Abstract:
An artificial putting green provides an architected green lie adjustable by a user in accordance with the true contouring elements available on a real golfing green. A user actually stands on the green itself, and may position himself or herself above or below the cup with an intervening swell or rise between the user and a cup. A break to the left or the right may be provided between the cup and the deck. The deck may actually be canted from side to side. Moreover, the deck may be elevated front to back or back to front. Accordingly, by independent adjustment of multiple feet, the deck may be a proper part of the green as will be encountered in actual practice on a real green. Multiple contours from left-to-right and right-to-left may be adjusted in the intervening distance between a user and the cup.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of earlier-filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/156,041, filed Sep. 24, 1999, for “Portable, Adjustable-Contour Golfing Green,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to sporting goods, and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for golf practice green construction and use. 
     2. The Background Art 
     Golf has enjoyed popularity over centuries. New players, at an increasing rate, devote leisure time to improving skills in the game at an increasing rate. Although the game of skill at directing a ball is simple in principle, numerous factors affect one&#39;stability to repeatably strike a ball correctly. A major portion of golf is the putt. One third to one half the strokes representing a player&#39;s score may often be putting strokes. 
     Accordingly, a never-ending desire to improve the game, and an eternal belief that one can improve, motivate individuals to practice. The expense and availability, as well as the inconvenience, of practicing on actual courses limit practice. Improved driving requires space. Improved putting requires not space but true conditions reflecting actual putts. Numerous devices exist to facilitate a user putting a ball in an artificial environment. However, prior art systems failed to produce the effective practice due to the inaccurate conditions of replication of actual golf putting. 
     One difficulty of golfers is obtaining a natural lie in an artificial environment. Putting practice in a back yard of a home does not provide natural conditions of a green. A green is typically provided with sand as the uppermost soil layer, with a specific type and density of grass at a specific height to provide the desired stimp. The actual variations might be something less than infinite, but a large number, as a practical matter. Contours may vary in a longitudinal direction between a golfer and a cup, and in a lateral direction side-to-side across the travel path of the ball. 
     Indoor systems or portable systems may rely on conventional carpets of a room, or specialized carpets for taking the place of a green surface. Both suffer, albeit unequally, from the inability to provide the compression, the fiber resistance, the stiffness of the fibers, the length of fibers, and other conditions of the natural green. 
     Simple systems that enjoy light weight provide crude replication of putting conditions. More complex systems are not portable, not readily adjustable or both. Slopes in a longitudinal direction and, at the same time, in lateral a direction that represent the true conditions of a golfing green are important, even necessary, and unavailable. 
     Typical systems provide a raised area around the cup for returning a ball that misses the cup. Such a geometry is very unlike an actual green. Various attempts to gradually change contours surrounding a cup provide complex, cumbersome, heavy, expensive, and still inadequate structures. Certain attempts have positioned frames above and beside a green. Such visual obstacles are very unlike a green, and provide several disadvantages and irregularities. For example, an actual green provides only certain unique sensations of space, angle, and the like. Artificial structures provide references for determining distances and positions. Moreover, visual obstructions distract. 
     Carpets placed on a floor typically provide both inadequate compression, fiber activity, and contours, while unable to provide any downhill lie toward the cup, and, typically, any repeatability in contouring mechanisms. Systems relying on more framing than structure beneath a carpet are typically either too rigid or too soft, the first being too heavy, and the second being mechanically inadequate for representing the actual performance for a golf green. 
     Golfers are forever hopeful of improving their game. To this extent, commercial putting greens, miniature golf, and driving ranges proliferate. However, most putting green practice areas do not represent greens on actual golf courses. Using leveling and “unleveling” equipment, greens constructors grade the surface of a green to provide hills and hollows along the surface of the green moving from the perimeter thereof toward the cup. 
     As a result, the contours encountered by a ball traveling in a more-or-less direct line along the green toward a cup are anything but a direct line. A ball may be rolled to one side, another, or both on its path toward the cup. However, conventional artificial golfing greens, office carpets, and the like do not provide an ability to replicate the lateral contours or vertical variations along longitudinal lateral lines orthogonal to the putting direction between a putting club and the golf cup on a golfing green. 
     What is needed is a structure and method replicating true contours, feel, appearance, action, lie, and positioning in a lightweight, portable economical artificial putting system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a practice green that provides adjustable contours, including multiple adjustable contours, that may be changed in vertical elevation, provide different vertical elevations at opposing ends of a laterally placed line across the practice green, and provide multiple instances of variable contour lines laterally extending lines) along a longitudinal trajectory between a golf ball and the cup of a putting green. 
     Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus and method are disclosed, in suitable detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. In certain embodiments an apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention may include a mat having a “green” layer on top and a structural member or tension layer below, separated by an intermediate web or spacing pad. Stringers (flexible longitudinal rods) may provide continuity or smoothing of the longitudinal variations in height along the green. Cross members may provide elevation changes along the longitudinal direction or access a lateral direction of the green. 
     Feet on each of the cross members may be independently adjustable to provide a “cant” from one side to the other, or vice versa, at any contour along the longitudinal direction. A pedestal or deck may be provided for a user. The user may adjust the height of the deck arbitrarily in order to be below, above, or level with the cup. Intermediate the deck and the cup, the contours may be adjusted individually, and on each side to create breaks right or left, rising or descending slopes to the cup, and multiple combinations thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mat portion of the apparatus in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the mat of FIG. 2 illustrating one variation of contours; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of feet suitable for supporting the cross members in the apparatus of FIGS. 1-4; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the individual feet of a foot assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the deck-supporting foot assembly for the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a race arm portion of the apparatus of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the race arm of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a swing arm of the apparatus of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the swing arm of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a putting green apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment of a stringer (longitudinal rod) and cross-beam system with a light-weight deck suitable for implementation in the apparatus of FIG. 15 in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of a construction for a light-weight user deck; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rail system and bracket assembly for supporting the stringers and mat of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pocket for receiving an end of a stringer of FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a portion of a cross-beam, fitted with adjustable legs and a labeled fastener in one embodiment of an apparatus of FIGS. 15-17; and 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cup for receiving golf balls in an apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 14, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is as broad as claimed herein. The illustrations are merely representative of certain, presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Those presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various modifications to the details of the Figures may easily be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, the following description of the Figures is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain presently preferred embodiments consistent with the invention as claimed. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, and FIGS. 1-21, generally, an apparatus  10  may have a surface  12  suitably configured to provide the texture of a golf green. The surface  12  may be supported as an upper surface  12  of a green layer  14 . That is, the green layer  14  may be carpet, mat, or some artificial material that provides the appropriate roughness, flexibility, stiffness, and the like to provide a desired stimp value that may be encountered on an actual golf green. 
     Below the green layer  14  a stiffener  16  or a filler layer  16  provides spacing and mechanical stiffness yet localized deflection. That is, the section modulus of the apparatus  10  or pad  20  may benefit from having a web  16  or filler  16  below the green layer  14 . Thus, the surface  12  may undulate more smoothly and appropriately, rather than providing localized areas of excessive flexibility, or discontinuities of curvature. 
     In one embodiment, a tension layer  18  may be positioned, secured, set, or bonded to the filler layer  16 . The layer  18  may be fabric, plastic, cardboard, or the like, in various embodiments. It may be continuous or sectional. Thus, a “sandwich” of the green layer  14 , and tension layer  18  capturing the filler layer  16  therebetween forms a mat  20 . The mat  20  forms the upper part of the apparatus  10  or artificial green  10 . 
     A user may stand at a height (vertical displacement) different from that of a cup  22  associated with a green surface  12 . The surface  12  under user may be higher, lower, or even with the surface  12  at the cup  22 . Accordingly, a deck  24  may underlie the mat  20 . In selected embodiments, the deck  24  may actually replace the filler layer  16  and tension layer  18  under the green layer  14  in the area of the deck  24 . Fasteners may connect the green layer  14  to the deck  24 , while other members  46  push the cup region of the layer  14  away in tension. 
     In certain embodiments, a backstop  26  may stop a ball that misses the cup  22  in practice. Absorbing energy, the backstop may bring a ball to a rest, rather than returning it. Likewise, the backstop  26  may otherwise provide a natural or unnatural mechanism for stopping an overshoot in a confined space. 
     In general, the green may have directions  28   a,    28   b,    28   c.  The directions  28  correspond to a longitudinal direction  28   a,  with respect to the apparatus  10 , a lateral direction  28   b  across the apparatus  10 , and a transverse direction  28   c  that is substantially vertical for practical purposes. In certain preferred embodiments of an apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention, a ball is stroked, struck, or otherwise urged (by a standing user) in a longitudinal direction  28   a  from the surface of the green layer  14  above the deck  24  toward the cup  22 . Adjustment of the elevators  30  in the transverse direction  28   c  provides contours urging the ball to break (drift) in a lateral direction  28   b  as a result. 
     The elevators  30  may include multiple feet  32 . In certain embodiments, the elevators  30  may be closer or farther apart in a longitudinal direction  28   a.  In one embodiment, the feet  32  of the elevators  30  may actually be a stack  30  of multiple feet  32 . In order to accommodate the lowest elevation  28   c  for the green layer  14 , or more properly, the green surface  12 , the feet  32  may be turned to provide a nominal elevation. In other embodiments, a selected foot  32  may be rotated centrically or eccentrically (see FIG. 5) about a cross beam  34  to provide additional variations of height at any particular location of a foot  32 . Thus, every foot  32  may be independently positionable. 
     In certain alternate embodiments, the cross beams  34  may have feet  32  permanently attached. For example, a hexagonal foot  32  attached to one end of a cross beam  34  in an eccentric manner may be simply rotated like about the longitudinal axis of the cross beam  34  to provide a change in height. However, for compactness, portability, and the like, multiple feet  32 , having various distinct heights  25   a,  but a common width  25   b,  and a common thickness  25   c,  may provide superior performance. In one presently preferred embodiment, the feet  32  may be formed of a durable, flexible plastic (e.g. polyethylene, other olefinics, polycarbonate, etc.) To bend in case of a user accidentally stepping off the and onto the green surface  12 . In reality, the green feels so real that users forget, and step toward the cup  22 . 
     Fasteners  36  may connect the feet  32  to the respective cross beams  34 . Likewise, fasteners or clamps  36  may connect the cross beams  34  to the mat  20 . 
     As a practical matter, contours  40  are side-to-side elevation changes. Meanwhile, the contours  42  are end-to-end elevation changes. Rotating the proper foot  32  into position at the end of a cross beam  34  provides a distinct elevation for any particular contour  40  desired. An adjustment of a foot  32  to provide a particular contour  40  will also effect a contour  42 . However, contours  42  are created by placing the feet  32  of adjacent cross beams  34  at different elevations. The contours  40  are created by positioning feet  32  of a shared cross beam  34  at different elevations  28   c.    
     Referring to FIG. 4, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1-21, reinforcement webs  44  may be provided in order to render the deck  24  lighter and stronger. In certain embodiments, reinforcement webs  44  may be fabricated, molded or otherwise manufactured by any suitable method in order to provide the proper strength, weight, stiffness, and other mechanical properties required for the deck  24  to support a user thereon. 
     A flexible wall  46  of the cup  22  may be desirable. A small change in volume at one end of the mat  20  may provide for a considerably reduced overall size when the mat  20  is rolled up. Also, the weight of one or more golf balls in the cup  22  may distort or the green layer  14  nearby. Thus, in certain embodiments, a flexible wall  46  may be provided in the cup  22 ,  20  such that the cup  22  will extend or rest on an underlying surface. The flexible wall  46  allows the cup  22  to collapse virtually completely within the rolled up mat  20 , or conform closely to the mat  20 , when stored. 
     In certain embodiments, stringers  48  (spring-loaded or flexible rods) may provide flexible, yet somewhat stiff members. Actually, the stringers  48  may be designed to have a balance of flexibility and stiffness. Accordingly, the stringers  48  may pass over or through the cross beams  34  in such a manner as to support the mat  20  between the cross beams  34 , or, more properly, between adjacent cross beams  34 . Nevertheless, the stringers  48  are also flexible enough to move up and down over the cross beams  34  in order to provide the smoothly undulating change in elevation in the longitudinal  28   a  and transverse direction  28   c  to make contours  42 . 
     In one embodiment, stringers  48  may extend along the longitudinal direction  28   a.  Also, at least one of the stringers  48  may be restrained in an arcuate form in order to support the edges  49  of the green mat  20 . In alternate embodiments, the stringers may extend conformally along the mat  20  more-or-less all parallel (see FIG.  16 ). 
     The deck  24  may have adjustable swing arms  50 . Thus, the elevation of the deck  24  in the transverse direction  28   c  (approximately a vertical direction  28   c  for a horizontal mat  20 ) may be adjusted by the swing arms  50 . Typically, the swing arm  50  may be adjusted to make a level or untilted deck  24 . However, such is not required. The deck  24  may be raised, lowered, and canted in any direction, the stringers  48  maintaining continuity of position (deflection) and first and second derivatives thereof in a longitudinal direction  28   a  along the mat  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, while also referring to FIGS. 5 and 20, specifically, and FIGS. 1-21, generally, feet  32  may be provided in various lengths. The feet  32  may be provided with an aperture  52  that fits around the cross beam  34 . Each of the apertures  52  may receive a cross beam  34 , and suitable fasteners  36  may retain the assembly of feet  32  at one end of a cross beam  34 . Likewise, a clamp or fastener  36  may attach the mat  20  to a cross beam  34 . The cross beams  34  may be tubular, or solid rods. The cross section of a cross beam  34  may be rectangular or cylindrical. In one presently preferred embodiment, the cross beam  34  may be a right circular cylinder. Meanwhile, a restraint  56  and cap  58  may provide a an attachment for the feet  32 , securing the feet  32  in a lateral direction  28  along the cross beam  34 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 10-14, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1-21, a foot  70 , adjustable foot assembly, or simply an adjuster  70  may be secured to the deck  24 . In one embodiment, a race arm  72  provides a fixed member with respect to the deck  24 . A race arm  72  (an arm  72 , having a race  76  therein) may be fixedly mounted at an appropriate position on the deck  24 . Meanwhile, a swing arm  50  may connect about a pivot  75  to the race arm  72 . The swing arm  50 , in contrast to the race arm  72 , rotates about the pivot  75  in order to extend away from the deck  24 . 
     The race  76  or aperture  76  in the race arm  72  may describe an arcuate path. Actually, the path of the aperture  76  or race  76  is designed to produce an intersection with an aperture  78  provided in the swing arm  50 , such that movement of spindle  80  along aperture  76  is proportional to the vertical distance of the swing arm  50  below the deck  24 . The path of the aperture  78 , in one embodiment, may be straight. Nevertheless, the paths of each of the apertures  76 ,  78  may be designed to provide a particular performance in the locking of the swing arm  50  with respect to the race arm  72  in order to adjust the adjustable foot assembly  50 . 
     In one embodiment, a spindle  80  or axle  80  extends through both apertures  76  and  78 . Without a load (e.g., weight) applied to the swing arm  50 , the spindle  80  may be moved easily along the apertures  76 ,  78  to some suitable point. The swing arm  50  may be left loose to be easily moved when unloaded, yet to bind against the axle  80 . 
     The swing arm  50  will be extended to a particular height  82  or displacement  82  beyond the neutral or beginning position. Accordingly, the swing arm  50  may actually engage a supporting surface  84  with a portion  86  such as a corner  86 . In one presently preferred embodiment, the corner  86  may be configured as a smoothly radiused vertex of edges of the swing arm  50 . Accordingly, the swing arm  50  may easily contact the surface  84  at any position dictated by the position of the spindle  80 . 
     The spindle  80  may also be adjusted and locked by any suitable mechanism. For example, a thumb screw or knurled-head nut may be threaded onto the spindle  80  in order to clamp the swing arm  50  and race arm  72  together. Nevertheless, in certain embodiments, the binding force provided by angle of intersection of the arcuate aperture  76  and the straight aperture  78  is sufficient to hold the spindle  80  in any position to which it is moved without load. Thus, once load is applied, the spindle  80  binds, simply remaining even more thoroughly fixed in its position with respect to the arms  72 ,  50 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11-14, while also referring to FIGS. 1-21 generally, the swing arm  50  and the race arm  72  may be formed of any suitable material. For example, the arms  72 ,  50  may be formed of a durable plastic. In certain embodiments, machined aluminum has proven effective. Nevertheless, any material suitable for the structural requirements and the leverage advantage provided by the spindle  80  may be used. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11-14, a race arm  72  may include an aperture  76  for passing a connector  80  (e.g. a bolt, axle, rivet, pin, etc.) therethrough. A race  73  provides a shoulder for capturing a square head or the like of a retainer end on the connector  80  in order to slidably move the retainer and connector  80  (e.g. a bolt, etc.) along the aperture  76 . 
     In selected embodiments, a round-headed bolt  80  having a completely rectangular shank may serve adequately. In some embodiments, a rectangular head has been found superior, especially if sufficient bearing surface thereon adequately stabilizes the bolt normal (substantially perpendicular) to the outer surface  71  of the race arm  72 . 
     Apertures  77  for receiving fasteners (e.g. rivets, bolts, cap screws, machine screw, etc.) may be aligned to fit corresponding apertures and receiving assemblies in the deck  24 . Thus, the race arms  72  may attach securely to the deck  24 . 
     The swing arm  50  includes an aperture  78  for receiving a retainer therethrough. The retainer, passing perpendicular to the surfaces  71  of the swing arm  50  and the race arm  72  may be captured in the race  73  by the head, and by a corresponding adjuster  51 , (e.g. knob  51 ) at an opposite end. Between the ends, the fastener or retainer may extend through the arms  72 ,  50  to apply compression therebetween. Nevertheless, the geometry of the apertures  76 , 78  in the respective arms  72 ,  50  is shaped to provide binding through a designed application of force therebetween. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates various positions, in which forces applied by the deck  24  load cause the connector  80  or pin  80  to grip against the sides of the apertures  76 ,  78 , without any knurling, teeth, abrasives, or the like. Simple deflection of metallic parts with the angles of applied force are sufficient to bind the spindle  80  into place. The knob  51  functions primarily as a security mechanism, and to maintain the orientation of the pin  80  essentially perpendicular to the face of the race arm  72 . 
     Various apertures  77  in the race arm  72  secure the arm  72  to the deck  24 . By contrast, the apertures  77  in the swing arm  50  serve primarily as pivot points. A single aperture  77  is sufficient for the swing arm  50 . Nevertheless, for ease of manufacture in right and left-handed situations, providing two apertures  77  in each swing arm  50  allows inventory of a single part. Similar arrangements for the race arm  72  permit the outer face  71  to always be outward, whether on a right or a left side of the deck. 
     The ribs  79  may form structural stiffeners for reducing the material required for the arms  72 ,  50 . Ribs may be oriented in any suitable direction for providing the proper degree of stiffness and strength required. Using ribs  79 , the arms  72 ,  50  may be cast, molded, or forged of a suitable material at a lighter net weight, without sacrificing essential strength or stiffness. Since substantial leverage is applied by the deck to the arms  72 ,  50 , aluminum, filled plastic, or steel are suitable materials for providing rigidity, durability, stiffness, and so forth. 
     Referring to FIG. 16, in one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, a mat  20  may be laid across a surface rendered continuous as to height (position, deflection), change in height (slope or first derivative of deflection), and rate of change of slope (second derivative of deflection) in order to provide smoothly varied contours  40 ,  42 . In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the individual risers  30  or elevator systems  30  may all be virtually identical. Moreover, the individual cross-beams  34  may be identical in cross section and length. 
     For example, the wing  100  represents an extension of the mat  20  in a substantially rectangular arrangement in order to provide uniform tensioning of the mat  20 , and the green layer  14  particularly by the stringers  48 . By providing a substantially rectangular region ranging from the green layer  14  over the deck  24  to the underlying cross-beam  34  beyond the cup  22 , a fully tensioned mat  20  and fully tensioned green layer  14  provide the balance of continuity, stiffness, and flexibility required to replicate the rolling conditions and contour conditions of a putting green. 
     The semi-circle  102  or crescent region  102  beyond the cup  22 , with respect to the deck  24  supporting a user, is supported, but need not be supported in a fashion identical  5  to the remainder of the surface  12 . Accordingly, a properly constructed mat, including a suitable green layer  14 , filler  16 , and tension layer  18  or other support layer  18 , may adequately support the crescent region  102 . Balls missing the cup may collect near the backstop  26  and require support from the stringers  48 . 
     In one embodiment, fasteners  104  may anchor pockets  47  to the mat  20 . The fasteners  104  may benefit from a durable and substantially rigid construction in order to assure a uniformity and permanence of the tensioning ability of stringers  48  underlying the mat  20 . Also, in one embodiment, the stringers  48  and crossbeams  34  may be constructed to provide a single effective surface defined by the uppermost edges thereof. In one presently preferred embodiment, the stringers  48  are actually set into slots  170  (see FIG. 20) formed in the cross-beams  34 , in order to provide a fully supported, smooth, single surface for resting the mat  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, label tabs  106  may contain information regarding settings of the feet  32  of the elevators  30  to achieve a set of standard contours. For example, the labels  106  may contain numbered or otherwise sequenced settings which correspond to a predefined contour for each respective elevator  30 . Thus, for example, one may read a label  106  to identify a specific setting number. Juxtaposed to the setting number, provided on each individual label  106 , a user may move the leg specified by a particular setting number to a deployed position at that respective elevator station  30 . Thus, with no complexity or real effort, a user may walk around the apparatus  10 , selecting and setting each respective elevator  30  to use the appropiate leg  32  as defined by a label  106  to achieve a particular setting number or countour setting. Thus, contained within the apparatus  10 , is a set of standard contours. 
     Each of the contours  40 ,  42  may be specifically designed by a golf-course architect. For example, in one embodiment of the apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention, well known and respected architects of golf courses have determined actual contours built into famous golf greens around the world. Accordingly, the apparatus  10  may be adjusted by setting each elevator  30  to the individual leg  32  identified in the respective label  106  to achieve the specific green contour for a known green. 
     Moreover, the deck  24 , by virtue of the adjustable feet  32  may be raised or lowered in order to provide an uphill lie toward the cup  22 , a downhill lie toward the cup  22 , with a user actually standing on the green layer  14  that will receive the ball. Thus, in contravention to most prior art attempts at golfing greens, an apparatus  10  may be fabricated with so little variation in a transverse direction  28   c  that the ball will not hop or skip after being stroked by the club of a user. 
     In one embodiment, the label tabs  106  may actually form a portion of the fastening structure for securing the beams  34  under the mat  20 . The labels  106  or label tabs  106  may simply be a manifestation on the green layer  14  or the surface  12  of underlying structures penetrating through the mat  20  for securing the beams  34  in place along the mat  20 . 
     The backstop  26  may be formed of a variety of materials. In certain embodiments, an open cell foam has been found suitable for ready deployment, and straightforward stowage. For example, open cell foam that readily expands may be selected. Yet, may collapse under pressure when the mat  20  is separated from its substructure and rolled for storage. The slope  108  or taper  108  is optional, but may provide a termination for suitable support in securing the backstop  26  to the surface  12  of the mat  20  and transmitting without a omer left out to snag. A rounded cross-sectional area in the backstop  26  may provide an improved appearance by eliminating any corners that may or may not properly fold and expand upon storage or deployment. 
     Tension  110  in the mat  20  is a new and effective mechanism for maintaining a smoothly undulating surface  12 , within the smoothness of a suitable golfing green. As a practical matter, the green layer  14  is formed of a material, in certain embodiments, having a selected series of fibers, having colors, stiffnesses, cross-sectional areas, lengths, material properties, anchoring mechanisms, and comparative densities, as well as population fractions, suitable for providing a designed stimp rating. Moreover, the properties of the underlying mat  20  provide the right stiffness and local softness in the overall mat  20  to provide a pre-designed, specified stimp rating for each of the apparatus  10  produced. 
     The tension  110  is significant in preventing the small discontinuities, bumps, ridges, and other flaws that may exist in a surface  12  in other attempts to provide a suitable surface  12 . Moreover, setup is simple, easy and repeatable, not dependent on the “lay of the land” and a flexible “rug.” Prior art systems for golfing on an artificial green often cannot match the true stimp rating of a green, because the stimp rating is dependent partly on soils, with the appropriate deflections thereof, as well as on the stiffness and densities, as well as varieties, of the grasses on the green. The tension  110  provides a mechanism for repeatably smoothing and stiffening the green layer  14 , while still allowing a degree deflection of the green layer  14  by a golf ball rolling thereon. In one embodiment, the synthetic grasses provided in the green layer  14  actually have a sheen suitable for “reading” a green. Thus, a user can detect, due to the lack of localized uniforming in the green layer  14 , each of the breaks or contours  40 ,  42  in the surface  12  of the green layer  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 16, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 15-21, an apparatus  10  may provide stringers  48  of various lengths. In certain embodiments, the stringers  48  all extend from the deck  24  to positions beyond a most distant cross-beam  34 . The stringers  48  cross each, and in some circumstances every, cross-beam  34 . Extension of selected stringers  48  beyond the cup  22  can assure that the contours  40 ,  42  are enforced along the entire distance between the deck  24  and the cup  22 . 
     In certain embodiments, tension in the stringers  48  is provided by connectors  116 . In certain embodiments, the connectors  116  may be metal tubes sized to receive stringers  48 . Compression springs, having one end enlarged somewhat to provide a substantial frictional contact with the inside of each of the tubes, remain in place but resist intrusion of the stringers  48 . 
     Thus, the connectors  116  actually serve as tensioners  116  providing a pre-determined amount of tension force in the mat  20 , in accordance with the net compressive force exerted by each of the springs of the tensioners  116 . By properly spacing the stringers  48 , each panel  118  of the mat  20  may be substantially identical in size and shape, and loaded exactly as every other panel  118 . 
     In certain embodiments, the underlying tensioning layer  18  (so-called because it may sometimes provide a beam-like flange layer to the filler  16 ) may be formed of a variety of materials. For example, in certain embodiments, the tension layer  118  may include a fabric, woven or non-woven. In other embodiments, thin plastic sheets having a balance of flexibility and rigidity may be placed across the stringers  48 . In other embodiments, corrugated cardboard panels may be placed across the stringers  48 . Thus, various versions of a tension layer  18  may be the layer  18 , adjacent the filler  16  and opposite the green layer  14 . 
     The swing arms  50  secured by the race arms  72  to the deck  24  may provide a portion of a framing structure for the deck  24 . In one embodiment, a rail  114  may be formed of metal, word, or plastic, for providing protection, support, rigidity, fastening stability, and the like for the deck  24 . For example, in one embodiment, a rail  114  may be positioned to support the stringers  48  by brackets  94  secured thereto. The brackets  94  may capture each respective stringer against the rail  114 . Thus, sections of rail  114  may together form a frame  98  for the deck  24 . In certain embodiments, the rail  114  may be formed in a manner to be reversible for various tasks. 
     The swing arms  50  may be released by the adjusters  51  or knobs  51  for extending below the deck  24 . Accordingly, the height adjustment for each of the swing arms  50  may correspond to a range of height adjustment for each of the elevators  30 . Accordingly, a user may stand at any relative height between a minimum and maximum value for the deck, while putting toward an upward lie or downward lie toward the cup  22 . 
     Intervening swells, or rises, along the stringers  48  may be provided by adjustment of the feet  32 . Similarly, a left-to-right break, or a right-to-left break, may be provided along a contour  40 ,  42  corresponding to each individual beam  34 . Thus, notwithstanding any net gain or loses in altitude between a deck  24  and the cup  22 , intervening contours  40 ,  42  may provide intermediate loss or gain longitudinally  28   a  between the deck  24  and cup  22 , or laterally  28   b  from side-to-side along any beam  34 . 
     Referring to FIG. 17, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1-21, certain embodiments of a deck  24  may include a frame  120 , such as may be fabricated from various members  122 ,  124  of wood, plastic, or the like. In certain embodiments, wood members  122 ,  124  are secured together by fasteners  126  in a rectangular arrangement. Certain members  124  may receive fasteners, such as anchored nuts  128 . Anchored nuts  128  are convenient for securing the race arms  72  of the swing arm  50  on the deck  24 . 
     In certain highly functional embodiments, a foam core  130  of a suitable material, such as an expanded polystyrene plastic, may provide protection against bowing of surrounding decks  132  or sheaths  132 . The foam core  130  may protect against collapse in beam bending or columnar buckling between the sheaths  132 . Moreover, the foam core  130  may distribute load thereacross. The foam core  130  may not typically support a localized load well. Nevertheless, once a load has been distributed by the sheaths  132 , the foam core  130  may provide substantial support while adding minimal weight itself. 
     The sheaths  132  may be formed of a laminated plywood in order to provide support for tension therethrough. Accordingly, each of the sheaths  132  may distribute a tension and compression load between the pairs of frame members  122  and between the pairs of frame members  124 . Moreover, it has been found advantageous to provide a phenolic laminate, or other polymeric laminate as a skin  134  over the sheath  132 . Together, the sheath  132  and skin  134  provide a superior support for tension and compression loads across the frame  120 , and localized support for the weight of a user. 
     A deck  24  made in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 17 experiences a minimal deflection due to a user standing thereon, while providing extremely light weight. A deflection of ⅛ inch or less is typical for a user. This deflection actually corresponds approximately to the deflection a user would experience in standing on an actual green. The green layer  14  overlying the deck  24  provides the sense to a user of being on an actual green, behaving like an actual green. 
     In certain embodiments, a strip of hook-and-loop material (e.g., velcro™ brand fastener) for supporting tension on the mat  20 . The mat  20  may be secured along the deck skin  134  by hook-and-loop fastening material, to support tension provided by the stringers  48 . 
     Referring to FIG. 18, one embodiment of a rail  114  may be an extrusion formed to provide a lip  138  for registering against the deck  24 . For example, the skin  134  may fit against the lip  138  while the framing  120  may contact a prong  142 . Another portion of the frame  120  may secure to a plate  140  or face  140  of the rail  114  by fasteners  142 . Similarly, fasteners  142  may anchor through the lip  138  to the framing  120 . 
     In certain embodiments, the rail  114  may be positioned with the lip  138  on top of the frame  120 , providing an offset due to the plate  140 . Thus, on the back and two side edges of the frame  120 , the plate  140  provides an offset suitable for lifting by fingers of a user underneath the rail  114 . In an alternative position, such as at the front edge of the deck  24 , a rail  114  may be secured as illustrated in FIG.  18 . Thus, the rail  114  provides a web  144  extending substantially across a plane  120  (a height thereof) to support fasteners  146  securing brackets  94  thereto. 
     The brackets  94  receive stringers into apertures  150 . Apertures in the web  144  and/or the deck  24  (frame  120 ) improve performance of the stringers. The apertures  150  may have open edges  148  so the stringers actually register with the shelf  152  for supporting the mat  20  all in a single surface. The single surface is defined by the top edges of all of the beams  34  and the stringers  48 , as well as the top surface of the shelf  152 . 
     The gap or relief  153  provided by the shelf  152 , offset by the size of the plate  140 , is sized to receive the mat  20 , or, more properly, the filler  16 , and any optional tension layer  18  that may be therebelow. The green layer  14 , by contrast, overlies both the filler resting on the shelf  152 , and the deck  24  itself. The smoothness (e.g. continuities) of the green layer  14  may be maintained by providing tolerances of less that {fraction (1/16)} inch variation in the height of the deck  24 , the plate  140 , and the upper surface of the filler  16 . Accordingly, no skip or hop is experienced by the ball in passing along the green layer  14  on the path between the deck  24  and the cup  22 . Minor bumps such as may cause a hop, may thus be eliminated over a wide range of contours in certain embodiments. 
     Referring to FIG. 19, a pocket  47  may form a way  154  for receiving an end of a stringer  48 . In certain embodiments, a pocket  47  may be formed of a fabric. However, in other embodiments, the stiffness of a polymeric or resin-based pocket  47  may provide additional reliability and uniformity in application of tension  110  to the mat  20 . For example, the pocket  47  of FIG. 19 may have walls  156  extending beside a stringer  48 , for maintaining side-to-side (lateral  28   b ) orientation, for both position and angular orientation. The wall  156  may support both position (deflection) and the first derivative of deflection. 
     In certain embodiments, tabs  158  may extend on each side of the walls  156 . A collar  160  may serve to capture the ends of each stringer  48  in three dimensions. The collar  160  forms a shortened capture mechanism to reduce the amount of end-to-end deflection that must be provided in the stringers  48  in order to be captured within the collar  160 . The collar  160  is capped in one presently preferred embodiment. Thus, the collar  160  supports the tension  110 , since the stringer  48  cannot penetrate through or pass the collar  160 . 
     Apertures  162  may receive fasteners  104  securing the pockets  47  to the mat  20 . The size of the tabs  158 , and the fasteners  104  received through the apertures  162  may be designed to further distribute forces in the mat  20 , reducing localized distortions. Long tabs  158  may spread the tension load  110  in the mat  20 . Orientation of the tabs  158  on the mat  20  may also serve to eliminate kinks and ridges due to nonuniform tensioning  110  between stringers  48  and along the stringers  48 . 
     Referring to FIG. 20, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1-21, a beam  34  and elevator  30  may mount to the mat  20  by means of a fastener  56  or mount  56  having an end that is affixed to the end of the crossbeam  34  and an end  166  that passes through apertures  52  and onto which a cap  58  is affixed, capturing feet  32 . Other apertures  168  in posts  169  may receive the labeling tabs  106 . 
     In certain embodiments, the apertures  168  are oriented substantially vertically to intersect with an underside of the mat  20 . Meanwhile, slots  170  formed in the beams  34  receive the stringers  48 . The bottom edges  172  of the slots  170  tend to align the beams  34  in a circumferential direction with the stringers. Since an end of mount  56  is affixed into the end of crossbeam  34 . The apertures  168  are held perpendicular to the mat  20  so as not to deform the mat. 
     In one presently preferred embodiment, the top edges of the stringers  48  are aligned with the top edges  150  of the slots  170 . Accordingly, the top edges  174  and the tops of the stringers  48  form a surface, in a mathematical sense, defining the position of the bottom surface of the mat  20 . 
     A web  176  sufficient to provide structural continuity in the mount  56  may extend between the apertures  168  and surrounding material. Similarly, a stop  177  may limit the insertion of the mount into the crossbeam  34 . 
     In certain embodiments, the label tabs  106  may have additional structure including actual labeling  178  containing messages, on a label piece  180 . The piece  180  may be visible on top of surface  12  of the green layer  14 , and secured by prongs  182  fitted to the apertures  168 . The prongs  182  may penetrate through the mat  20 , thus being received and captured in the apertures  168  of the post  169 . The prongs  182  may selectively and removably clip into the apertures  168  to render the substructure (beams  34  and stringers  48 ) completely removable. Like the cup  22 , the backstop  26  is easily collapsible, but has excellent mechanical memory for returning to an upright position after storage. Thus, the entire mat  20  may be rolled up and put into a compact, lightweight bundle. 
     The beam  34  may be secured by the mount  56  to the mat  20  by means of the labeling tab  106 . The actual text  178  or label information  178  may include various information. However, in certain embodiments, the labeling  178  actually contains setting values for adjusting the feet  32  in order to achieve a specific contour pattern. Thus, the labeling  178  serves as a template mechanism for identifying a specific set of leg positions defining a contour of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 21, a cup  22  suitable for inclusion in the apparatus  10 , may be formed of a flexible wall to extend a distance below the mat  20 . In certain embodiments, a hollow bottom member  23  may provide a suitable feedback to a user. The satisfying thunk of a ball striking the bottom of a cup  22  may be achieved by providing a hollow wooden or plastic bottom  23  secured by a fastener  188  around the bottom end of the flexible wall  46 . 
     Similarly, a suitable fastener (e.g., a label tie, a band, or the like) may secure a top ring  186  to the flexible wall  46 . The top ring  186  may fit just below the green layer  14 , below the filler layer  16 , or the like. If the top ring  186  is formed of a sufficiently thin material, no relief may be required in the filler  16 . In an alternative embodiment, a dimension of the top ring  186  may be accommodated by a certain amount of relief provided in the filler layer  16  for receiving the top ring  186 . Thus, again, no disturbance to the net height of the green layer  14  need be experienced at the surface  12  by a ball rolling toward the cup  22 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.