a golf green by the sight at a respective putting distance away from the pole.