Abstract: A golf system comprising a reconfigurable golf green having a hole for receiving a golf ball, wherein the reconfigurable golf green includes a plurality of movable golf green sections (e.g. wherein the movable golf green sections are provided in a reconfigurable array).

Abstract: A golf course greens cup chemical protector can prevent chemical treatments from entering the golf greens cup, preventing staining and corrosion of the cup caused by the chemical treatments that otherwise would get inside the greens cup. When the greens cup chemical protector is placed over the cup prior to application of chemical treatments, the device prevents any spray chemical or granular chemical from entering the golf cup, making the task of cleaning the cup after chemical treatment no longer necessary. The greens cup chemical protector can include a handle for easy removal and placement. A bottom stabilization device can be smaller than the soil area above the cup to prevent the soil area above the cup from being altered or compromised when removing the device. The device can be made of a material resistant to the chemical treatments being applied.

Abstract: A golf cup guard for placement on a golf cup. The body portion is conical and shaped to prevent material from entering a golf cup. There is a handle to assist in placement and removal of the golf cup guard. The golf cup guard may prevent excess paint, fertilizer, sand, or other materials from falling into the golf cup.

Abstract: A golf putting game apparatus comprises a ramp, a plurality of selectable rings, and a ball return mechanism. The ramp comprises a durable body having a horizontal surface portion at an upper end. The ramp is disposed with a suitable golf putting surface. The plurality selectable rings further comprise a large round target hole, a support assembly, and a plurality of concentric targets. The support assembly comprises a plurality of small horizontal supports which extends inward from a bottom edge of the target hole. The plurality of concentric targets comprise a plurality of flat concentric rings which fit inside each other, with the largest fitting correspondingly inside the inner perimeter of the target hole. The ball return mechanism comprises a return chute which returns a golf ball to the side of the ramp upon successfully placing the ball in the target. By selectively placing a desired number of concentric targets, a user may shrink the diameter of the target in order to increase the difficulty.

Abstract: A putting training device designed to be inserted into a conventional golf hole to variably decrease the width of the hole while closely maintaining the original depth or length of the hole. The device includes an outer component enabling insertion into a regulation golf hole. The outer component includes a pair of opposing top planar members that serve to reduce width of the opening of the golf hole, but still allowing a regulation golf ball to fall into the hole, all while closely maintaining the original depth, or length from front to back, of the golf hole. The putting training device also includes an inner component that removably nests inside the outer component further reducing the width of the golf hole, while still allowing a regulation golf ball to fall into the hole, while still closely maintaining the original depth of the golf hole.

Abstract: A one piece, golf accessory formed from a flexible thin flat plastic sheet which assembles into a three dimensional golf target structure and maybe disassembled. The three dimensional golf target structure includes a rounded cup with a backboard above it having wings extending to either side of the cup capable of guiding a golf ball to the cup. The wings each have a ground insertion spike to hold them in position on the ground above the cup. The cup has a bottom to capture a golf ball. The is cup sized and designed to fit into a regulation sized golf hole with a target on the center of the backboard for a golfer to aim at.

Abstract: A golf green for a patio, deck, floor, substrate or supporting surface with access from below to cut a hole therein includes a U-shaped cup retaining structure mounted to the substrate underside adjacent the hole and into which a cup is slidably inserted and seated in alignment with the hole and the cup having a passageway into which a plug is inserted with the plug having a through hole for receiving the lower end of the golf flag staff, a plurality of ring inserts for placement within the cup to alter the cup diameter and refine golf putting practice, a cover for placement over the cup to conceal the hole so that the substrate, such as the patio, can be safely traversed, and a ball collection apparatus disposed underneath the substrate and into which balls fall by gravity for collection and eventual retrieval.

Abstract: A removable hole cover for golf greens includes a generally disk-shaped spacer received within the interior of the hole assembly. The spacer provides a support surface upon which a plug of artificial turf is supported. The spacer is sized and shaped to position and support the plug of artificial turf in general alignment with the turf surrounding the golf hole assembly. In an alternate embodiment, a molded plastic cover includes a cylindrical body receivable within the upper portion of the golf hole assembly and a generally disk-shaped cover joined thereto.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that the diagnosis and prediction of clinical behavior in patients with hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia, can be accomplished by analysis of proteins present in a plasma sample. Thus, in particular embodiments the present invention uses plasma to create a diagnostic or prognostic protein profile of a hematologic malignancy comprising collecting plasma samples from a population of patients with hematologic malignancies; generating protein spectra from the plasma samples with or without fractionation; comparing the protein spectra with clinical data; and identifying protein markers in the plasma samples that correlate with the clinical data. Protein markers identified by this approach can then be used to create a protein profile that can be used to diagnose the hematologic malignancy or determine the prognosis of the hematologic malignancy. Potentially these specific proteins can be identified and targeted in the therapy of these malignancies.

Abstract: A golf cup insert has an integral annular outer flange resting on an inner annular ring molded into a vertical hole in a portable golf practice panel. The vertical hole has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the golf cup insert and flange. Multiple exterior arches along an outside annular wall of the golf cup insert engage slots in the inner annular ring so that by dropping the golf cup insert into the vertical hole the arches slide through the slots. A turn of the golf cup insert locks the insert in place, but permits the cup insert to move transversely in the vertical hole.

Abstract: A golf cup insert has an integral annular outer flange resting on an inner annular ring molded into a vertical hole in a portable golf practice panel. The vertical hole has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the golf cup insert and flange. Multiple exterior arches along an outside annular wall of the golf cup insert engage slots in the inner annular ring so that by dropping the golf cup insert into the vertical hole the arches slide through the slots. A turn of the golf cup insert locks the insert in place, but permits the cup insert to move transversely in the vertical hole.

Abstract: A golf hole device having an advertisement printed on the upper surface thereof, wherein the device is placed at the bottom of a standard golf hole cup, thus permitting viewing of the advertisement upon retrieval of a golf ball from the golf hole.

Abstract: A golf insert designed to at least partially obstruct a golf ball from dropping into a golf hole. The golf insert includes a cover that at least partially obstructs the opening in a golf hole, and a cover mount to secure the cover in place about the golf hole. The cover mount is designed to provide easy insertion and removal of the cover about the golf hole. The cover can be configured so as to use the golf hole insert as a golf novelty and/or as a skill enhancing tool.

Abstract: A hole liner and/or post mounting, such as a golf hole cup (10), has a removable end cap (18), for blanking an otherwise exposed lower end of a mounting stem bore (15) for a removable post, such as a flag stick (36); an integrated end cap and optional closure plate variant has a conical, rib bladed, tapered mounting spike profile, for ground penetration and engagement, to promote installed hole cup stability.

Abstract: A multi-part liner for a golf hole comprised of a component visible to a golfer, an interior transverse component which can support a golf ball and a sleeve component depending from the transverse component which can support a golf flag pin in an upright position. It is further characterized in that the components may be made from different materials and are removably mounted with respect to each for replacement of worn or abused components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the creation and covering of holes on golf greens and the like is disclosed, designed as a system and method by which holes in natural or synthetic playing surfaces can be created and then covered when not in use. The present invention comprises an hollow, cylindrical insert. One end of the insert is open. Holes are located on the other end to allow water to pass out of the insert. The insert is placed permanently into the ground at a location where a hole is desired by pressing the insert into a hole created by a standard auger tool. A pointed protrusion keeps the insert from rotating once the insert is placed in the ground. The insert is designed to be used as a golf cup on a green or with stanchion supports for other sporting equipment that may be used with soccer, baseball, football, and the like. A flat, circular cap screws into the top of the insert. The cap has a covering of synthetic grass which matches the surrounding surface area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf cup insert for reducing the size of the hole of a golf cup so that a player is able to putt towards a smaller cup. The cup insert can be inserted into and fixed positionally in the cup so that the upwardly facing end of the insert will present a hole whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of a conventional golf cup and which is located flush with the surface of the ground surrounding the cup. The insert includes a cup insert member whose largest outer diameter is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the cup and has at its bottom an axially adjustable support which when the insert is inserted into the cup, supports against the bottom thereof and enables the upwardly facing side of the cup to be adjusted to the level of the surface surrounding the golf cup, depending on the depth of the cup.

Abstract: A putting practice device in which the diameter of the ball-receiving cup of the device can be made smaller or larger to sharpen the putting skills of the golfer. Additionally, the ball-receiving copy of the device is designed so that golf balls entering the cup during the practice session will automatically roll outwardly therefrom by force of gravity.

Abstract: A method of instruction for improving actual play of golf, which method comprises the following steps: hitting golf balls to a golf swing touch trainer, which embraces a portably-sized, substantially flat web material having a transverse dimension about one-half foot to about three feet, a top horizontal surface, and a bottom horizontal surface generally in vertical registry with and essentially parallel to the top surface, a peripheral boundary; having a substantially thin side profile less than about 1/8 of an inch such that a golf ball can roll across the peripheral boundary from, and to, a surface on which the trainer can be placed and onto, and off, the top surface of the web material without being substantially impeded in its travel; having a dark color or shade so as to be able to simulate a hole or easily discernible area, which can be impressionable and memorable as to an aiming area to be employed in real play after use of the trainer, and having within the peripheral boundary a single internal targ

Abstract: A putting practice device for inserting into a conventional golf hole to variably decrease the diameter of the hole. The putting practice device includes an outer ring-shaped member and an inner ring shaped member which have planar top and bottom surfaces. Both the outer and inner members define central holes having diameters which are smaller than the diameter of a conventional golf hole and greater than the diameter of a conventional golf ball. The inner member removably nests inside the central hole of the outer member. The outer side of the outer member is beveled at an angle of between 15 and 25 degrees to facilitate the insertion and secure alignment of the putting device within a conventional golf hole. The planar bottom surface of the putting device allows the device to be tapped over the turf of a putting green with a foot or golf club without snagging on the blades of grass.

Abstract: A golf practice hole with a variable diameter rim provides a flexible material positioned over a series of radially-movable supports that each define a portion of an edge or rim of a hole. The flexible material is typically provided with expansion areas that can include slits that define separate flaps of material. The flaps of material are tensioned beneath the movable supports to maintain the flaps in engagement with the supports. As the supports are moved radially-inwardly and radially-outwardly, the material follows the supports and defines a continuous surface above the rim throughout a range of movement of the supports. The range of movement defines a corresponding range of hole rim diameters. The flexible surface remains free of discontinuities and breaks despite diametral changes in the rim and provides an improved playing surface.

Abstract: A new and improved yard golf game comprised of a plurality of golf clubs. Included in the game are a plurality of hazards each having two spikes extending from a bottom portion thereof. The two spikes serve to embed the hazards into the yard. Included in the game are a plurality of golf holes each having a bottom portion and a cylindrical side wall extending perpendicularly upward therefrom. The cylindrical side wall terminates in an open upper periphery. The bottom portion has an aperture formed therethrough. Included in the game are a plurality of lids. Each lid is adapted to be received within open upper periphery of the plurality of golf holes. Included in the game are a plurality of golf balls. The golf balls are adapted to be received within the plurality of golf holes.