Golf game

• US 20030125122A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Jolliffe, David V., Jolliffe, Steven P., Emmerson, Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,040,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/196
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A golf game employing r.f.-tag coded golf balls has a playing area (14) with r.f. antennae (20) located underneath to enable the number of strokes taken by a player to be counted. Separate antennae (22 and 26) are provided for the tee area (12) and hole (16), respectively, and the antennae (21) around the hole are smaller to improve resolution. The antennae (20, 21, 22, 26) are connected to a computer (30) which monitors successive moving and stationary phases of a golf ball to count the number of strokes taken by a player.

Claims

1. A golf game comprising golf balls, golf ball detecting means (20, 21), a tee area (12), a playing area (14), and a control device (30), the golf balls incorporating identification means and the golf ball detecting means (20, 21) being located adjacent to the playing area, the detecting means being connected to the control device (30) for counting the number of strokes, characterised in that the golf ball detecting means comprises a plurality of golf ball detection members (20, 21) located at increasing distances from the tee area (12) and in that the control device includes means for monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of the golf ball whether or not the ball has been intentionally struck so that the control device detects the number of times a ball moves by tracking the ball over distance and time.

2. A golf game according to claim 1, wherein the golf balls contain radio frequency identification tags and the detecting members (20, 21) comprise r.f.-antennae located under the surface of the playing area (14) from the tee area (12) to the hole (16).

3. A golf game according to claim 2, wherein the hole (16) has its own antenna (26).

4. A golf game according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the tee area (12) has its own antenna (22).

5. A golf game according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein antennae (21) in the region of the hole (16) are smaller than antennae (20) under the remainder of the playing area (14).

6. A golf game according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the antennae (20, 21) are interrogated periodically, with no directly adjacent antennae being interrogated simultaneously.

7. A golf game according to any preceding claim and comprising means for warning if a hole should not be played next.

8. A golf game according to any preceding claim, wherein the control device (30) comprises means for distinguishing between a ball being struck by a club when it is the player'"'"'s turn and the ball being moved at other times.

9. A golf game employing golf balls incorporating identification means and with golf ball detecting means (20, 21) located adjacent to the playing area (14), the detecting means being connected to a control device (30) for counting the number of strokes, characterised in that the golf ball detection means comprises a plurality of golf ball detection members (20, 21) and the control device is capable of monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of the golf ball so that the control device counts the number of strokes taken by a player.