System and method for golf course management

• US 20040243262A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James H. Hofmann
• Original Assignee: James H. Hofmann
• Inventors: Hofmann, James H.
• Application Number:
  US10/855,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for real time golf course management. The system comprises a plurality of stationary wireless transceivers strategically located around a golf course. A plurality of mobile wireless transceiver are each integrated with a golf cart and configured to transmit a unique identifier for the golf cart to one of the stationary wireless transceivers in proximity to the golf cart. Accordingly, as a golf cart passes a stationary wireless transceiver, the stationary wireless transceiver receives the unique identifier being transmitted by the golf cart and sends the identifier over a wireless network to a central server located in the club house. The central server records the time that the golf cart passed the stationary wireless transceiver. Cumulatively, the central server is able to passively track pace of play statistics for the golf course and identify bottlenecks that may adversely affect player throughput.

Claims

1. A system for golf course management, comprising:

a wireless communication network;

a plurality of transceiver stations coupled to the wireless communication network, each transceiver station having a unique transceiver identifier and configured to wirelessly receive a unique cart identification from a golf cart in proximity to the station;

a server computer coupled to the plurality of transceiver stations via the wireless communication network, the server configured to receive and timestamp a communication from a transceiver station, the communication including the unique transceiver identifier and the unique cart identifier;

wherein the server computer stores the timestamp information in a data storage area and associates the timestamp information with a group of players in order to track the pace of play on the golf course.

2. A method for golf course management, comprising:

receiving via a wireless communication at a transceiver station having a unique transceiver identifier a unique cart identifier from a golf cart in proximity to the transceiver station;

transmitting the unique transceiver identification and the unique cart identifier to a server computer;

applying a timestamp to the transmission at the server computer;

storing the timestamp in a data storage area at the server computer;

associating the timestamp with a group of players at the server computer; and

tracking the pace of play on the golf course for the group of players.