Systems and methods for playing a golf game having virtual elements using an adjustable putting green surface

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling a golf game are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system includes a floor unit with a hitting portion including a striking zone for hitting physical golf shots towards the wall unit and a putting portion including a putting green surface configured to be adjusted based on the surface contour of the green area of a virtual golf hole. A control unit is configured to determine a landing location related to the virtual golf hole based on a first shot physically hit by a golfer from the striking zone, cause an adjustment to the putting green surface based on the surface contour of the green area of the virtual golf hole from the landing location, and instruct the golfer where to place a ball on the floor unit for a second shot towards the putting hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system that uses an adjustable putting green surface during a golf game including virtual and physical elements to enable a full golf hole from tee shot to final putt, the system comprising:
 a wall unit configured to display a virtual portion of the golf game including a virtual golf hole having (i) a virtual green area with a surface contour and (ii) a final hole position within the green area;   a floor unit including (i) a hitting portion including at least one striking zone for hitting physical golf shots towards the wall unit, and (ii) a putting portion including a putting green surface configured to be adjusted based on the surface contour of the green area of the virtual golf hole, the putting green further including a physical putting hole; and   a control unit configured to: (i) determine a landing location related to the virtual golf hole based on a first shot physically hit by a golfer from the at least one striking zone into the wall unit, (ii) cause an adjustment to the putting green surface based on the surface contour of the green area of the virtual golf hole from the landing location, and (iii) instruct the golfer where to place a ball on the floor unit for a second shot towards the physical putting hole.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to cause the adjustment to the putting green surface so that a contour of the putting green surface mimics the surface contour of the green area of the virtual golf hole from the landing location.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to cause the adjustment to the putting green surface so that a physical line between a point on the hitting portion and the physical putting hole matches a virtual line between the landing location and the final hole position.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to determine a rotational relationship between the virtual green area and the putting green surface when determining how to cause the adjustment to the putting green surface.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the floor unit is configured such that the first shot is physically hit by the golfer generally in a first direction towards the wall unit, and the second shot is physically hit by the golfer generally in an opposite second direction towards the physical putting hole.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to instruct the golfer where to place a ball on the putting green surface for the second shot toward the physical putting hole.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to trigger a light to instruct the golfer on a correct ball placement location for the second shot.   
     
     
         8 . A system that uses an adjustable putting green surface during a golf game including virtual and physical elements to enable a full golf hole from tee shot to final putt, the system comprising:
 a wall unit configured to display a virtual portion of the golf game including virtual golf holes having virtual green areas with surface contours and final hole positions within the virtual green areas;   a floor unit including (i) at least one striking zone for hitting physical golf shots towards the wall unit, (ii) a putting green surface for putting physical shots into a physical putting hole; and (iii) one or more putting green surface adjustors configured to adjust the putting green surface in relation to one or more other surfaces of the floor unit; and   a control unit configured to cause the one or more putting green surface adjusters to make one or more adjustments to the putting green surface to reflect the virtual golf holes displayed by the wall unit.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to cause the adjustments to the putting green surface so that putting green surface mimics the surface contours of the virtual green areas of the virtual golf holes.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to cause the adjustments to the putting green surface so that physical lines between points on the hitting portion and physical putting hole positions match virtual lines between virtual landing locations and virtual final hole positions.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the one or more putting green surface adjusters are located beneath the putting green surface.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to cause the one or more putting green surface adjusters to raise or lower at least part of the putting green surface when adjusting the putting green surface.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the putting hole is configured to be moved to different locations of the putting green surface for different final hole placements.   
     
     
         14 . A method of enabling a golf game including virtual and physical elements using an adjustable putting green surface to enable a full golf hole from tee shot to final putt, the method comprising:
 generating a virtual golf hole having a green area with a surface contour and a final hole position within the green area;   displaying the virtual golf hole during a first shot physically hit by a golfer from the floor unit;   determining a landing location related to the virtual golf hole based on the first shot physically hit by the golfer;   adjusting the putting green surface based on the landing location; and   instructing the golfer where to place a ball on the floor unit for a second shot using the putting green surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 adjusting the putting green surface so that a contour of the putting green surface mimics the surface contour of the green area of the virtual golf hole from the landing location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 adjusting the putting green surface so that a physical line between a point on the hitting portion and a physical putting hole matches a virtual line between the landing location and the final hole position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 determining a rotational relationship between the virtual green area and the putting green surface when determining how to cause the adjustment to the putting green surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 adjusting the putting green surface by controlling one or more putting green surface adjusters located beneath the putting green surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 moving a putting hole position to a different location for a different final hole placement.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising
 triggering a light to instruct the golfer on a correct ball placement location for the second shot.