Configurable Flexible Golf Putting Green System and Methods

Abstract

A configurable flexible putting green system and methods provide a golf putting experience on a highly configurable simulated putting green surface. A movable, flexible turf belt is tensioned between storage devices at each end of the turf belt. A portion of the turf belt is configured as a putt spot, supporting the player's weight and simulating a real putting experience. The system is provided with actuators underneath the turf belt for creating a variety of undulations, inclinations, and declinations so as to simulate a wide variety of golf putting scenarios. A golf computer is provided for controlling the turf belt and undulators to simulate golf putting conditions according to a database of simulated golf putting terrain matching existing golf courses.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A configurable flexible golf putting green system, the system comprising:
 a) a turf belt tensioned between a first storage device and a second storage device, said turf belt comprising a simulated putting green surface adhered to a flexible substrate, said turf belt not configured into a continuous loop;   b) at least one golf putting hole disposed in said turf belt;   c) the turf belt further comprising:
 i) a stored portion that is stored in at least one of said first storage device or said second storage device; 
 ii) a playable portion defined between said first and said second storage devices; 
   d) said first and second storage devices operable under a control system to move said turf belt in both a forward direction and a backward direction, said forward direction characterized in that the playable portion of the turf belt moves in the direction from said first storage device toward said second storage device, said backward direction characterized in that the playable portion of the turf belt moves in the direction from said second storage device toward said first storage device;   e) said first storage device operable to store a portion of said turf belt when said turf belt is moved in said backward direction;   f) said second storage device operable to store a portion of said turf belt when said turf belt is moved in said forward direction;   g) the system further characterized in that the control system is operable to control the position of said turf belt to move said golf putting hole to a desired location.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that the control system is operable to control the turf belt to return a putted ball to a player by moving said turf belt toward said player, and then control the position of said turf belt to move said golf putting hole to a desired location. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a support structure underneath a portion of said turf belt configured to support the weight of one or more players. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a) a plurality of undulator modules disposed underneath said turf belt, further characterized in that a portion of the turf belt is in contact with at least one of said plurality of undulator modules; 
 b) at least one of said plurality of undulator modules comprising:
 i) a support plate configured to allow said flexible substrate to move across it, the support plate having an aperture; 
 ii) an undulator actuator configured to raise and lower an undulator body through said aperture, wherein raising said undulator body lifts a portion of the turf belt above said support plate. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  further characterized in that at least one of the plurality of undulator modules has an elongated undulator body coupled to a drive unit, said drive unit operable to create a variable rotation of said undulator body, said variable rotation operable to raise and lower a portion of the turf belt above said support plate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  further characterized in that at least one of the plurality of undulator modules is a rotating direction undulation module comprising: a rotation drive coupled to an elongated undulator body and operable to rotate said elongated undulator body in a plurality of directions parallel to said support plate. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a control system operable to control the position of each of said plurality of undulator modules thereby creating a desired shape of said simulated putting green surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that at least one of the first or second storage devices comprises an elongated rotating element on which the turf belt is rolled onto and from which the turf belt is unrolled from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit, said computer controlled drive unit operable to move said turf belt in said forward direction and in said backward direction without creating a un-tensioned portion in said playable portion of said turf belt. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further characterized in that both the first and second storage devices each comprise an elongated rotating element on which the turf belt is rolled-up and from which the turf belt is unrolled-from, both said rolling-up and said unrolling-from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit, said computer controlled drive unit operable to move said turf belt in said forward direction and in said backward direction without creating a un-tensioned portion in said playable portion of said turf belt. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a configurable flexible golf putting green system, the system comprising: a turf belt that comprises a simulated putting green surface adhered to a flexible substrate, the turf belt not being configured into a continuous loop; a first storage device; a second storage device; a plurality of undulator modules; and, a control system operable to move the turf belt in a forward direction and a backward direction, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) tensioning said turf belt between said first storage device and said second storage device, the turf belt further comprising:
 i) a stored portion that is stored in at least one of said first storage device or said second storage device; 
 ii) a playable portion defined between said first and said second storage device; 
   b) disposing at least one golf putting hole in said turf belt;   c) configuring said control system to control said first and second storage devices to move said turf belt in both said forward direction and said backward direction, said forward direction characterized in that the playable portion of the turf belt moves in the direction from said first storage device toward said second storage device, said backward direction characterized in that the playable portion of the turf belt moves in the direction from said second storage device toward said first storage device;   d) storing a portion of said turf belt in said first storage device when said turf belt is moved in said backward direction;   e) storing a portion of said turf belt in said second storage device when said turf belt is moved in said forward direction;   f) controlling the position of said turf belt to move said golf putting hole to a desired location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 a) returning a putted ball to a player by moving said turf belt toward said player, and thereafter, controlling the position of said turf belt to move said golf putting hole to a desired location. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 a) configuring a support structure underneath a portion of said turf belt to support the weight of one or more players. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 a) disposing the plurality of undulator modules under said turf belt, further characterized in that a portion of the turf belt is in contact with at least one of said plurality of undulator modules, at least one of said plurality of undulator modules comprising a support plate having an aperture, the method further comprising the steps of:
 i) configuring said support plate to allow said flexible substrate to move across it; 
 ii) configuring an undulator actuator to raise and lower an undulator body through said aperture, wherein raising said undulator body lifts a portion of the turf belt above said support plate. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the step of disposing a plurality of undulator modules under said turf belt further characterized in that at least one of the plurality of undulator modules comprises an elongated undulator body coupled to a drive unit operable to create a variable rotation of said undulator body, the method further comprising the step of creating a said variable rotation to raise and lower a portion of the turf belt above said support plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , the step of disposing a plurality of undulator modules under said turf belt further characterized in that at least one of the plurality of undulator modules is a rotating direction undulation module comprising: a rotation drive coupled to an elongated undulator body, the method further comprising the step of rotating said elongated undulator body in a plurality of directions parallel to said support plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of:
 a) controlling the position of each of the plurality of undulator modules to create a desired shape of said simulated putting surface. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of coupling to at least one of the first or second storage devices an elongated rotating element on which the turf belt is rolled onto and from which the turf belt is unrolled from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit, said computer controlled drive unit operating to move said turf belt in said forward direction and in said backward direction without creating a un-tensioned portion in said playable portion of said turf belt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of coupling to both the first and second storage devices an elongated rotating element on which the turf belt is rolled-up and from which the turf belt is unrolled-from, both said rolling-up and said unrolling-from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit, said computer controlled drive unit operating to move said turf belt in said forward direction and in said backward direction without creating a un-tensioned portion in said playable portion of said turf belt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of coupling to at least one of the first or second storage devices two elongated rotating elements on which the turf belt is rolled onto and from which the turf belt is unrolled from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of coupling to both the first and second storage devices two elongated rotating elements on which the turf belt is rolled onto and from which the turf belt is unrolled from, both said rolling-up and said unrolling-from under the control of a computer controlled drive unit, said computer controlled drive unit operating to move said turf belt in said forward direction and in said backward direction without creating a un-tensioned portion in said playable portion of said turf belt.