Golf scoring computer system - Patent Review 5949679

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf players playing golf on a golf course using a computer system including at least one main computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining in the main computer a plurality of golf participants from the plurality of golf players, wherein at least one of the golf participants includes two or more players playing a common ball;

(b) defining in the main computer a plurality of competitions of the golf participants, wherein a first one of the golf participants is teamed with a second one of the golf participants in a first competition and the first golf participant is teamed with a different golf participant in a second competition; wherein the second competition is a simulation competition

(c) assigning a scoring format to each of the plurality of competitions;

(d) providing raw score data of the golf participants to the main computer;

(e) calculating, using the main computer, a competition score for each golf participant for each of the plurality of competitions in which the golf participant is playing, wherein each competition score is based on the raw score data and the scoring format assigned to the respective competition; and

(f) outputting the competition scores.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes one or more remote computers, each remote computer being associated with a hole of the golf course, and wherein the providing step (d) comprises the steps of receiving into one of the remote computers a raw score for a particular hole for a particular one of the golf participants and communicating the raw score for the particular golf participant to the main computer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of communicating the raw score for the particular golf participant to each of the remote computers using the main computer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of selectively communicating from the main computer the raw score for the particular golf participant to a subset of the remote computers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the subset consists of all of the remote computers save the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the subset consists of each of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the outputting step comprises the step of communicating the competition scores to each of the remote computers using the main computer.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the subset consists of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received and the remote computer associated with the hole played immediately prior to the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the defining step (b) includes the steps of receiving the simulation competition from an input device coupled to the main computer, wherein the simulation competition includes some of the golf participants in one of the plurality of competitions; and

the assigning step (c) further includes the steps of receiving a simulation scoring format for the simulation competition from the input device,

wherein a simulation competition score is calculated for each golf participant in the simulation competition using the raw score data for the golf participants in the simulation competition and the simulation scoring format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the simulation competition is a secondary competition.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

periodically transmitting the raw scoring data received by the main computer to a server computer coupled to the main computer;

receiving with the server computer the simulation competition from a client computer coupled to the server computer via the internet, wherein the simulation competition includes some of the golf participants of one of the plurality of competitions; and

receiving with the server computer a simulation scoring format for the simulation competition from the client computer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the server computer calculates a simulation competition score for each golf participants in the simulation competition using the raw score data for the golf participants of the simulation competition and the simulation scoring format.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the server computer transmits the raw score data for the golf participants in the simulation competition to the client computer for calculation of simulation competition scores by the client computer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the simulation competition is a secondary competition.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step (d) comprises the steps of:

receiving the raw score data in a remote computer associated with a hole on the golf course; and

communicating the raw score data to the main computer via a wireless communication network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communicating step comprises the steps of selecting a communications protocol from a plurality of communications protocols and formatting the raw score data based on the selected communications protocol.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises the step of communicating the competition scores to a remote computer associated with a hole on the golf course via a wireless communications network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communicating step comprises the steps of selecting a communications protocol from a plurality of communications protocols and formatting the competition scores based on the selected communications protocol.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes the step of defining in the main computer each scoring format, wherein each scoring format includes scoring methods for a plurality of holes of the competition, and wherein a scoring method for a first one of the holes differs from a scoring method for a second one of the holes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the scoring method for the first one of the holes uses different raw stroke data than the scoring method of the second one of the holes.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the scoring method for the first one of the holes uses the raw stroke data for one of the golf participants playing from a first color tee and the scoring format for the second one of the holes uses the raw stroke data for the one golf participant playing from a different color tee.

22. The method of claim 1, further including defining in the main computer a third competition of golf participants, wherein the first golf participant is teamed with a third golf participant different than both the second golf participant and the different golf participant.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the first golf participant is a golf participant which includes two or more players playing a common ball.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second golf participant is a golf participant which includes two or more players playing a common ball.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the different golf participant is a golf participant which includes two or more players playing a common ball.

26. A computer system, including at least one main computer, for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf players playing golf on a golf course, comprising:

(a) means for defining in the main computer a plurality of golf participants from the plurality of golf players, wherein at least one of the participants includes two or more players playing a common ball;

(b) means for defining in the main computer a plurality of competitions of the golf participants, wherein a first one of the golf participants is teamed with a second one of the golf participants in a first competition and the first golf participant is teamed with a different golf participant in a second competition wherein the second competition is a simulation competition;

(c) means for assigning a scoring format to each of the plurality of competitions;

(d) means for providing raw score data of the golf participants to the main computer;

(e) means for calculating, using the main computer, a competition score for each golf participant for each of the plurality of competitions in which the golf participant is playing, wherein each competition score is based on the raw score data and the scoring format assigned to the respective competition; and

(f) means for outputting the competition scores.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer system further includes one or more remote computers, each remote computer being associated with a hole of the golf course, and wherein the providing means (d) comprises means for receiving into one of the remote computers a raw score for a particular hole for a particular one of the golf participants and means for communicating the raw score for the particular golf participant to the main computer.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for communicating the raw score for the particular golf participant to each of the remote computers using the main computer.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for selectively communicating from the main computer the raw score for the particular golf participant to a subset of the remote computers.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the subset consists of all of the remote computers save the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the subset consists of each of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the outputting means comprises means for communicating the competition scores to each of the remote computers using the main computer.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the subset consists of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received and the remote computer associated with the hole played immediately prior to the particular one of the holes for which the raw score was received.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the defining means (b) includes means for receiving the simulation competition from an input device coupled to the main computer, wherein the simulation competition includes some of the golf participants in one of the plurality of competitions; and

the assigning means (c) further includes means for receiving a simulation scoring format for the simulation competition from the input device,

wherein a simulation competition score is calculated for each golf participant in the simulation competition using the raw score data for the golf participants in the simulation competition and the simulation scoring format.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the simulation competition is a secondary competition.

36. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for periodically transmitting the raw scoring data received by the main computer to a server computer coupled to the main computer;

means for receiving with the server computer the simulation competition from a client computer coupled to the server computer via the internet, wherein the simulation competition includes some of the golf participants of one of the plurality of competitions; and

means for receiving with the server computer a simulation scoring format for the simulation competition from the client computer.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the server computer calculates a simulation competition score for each golf participants in the simulation competition using the raw score data for the golf participants of the simulation competition and the simulation scoring format.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the server computer transmits the raw score data for the golf participants in the simulation competition to the client computer for calculation of simulation competition scores by the client computer.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the simulation competition is a secondary competition.

40. The system of claim 26, wherein the providing means (d) comprises:

means for receiving the raw score data in a remote computer associated with a hole on the golf course; and

means for communicating the raw score data to the main computer via a wireless communication network.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the communicating means comprises means for selecting a communications protocol from a plurality of communications protocols and means for formatting the raw score data based on the selected communications protocol.

42. The system of claim 26, wherein the outputting means comprises means for communicating the competition scores to a remote computer associated with a hole on the golf course via a wireless communications network.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the communicating means comprises means for selecting a communications protocol from a plurality of communications protocols and formatting the competition scores based on the selected communications protocol.

44. The system of claim 26, wherein the scoring format includes scoring methods for a plurality of holes of the competition, and wherein a scoring method for a first one of the holes differs from a scoring method for a second one of the holes.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the scoring method for the first one of the holes uses different raw stroke data than the scoring method of the second one of the holes.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the scoring method for the first one of the holes uses the raw stroke data for one of the golf participants playing from a first color tee and the scoring format for the second one of the holes uses the raw stroke data for the one golf participant playing from a different color tee.

47. A system for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf participants playing golf on a golf course, comprising:

at least one main computer;

means for defining in the main computer a plurality of golf participants from the plurality of golf players, wherein at least one of the participants includes two or more players playing a common ball,

means for defining in the main computer a plurality of competitions of the golf participants, wherein a first one of the golf participants is teamed with a second one of the golf participants in a first competition and the first golf participant is teamed with a different golf participant in a second competition; wherein the second competition is a simulation competition

means for assigning a scoring format to each of the plurality of competitions;

one or more remote computers each associated with a hole on the golf course; and

a communications network coupling the main computer with each remote computer for communication there between,

wherein each remote computer receives a raw score for each golf participant playing the associated hole, calculates a local competition score for the associated hole for each golf participant for each of the plurality of competitions in which the golf participant is playing based on the raw score for the golf participant, and communicates the raw scores to the main computer, and

wherein the main computer calculates a competition score for each golf participant for each of the plurality of competitions in which the golf participant is playing based on the raw scores communicated by each remote computer and communicates the competition scores to each remote computer.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein one of the remote computers receives the raw score for a particular one of the golf participants for the associated hole and communicates the raw score for the particular golf participant to the main computer and the main computer communicates the raw score for the one golf participant to each remote computer.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein one of the remote computers receives the raw score for a particular one of the golf participants for the associated hole and communicates the raw score for the particular golf participant to the main computer and the main computer selectively communicates the raw score for the particular golf participant to a subset of the remote computers.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the subset consists of all of the remote computers save the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the subset consists of each of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the hole associated with the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the subset consists of each of the remote computers associated with holes to be played after the hole associated with the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant and the remote computer associated with the hole played immediately prior to the hole associated with the one of the remote computers which received the raw score for the particular golf participant.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein the communications network includes a wireless communications network.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the remote computers are solar powered.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the main computer and each remote computer select a communications protocol from a plurality of communications protocols and format the information being communicated therebetween based on the selected communications protocol.

56. The system of claim 47, wherein the main computer receives a user-defined competition of the golf participants and a user-defined scoring format for the competition of the golf participants, wherein the competition scores are calculated using the user-defined scoring format.

57. The system of claim 47, further including a simulation computer coupled to the main computer, wherein simulation computer receives the simulation competition of the golf participants and a scoring format for the simulation competition.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the simulation computer communicates the simulation competition and the simulation scoring format to the main computer, wherein the main computer calculates a simulation competition score for each of the golf participants in the simulation competition using the raw scores provided by each remote computer and the simulation scoring format and communicates the simulation competition scores to the simulation computer.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the simulation computer communicates the simulation competition to the main computer and in response thereto, the main computer communicates the raw scores of the golf participants in the simulation competition to the simulation computer so that the simulation computer may calculate a simulation competition score for each golf participant in the simulation competition using the communicated raw scores and the simulation scoring format.

60. The system of claim 47, further including a server computer coupled to the main computer, wherein the server computer:

receives the raw scores from the main computer; and

receives the simulation competition and a simulation scoring format for the simulation competition from a client computer coupled to the server computer via the internet.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the server computer calculates a simulation competition score for each of the golf participants in the simulation competition using the raw scores and the simulation scoring format and communicates the simulation competition scores to the client computer.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the server computer communicates the raw scores of the golf participants in the simulation competition to the client computer for calculation of a simulation competition score for each golf participant in the simulation competition by the client computer using the communicated raw scores and the simulation scoring format.

63. A computer-implemented method for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf players playing golf on a golf course using a computer system including at least one main computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining in the main computer a plurality of golf participants from the plurality of golf players, wherein at least one of the golf participants includes two or more players playing a common ball;

(b) defining in the main computer multiple competitions including a main competition of the golf participants and a simulation subcompetition including two or more of the golf participants in the main competition, wherein a first one of the golf participants is teamed with a second one of the golf participants in a first one of the competitions and the first golf participant is teamed with a different golf participant in a second one of the competitions;

(c) assigning a scoring format to each of the multiple competitions;

(d) providing raw score data of the golf participants to the main computer;

(e) calculating, using the main computer, a competition score for each golf participant for each of the multiple competitions in which the golf participant is playing, wherein each competition score is based on the raw score data and the scoring format assigned to the respective competition; and

(f) outputting the competition scores.

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.77(c)(2), a microfiche appendix of a computer program listing is included herewith. The microfiche appendix includes 5 microfiche and 454 frames. Copyright.COPYRGT. 1996 Tournament Tracker, Inc.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the game of golf, and more particularly, to a method and system for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf participants playing golf on a golf course.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is becoming a highly-competitive and spectator-oriented sport. Many golf clubs, both public and private, are hosting tournaments which often attract large audiences. Considerable time is spent by a tournament organizer, for example, a local golf professional, in preparing and running the tournament. Prior to starting a golf tournament, the organizer registers the players and creates player teams if a team-type competition is being played. During play, the golf players record their strokes for each hole. After play, the stroke scores are then provided to the tournament organizer for official scoring.

A variety of systems and devices exist to assist clubhouse professionals, golfers, and spectators in scoring, playing, and watching the game of golf. However, none of these systems provide a comprehensive tournament scoring and management system which facilitates creating, playing, watching and scoring of the tournaments.

For example, none of the prior art systems enable a tournament organizer to create complex scoring formats for the tournament, such as scoring formats varying from hole to hole because, for example, different participant scores are used at different holes or different tees are used by different participants at different holes. These systems also do not enable a tournament organizer to create a main tournament between teams of participants and a secondary tournament using a subset of the players in the main tournament, where a participant may be teamed with different participants in the main tournament and the secondary tournament.

Current systems and devices used to assist the golfers and/or tournament organizers in entering and processing the scores for players in a tournament cannot be readily adapted for use in the variety of circumstances presented by golf tournaments.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and system for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf participants on a golf course.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the limitations of current systems as described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a computer-implemented method and system for dynamically scoring a plurality of golf participants playing golf on a golf course using a computer system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a main computer, one or more remote computers and a communications network are provided. Each remote computer is associated with a hole on the golf course and coupled to the main computer via the communications network. Each remote computer receives a raw score for each golf participant playing the associated hole, calculates a local competition score for the associated hole for each golf participant based on the raw score for the golf participant, and communicates the raw scores to the host computer. Based on the raw scores communicated by each remote computer, the main computer calculates a competition score for each golf individual participant and communicates the competition scores to each remote computer.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a plurality of competitions of the golf participants are defined in the main computer and each of the competitions is assigned a scoring format. Each golf participant may be a member of one or more competitions. In addition, a golf participant may be teamed with one golf participant in a first competition and teamed with a different participant in a second competition.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, each remote computer receives a raw score for each golf participant for its associated hole and communicates these raw scores to the main computer and the main computer selectively communicates these raw scores to the remote computers. For example, the raw scores may be communicated to some but not all of the remote computers and/or the raw scores may be formatted based on the type of the communications network being used. The communications network in one embodiment is a wireless communications network and the remote computers include solar panels to supplement their batteries.

These and various other advantages and features of the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described specific exemplary embodiments of a system in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a general overview of the steps performed with a main computer of the exemplary system;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed on the main computer for creating a scoring format;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed on the main computer for creating a competition;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by each remote computer in processing scores for the golf participants;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the main computer in processing scores for the golf participants;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed with a kiosk for creating and scoring a simulation competition;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for calculating tournament handicaps for the golf participants; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for sorting the golf participants into teams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and microfiche appendix which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Golf courses typically receive an entry fee from each golf player in a competition. To attract more golf players to more competitions, it is desirable to offer a wide variety of scoring methods for a competition. However, complex scoring methods, such as those which vary from hole to hole or those which allow different players on the same team to play from different tees, have been to cumbersome to create and score according to the rules of golf as set by the local golf association, for example the United States Golf Association (USGA). A complex scoring system, when used, typically deviates from the rules of golf so as to ease the scoring procedures.

As will be explained in detail below, aspects of the present invention overcome these problems and allows creation of complex scoring methods and scoring of competitions based on complex scoring methods according the rules of golf. For example, an aspect of the invention enables a golf tournament organizer to create and score multiple competitions within a main competition, and, further, to enable the golf tournament organizer to score each competition differently, to score each hole of each competition differently, and/or to team the participants differently in each competition.

To further enhance the appeal of the game of golf to the players and spectators, it is desirable to facilitate the playing and watching of the competition. Present systems which attempt such facilitation typically involve excessive overhead, for example too much time to set up or take down, or slow the play of the game. These disadvantages are overcome with other aspects of the present invention which provide a golf scoring computer system which is easy to setup and takedown and which also eliminates the need for many electrical cables, thereby freeing the golf course of obstacles and facilitating the playing and viewing of the game. Further aspects of the present invention reduce data processing time and data transmission so as to maximize the speed of the system while minimizing the costs associated with wireless data transmission.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates an exemplary system 10 for dynamically scoring golf competitions played between golf participants on a golf course in accordance with the principles of the present invention. For reference, a golf participant may be an individual golf player playing his/her own ball or a group of golf players playing the same ball. One or more participants may comprise a team. Each golf participant may have one raw score for each hole and one net score and one competition score for each hole for each competition in which the golf participant is involved. Furthermore, each team may have one team raw score for each hole and one team net score for each hole.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a raw score is the number of strokes taken in order to place a golf ball in a hole and a net score is a raw score adjusted for any handicap allowance. A competition score is a score for a hole which is based on the scoring method of the competition and the net scores and/or raw scores for the participant(s) of a team and a cumulative competition score is the sum of the competition scores for the holes which have been played by a team. A team raw score is the sum of the raw scores of all the participants on a team for a hole. A team net score is the sum of the net scores for all the participants on a team for a hole.

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