Prior Art Anyone who plays golf, from the seasoned professional to the novice, would tell you that golf is a very frustrating sport. One of the reasons that this is true is because golf requires a mastery of many different types of golf strokes.

These types of strokes range from driving the golf ball from a tee to utilizing woods and irons to play the ball from the fairway or the rough. Furthermore, the golfer must learn to play the ball out of various hazards, such as sand traps. Finally, the art of putting must be perfected. Once all of these golf shots are learned, they must be constantly practiced to maintain proficiency.

Most golf courses include a driving range, allowing a golfer to practice driving the ball from a tee, as well as hitting the ball from a mat to replicate fairway shots.

Additionally, these golf courses would also include a putting green to practice the putting stroke and might also be provided with a sand trap to practice sand shots. These types of practice opportunities can also be provided at an independent driving range or golf center. However, the use of these types of practice facilities require the golfer to pay for their usage, as well as to force the golfer to travel to these facilities from perhaps great distances.

Consequently, individuals trying to master several types of shots, such as driving and fairway shots, could employ a wiffle ball in their back yard or a park, to avoid the cost and time required to use professional facilities. However, if a golfer would utilize this type of practice regimen, it would be impossible to practice putting, as well as shots from a sand

trap. Therefore, a portable golf practice device allowing a golfer to easily and cheaply perfect various golf shots is clearly needed.

A number of prior art patents have issued directed to portable golf practice devices. These patents include British Patent 2,121,297, as well as U. S. Patents 3,936,055, issued to Scott; 4,279,420, issued to Bay et al; 4,535,989 and 4,630,828, issued to Lovin; and 4,779,796, issued to Lai.

For example, the patent to Scott describes a portable golf practice device provided with a plurality of panels positionable at different angles to the horizontal. The purpose of this golf practice device would be to allow a golfer to practice various golf shots. As illustrated in Figure 2, the golf practice device can be used to practice fairway shots on a textured covering simulating fairway grass. When opened in the position shown in Figure 3, the golf practice device can be used for putting. The putting sections are covered by a relatively fine, dense matting and various holes are provided in several positions.

British Patent 2,121,297 describes a portable, folding putting practice unit including a platform portion 14, as well as a putting surface 12.

The patent to Bay et al discusses a portable golf platform for the purpose of practicing various fairway shots.

A pair of retractable legs is mounted on the outer end of the practice platform to provide differing inclinations.

The two patents to Lovin illustrate sand trap practice devices including a tray having a flat, planar bottom in which sand is provided.

Finally, the patent to Lai describes a portable, foldable golf practice device provided with a height-adjustable stand.

Although the above-cited patents describe various portable devices used to practice one or more different types of golf shots, none of these devices allow the golfer the ability to practice the full array of shots required to allow the golfer to be proficient in this sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art portable golf practice devices are addressed by the present invention which is directed to a portable practice device for golf, including a multitude of sections, allowing various golf shots to be practiced. A first end section is covered with a synthetic material and is provided with a hole for the purpose of practicing putting. A number of removable side walls are provided for insuring putted balls do not fall from the platform.

The second end section is also covered with a synthetic material and includes a tee for the purpose of practicing driving. A middle section is provided with a removable synthetic surface having a removable tray therein in which sand is provided for the purpose of practicing a sand shot. The practice device includes foldable legs so that the device is provided with an incline allowing the golfer to practice uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. The middle section is hinged to both end sections to allow the golf practice device to be easily transported to various locations, as well as to facilitate storage of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a golfer driving a golf ball; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the present invention showing one side of the device in an elevated position; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the present invention showing sand in the middle section; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the device closed and ready to be transported.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention used to practice several types of golf shots. The present invention 10 includes a first planar end section 12, a second planar end section 16 and a third planar middle section 14 provided between the end sections 12 and 16. Each of the sections 12,14 and 16 is provided with side edges 21,23,25, respectively. Although not shown in Figure 1, a second set of side sections would be provided opposite side edges 21,23 and 25. An end edge 27 (see Figure 2) extends along the edge of section 16 perpendicular to side edge 25. Likewise, although not shown in the drawings, an end edge is provided between the two side edges 21 of section 12. This particular configuration thereby creates a planar base frame for the portable golf practice device.

As depicted in Figure 1, the portable practice golf device is set up to allow the golfer to practice driving off of a level lie. Consequently, a ball 18 is depicted as being supported by a tee 20. Dependent upon whether the golfer is a righty or lefty, the golfer would either address the ball 18, as shown in Figure 1, or would address the ball 18 in the opposite direction. Additionally, it should be noted that the golfer could be rotated 90° with his back toward section 12 to practice driving. It is noted that the present invention can utilize a standard golf ball or a practice ball, such as a wiffle ball.

Additionally, it is noted that the golf ball 18 could be physically attached to the golf practice device 10 by a cord, line or similar device to aid in the retrieval of the golf ball 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the surfaces of the sections 12,14 and 16 can be constructed from an ASTROTURF@-type material or similar composition, which are commonly used at driving range to attempt fairway shots. However, the type of ASTROTURF@ that would be utilized, can be different for each of the sections 12,14 and 16, as well as the thickness of one of the sections 12,14 and 16 could also be different than the other

sections. For example, if section 16 is used to primarily allow a golfer to practice a tee shot, the height and thickness of the ASTROTURF@ covering section 16 could be less than the ASTROTURFO covering section 14. This embodiment would then allow the golfer to utilize section 14 to practice both wood and iron shots from a fairway lie. However, it should be noted that the thickness and height of the ASTROTURF@ covering section 14 can be made greater still to allow the golfer to practice a wood or iron shot from the rough. Furthermore, it is noted that the golfer could also practice fairway shots from section 16. Additionally, it is noted that when the invention is practiced according to Figure 1, a golf hole 24 (shown in Figure 2) could be covered by a cover 22.

The embodiment as shown in Figure 1, can be used to allow a golfer to practice putting. In this instance, the golf tee 20 and the ball 18 are removed, and holes used to allow the golfer to place a tee therein, can be concealed by covers 54 as shown in Figure 2, provided in sections 12 and 16. The golfer would then be able to utilize all the sections 12,14 and 16 to practice putting a golf ball into the hole 24. In this embodiment, side walls 26 and 30 and end wall 28 would be attached to the side an end edges of section 12 as shown in Figure 2. Dowels could be provided on the bottom of the sidewalls 26,28 and 30 cooperating with holes drilled in the side wall end edge, to aid in this purpose. When used as a golf putting practice device, it is noted that the height and composition of the ASTROTURF@ covering sections 12,14 and 16 should be the same. It is further noted that although it is not depicted in the drawings, the ASTROTURF@ would be applied to a plywood backing which is in turn attached to the frame of the portable golf practice device.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention allowing a golfer to practice uphill lies, downhill lies and sidehill lies. Although generally not included when the golfer is practicing on non-even lies, Figure 2 shows inclusion of side walls 26 and 30, as well as end wall 28 surrounding a section 12. As described hereinabove, these walls are removable.

The inclination of the device 10 is altered by the inclusion of legs 36,38,40,42,44 and 46. It is noted that these legs are provided along a longitudinal side piece 34 spanning sections 12, 14 and 16. These legs are attached to the underside of these sections as shown in Figure 2. For example, legs 36 and 38 are provided under section 16, legs 40 and 42 are provided under section 14 and legs 44 and 46 are provided under section 12.

These legs are attached in a manner to allow them to be rotated 90° to fit under each of their respective sections when they are not in use. It is also noted that each of the legs is provided with a plurality of holes 52 and a base 50, as illustrated with respect to leg 36. A detent would be used in conjunction with the holes 52 to alter the height of each of the legs, thereby changing the inclination of the golf practice device 10.

Although six legs are depicted in Figure 2, it can be appreciated that more or less legs could be utilized and that these legs could be provided on more than one side of the golf practice device.

As previously indicated, the embodiment depicted in Figure 2 is generally used to allow a golfer to practice uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. Therefore, when it is used for this purpose, side walls 26,30, as well as end wall 28 would not be used. These walls would primarily be used in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 when the golfer practices putting.

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention allowing the golfer to practice sand shots. In this embodiment, the ASTROTURFO, as well as plywood backing of section 14, would be removed, providing an open retention area 56 between sections 12 and 16. A plastic or similar tray 58 is provided within this opening 56 allowing sand 60 to be added allowing the individual golfer to practice a sand shot. In this instance, the golfer would position himself with his back to the hole 24 or rotated 90° in either direction.

When the sand 60 is removed from the center section 14, this section can be used to store various items, such as golf balls, golf tees, as well as wall sections 26,28 and 30.

To increase the portability of this golf practice device, as well as to more easily store this device when not in use, it is noted that a hinge 62 is provided between sections 14 and 16, as shown in Figure 4, to allow section 16 to be rotated with respect to section 14, as shown in Figure 4. A similar hinge, although not shown, is provided between sections 12 and 14. In this embodiment, it is noted that the width of section 14 is equal to twice the width of sections 12 and 16, although this need not always be the case. Wheels 64,66 and 68 are added to the golf practice device, as shown in Figure 4 to aid in its transportability. A fourth wheel attached to section 12 is provided, but not shown, in Figure 4. Holes 13,15,17 and 19, as shown in Figure 1, are used to removably place the wheels 64, 66 and 68 therein. Although not shown in the drawings, these wheels can be attached to holes 13,15,17 and 19 in any conventional manner, such as a ball and detent configuration.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above by way of example only, it would be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

For example, although the present invention describes a portable golf practice device having the top surface of the middle portion 14 removed, this need not be the case and other coverings such as section 16 could be removed instead of section 14, as well along with section 14. Furthermore, although the present invention includes three sections 12,14 and 16 hingingly attached to one another, the total number of sections can be increased, or decreased, if desired.