Modular putting green

Abstract

A modular putting green includes a foam pad sculpted for putting a golf ball. A putting green insert is configured to fit within a recessed area of the foam pad. The foam pad may be positioned on a stage having a frame and a platform or on another surface. The foam pad and putting green insert are interchangeable with other foam pads and putting green inserts to change the configuration of the modular putting green for a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular putting green comprising:
 an adjustable stage comprising:
 a platform; and 
 a frame comprising a plurality of frame rails and legs configured to couple to and support the platform; 
   a foam pad configured to mate with the stage, sculpted for putting of a golf ball, and comprising a recessed area; and   a putting green insert configured to fit at least partially within the recessed area of the foam pad.   
     
     
         2 . The modular putting green of  claim 1  wherein:
 the platform includes a plurality of dowel pins; and 
 the foam pad includes a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of dowel pins. 
 
     
     
         3 . The modular putting green of  claim 1  wherein the foam pad comprises a plurality of foam pad sections. 
     
     
         4 . The modular putting green of  claim 1  wherein the platform comprises a plurality of platform sections. 
     
     
         5 . The modular putting green of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of poles configured to extend from the platform;
 wherein the foam pad includes a plurality of openings, each opening of the plurality of openings configured to receive a respective pole of the plurality of poles. 
 
     
     
         6 . The modular putting green of  claim 5  wherein:
 the platform comprises a plurality recesses; and 
 each pole of the plurality of poles is mountable within a respective recess of the plurality of recesses of the platform. 
 
     
     
         7 . The modular putting of  claim 6  wherein:
 each recess of the plurality of recesses of the platform comprises a first end of an interlocking fastener; and 
 each pole comprises a second end of an interlocking fastener configured to mate with the first end of the interlocking fastener of each recess of the plurality of recesses of the platform to mount the pole on the platform. 
 
     
     
         8 . A modular putting green comprising:
 a foam pad comprising:
 a top surface sculpted to be positioned at a predetermined orientation for putting a golf ball and comprising a recessed area; and 
 a bottom surface comprising:
 a stage surface geometry configured to mate with an adjustable stage such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; 
 a direct surface geometry configured to be positioned on and account for imperfections in a surface of a preselected putting area such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; or 
 a combination surface geometry configured to either mate with the adjustable stage or to be positioned on and account for imperfections in the surface of the preselected putting area such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; and 
 
   a putting green insert configured to fit at least partially within the recessed area of the foam pad.   
     
     
         9 . The modular putting green of  claim 8  further comprising the adjustable stage, the adjustable stage comprising:
 a platform comprising a plurality of platform sections, each platform section comprising a top surface configured to support the foam pad and a bottom surface; and 
 a frame comprising a plurality of frame rails configured to couple to and support the bottom surfaces of the platform sections. 
 
     
     
         10 . The modular putting green of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of dowel pins configured to act as locators for positioning the bottom surface of the foam pad on the platform of the stage. 
     
     
         11 . The modular putting green of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of poles configured to act as locators for positioning the bottom surface of the foam pad on the platform of the adjustable stage, each pole of the plurality of poles comprising a height smaller than a thickness of the foam pad between the top and bottom surfaces where the pole is configured to extend through the foam pad. 
     
     
         12 . The modular putting green of  claim 8  wherein the foam pad comprises a plurality of foam pad sections. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a modular putting green, the method comprising:
 sculpting a foam pad comprising:
 a top surface sculpted to be positioned at a predetermined orientation for putting a golf ball and comprising a recessed area; and 
 a bottom surface comprising:
 a stage surface geometry configured to mate with an adjustable stage such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; 
 a direct surface geometry configured to be positioned on and account for imperfections in a surface of a preselected putting area such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; or 
 a combination surface geometry configured to either mate with the adjustable stage or to be positioned on and account for imperfections in the surface of the preselected putting area such that the top surface is positioned at the predetermined orientation; and 
 
   providing a putting green insert configured to fit at least partially within the recessed area of the foam pad.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein sculpting the foam pad comprises machining the foam pad with a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising laser scanning the surface of the preselected putting area prior to sculpting the foam pad. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising cutting the foam pad into a plurality of foam pad sections. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein sculpting the foam pad comprises sculpting a plurality of foam pad sections configured to collectively comprise the top surface and the bottom surface when positioned correctly on the surface of the preselected putting area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing the adjustable stage comprising, the adjustable stage comprising:
 a platform comprising a plurality of platform sections, each platform section comprising a top surface configured to support the foam pad and a bottom surface; and 
 a frame comprising:
 a plurality of frame rails configured to couple to and support the bottom surfaces of the platform sections; and 
 a plurality of legs, each leg comprising a leveling foot  90 . 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 constructing the adjustable stage by:
 coupling the plurality of frame rails together to form the frame; and 
 coupling the plurality of platform sections to the frame to form the platform; 
 
 positioning the bottom surface of the foam pad on the platform of the adjustable stage; and 
 inserting the putting green insert within the recessed area of the foam pad. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising adjusting the leveling foot of at least one leg of the plurality of legs of the frame of the stage.