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JP-2026076212-A - Golf event management system with score and location tracking.

JP2026076212AJP 2026076212 AJP2026076212 AJP 2026076212AJP-2026076212-A

Abstract

[Problem] A system and method for providing golf event management that offers accurate tracking operation in a portable design, reduces setup time and personnel, and is widely adaptable to course conditions and infrastructure. [Solution] The tracking module 11 is carried by a player participating in a golf tournament, and the companion device 12 receives input corresponding to stroke events, the input including a timestamp corresponding to the occurrence of the stroke event. The location system can collect or receive location data. Each set of location coordinates corresponds to the position of the tracking module at a specified time. The location system can pair a timestamp with a set of location coordinates corresponding to the position of the tracking module at the time the stroke event occurred. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • ラヴェル，ウォルター，ケネス
  • グレーデンハグ，ジョナス，ヘンリック
  • クレイブン，ジェレミー
  • デイビス，マリアンヌ，マリー
  • クック，トロイ，トーマス
  • ウォーカー，バリー，トーマス
  • ハウエル，ジェフリー，ルーク

Assignees

  • ピージーエイ ツアー エンタープライジーズ，エルエルシー

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20260114
Priority Date
20220615

Claims (20)

  1. A score tracking method, the method including: A step of collecting or receiving location data by a location system, wherein the location data corresponds to the location of a tracking module carried by a player participating in a golf tournament, and the location data includes a plurality of sets of location coordinates or is used to generate the plurality of sets of location coordinates, each set of location coordinates corresponding to the location of the tracking module at a specified time during play of the golf tournament; A step of receiving instructions for the occurrence of a stroke event related to the player, wherein the instructions are input into the companion device by a scorer who is carrying a companion device and observing the player who is carrying the tracking module; The steps include receiving or generating a timestamp corresponding to the time when the instruction for the occurrence of the stroke event was input to or received from the companion device by the scorer; and The step of pairing the timestamp with the set of location coordinates corresponding to the position of the tracking module at the time the stroke event occurred.
  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of location coordinates corresponds to the position of the tracking module over a certain period, and each set of location coordinates corresponds to a predetermined time interval within that period.
  3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking module is configured to receive location signals from a plurality of beacons placed around a golf course.
  4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the location data includes parameters of the location signal used by the location system to calculate the set of location coordinates.
  5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the tracking module uses the parameters of the location signal to calculate its position and transmits that position to the location system as location data.
  6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking module is configured to output a location signal used by the tracking module to calculate the location data.
  7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking module is configured to output location signals received by a plurality of beacons placed around the golf course in order to calculate the location data corresponding to the position of the tracking module.
  8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location data is transmitted to the location system from one or more beacons positioned around the golf course, each configured to receive location signals transmitted by the tracking module to track the position of the tracking module.
  9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the timestamp corresponds to the time when the instruction for the occurrence of the stroke event is input to the companion device, the companion device generates the timestamp, and transmits the timestamp to the location system.
  10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction for the occurrence of the stroke event includes the identification of the tracking module assigned to the player.
  11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction for the occurrence of the stroke event includes the identification of the player carrying the tracking module.
  12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving location data and score event instructions corresponding to a plurality of tracking modules carried by separate players participating in the golf tournament.
  13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a single companion device is configured to receive instructions for the score event relating to a plurality of players, each carrying a separate tracking module.
  14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the location data and the score event instruction include identification data including the identification of the player carrying the tracking module or the identification number of the tracking module carried by the player, and the matching of the timestamp with the set of location coordinates corresponding to the position of the tracking module at the time the stroke event occurred includes matching the respective identification data.
  15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stroke event includes a ball hit, and the position of the tracking module at the time of the stroke event is used as a proxy for the position of the ball of the player carrying the tracking module resulting from the previous stroke.
  16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking module operates as a beacon in a location network.
  17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the location network utilizes ultra-wideband positioning.
  18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking module is configured to transmit the location data to the location system.
  19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location tracking system is configured to receive the location data from a location network, and the location network is configured to calculate the plurality of sets of location coordinates.
  20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location data collected or received by the location system includes location identification data used by the location system to calculate the location coordinates.

Description

This disclosure relates to the management of golf events, including a score and location tracking system and method that is widely adaptable to multiple network infrastructures. background Managing golf tournament play while tracking the detailed location and score of every shot requires complex behind-the-scenes interactions, further complicated by the diversity of course locations and infrastructure. For example, before each PGA Tour event, each golf course is mapped, and a digital image of each hole is created. This image is used as background information to calculate the precise location and distance between two coordinates (e.g., the tee box and the player's first shot, or the shot location and the hole location). The PGA Tour uses this mapping data in conjunction with its ShotLink system to collect the location and score of every ball for every shot across every round. In addition to pre-tournament mapping, the ShotLink system utilizes complex and costly infrastructure that takes days to set up and dismantle and must be transported between events. Furthermore, the successful operation of the ShotLink system relies on up to 350 volunteer workers per event. The tournament data provided by the ShotLink system has proven invaluable to both fans and players. However, given the time, cost, and infrastructure required to operate the ShotLink system, its use in lower-level tournaments is not practical. What is needed is a system and method for managing golf events that offers a portable design, provides accurate tracking, reduces setup time and manpower, and can adapt widely to course conditions and infrastructure. In a first embodiment, the score tracking system includes a tracking module and either an application or a location system. In one example, the tracking module and either an application or a location tracking system may be any example, configuration, or embodiment described herein. In one example, the tracking module may be configured to be carried by a player participating in a golf tournament. The application may be configured to interface scoring operations to a user via a user interface of a companion device. The companion device is separate from the tracking module and may be configured to receive inputs via the user interface that indicate the occurrence of stroke events. These inputs allow the application to set a timestamp corresponding to the occurrence of a stroke event. In one configuration, a stroke event includes addressing and hitting the ball (striking the ball). In the above or other configurations, the interface includes an indicator configured to be pressed to indicate that the player is addressing the ball and held until the player hits the ball to indicate that the ball has been hit. In an example including a location system, the location system may be configured to collect or receive location data. Location data may include multiple sets of location coordinates, or may be used by the location system to generate multiple sets of location coordinates, each set of location coordinates corresponding to the position of the tracking module at a specified time. In one example, the location system may be configured to pair (match) timestamps with sets of location coordinates corresponding to the position of the tracking module at the time a stroke event occurred. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the position of the tracking module at the time of the stroke event can be used as a proxy for the position of the ball of the player carrying the tracking module resulting from the previous stroke. In either the above example of the first embodiment or another example, the tracking module may be configured to operate as a beacon in the location network. In a further example, the location network utilizes ultra-wideband positioning. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the tracking module may be configured to transmit location data to the location system. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the location system may be configured to receive location data from a location network, and the location network may be configured to calculate multiple sets of location coordinates. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the location data collected or received by the location system includes localization data used by the location system to calculate location coordinates. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the sets of location coordinates consist of sets of GPS coordinates. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the multiple sets of location coordinates consist of sets of ultra-broadband positioning coordinates. In either the above example of the first embodiment or any other example, the tracking module may be configured to collect location data at a predefined first interval and to tra