GB2369459A

GB2369459A - Compact Electronic Scoring Device for Golf

Info

Publication number: GB2369459A
Application number: GB0019421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan John Whittaker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-09
Filing date: 2000-08-09
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: GB0019421D0

Abstract

A credit card sized golf scoring device includes a hole graphic and information display area (1) data entry keys (3), a calculated display of up to four players' scores (4) player name and handicap display (5+7) and a selector key (6) to select which golf scoring methodology is being viewed. Players' scores can be entered using an electronic pencil (8) or by using alpha/ numeric data entry keys (3). The scoring device also has a player entry pad on its rear face which is compatible with the electronic pencil. Score displays (4) are calculated automatically by the device. The upload/ download connectors allow connection to the host device which may be located in the golf pro shop and would contain all the course information for that particular golf club including a graphic representation of every hole on that particular course, hole number, par, stroke index and distance in yards or meters. At the end of the players' round of golf a player would plug the scoring device into the upload slot on the host device to record their score into the club computer.

Description

Description Compact Electronic Scoring Device for Golf This invention relates to a device to keep score electronically during a game of golf. The device will be compact and waterproof and battery or solar powered. To load golf course information and hole graphics into the device there will be a host device to capture and store information about any particular golf course which can then be downloaded into the scoring device. Similarly, after a round of golf is completed, players can upload their scores back into the host device for the golf club's records. In addition there will be computer software for personal computer which can be used by the player or golf club to keep a record of player's scores over time.

The current method of keeping score is limited in that it is paper and pencil based resulting in manual adding of scores by a player and manual collation of competition scores by the club. Also the cards are not re-usable on different golf courses resulting in wastage. Hole graphics are usually contained in a separate booklet whereas the new invention will have all the required information on display in one compact unit.

The object of the scoring device is for a player to record his or her score during the game and for the device to calculate up to four player scores using the various scoring methodologies used in golf, including Stableford, Medal, Matchplay and Skins. The device will also display information about the players including name and handicap as well as a graphical representation of the hole they are playing and hole information including hole number, par, stroke index and distance in yards or meters. The device also allows entry of up to 4 players'information including name and handicap which is entered using an electronic pencil.

The object of the host device is for the golf club to capture and store electronic information about the golf course and will also be a centralised data capture mechanism to record player score and handicap information on completion of the round which will be used in competitions and club records. The host device would be loaded with information about each golf course including a graphic representation of every hole on that particular course, hole number, par, stroke index and distance in yards or meters.

The golf course information will be downloaded into the scoring device before the round

of golf begins. (It is acknowledged that the graphical representation of the golf holes may initially be quite basic, but as technology develops these may become quite sophisticated in terms of colour and three dimensional views.) Accordingly the invention provides a compact size scoring device including all the information described above and includes an electronic pencil which a player would use to enter the players'names, handicap and scores (there would also be alpha/numeric back up keys for the same purpose) Calculation functions would be included in the device which will calculate up to four players scores using the various scoring methodologies used in golf including Stableford, Medal, Matchplay and Skins. Hole information and score information can all be viewed on the front of the scoring device and there would be function keys to select which players score and/or which hole is being viewed.

The host device invention allows for electronic capture and storage of course information as described above and will include upload/download connectors to connect to the scoring device. The host device and scoring device will both have the capability to upload and download any information captured to a personal computer using the same connectors.

The devices will be made of metals or plastics materials or any combination of these materials and will be waterproof. The preferred size of the scoring device will be slightly larger than a credit card and will have a chain attachment with a container for the battery and clip attachment mechanism to the golfers bag or belt. The preferred size of the host device would be similar to a desktop calculator and would normally be connected to a personal computer. Both devices will have player name, hole information, score information entry facilities using either a button/key input or preferably an electronic pencil. Both devices will have upload and download connection points which will be compatible between the two devices in addition to being compatible to a personal computer. A preferred embodiment of the scoring device and host device will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. Shows a front facing view of the scoring device, which contains course, player and player score information and in addition shows the electronic pencil and clip.

Figure 2. Shows a rear facing view of the scoring device, which contains the player information entry pad and electronic pencil Figure 3. Shows a side edge view of the scoring device which contains the upload/download connector and a view of the battery container and bag attachment chain Figure 4 Shows a three dimensional view of the host device containing the data entry keys and upload/download connectors.

As shown in Figure 1. The scoring device comprises a rectangular shaped display containing a hole graphic and information display area (1) located in the top left hand comer, data entry/hole number keys (3) located in two rows of nine keys (total eighteen) in parallel lines along the bottom half of the device, a calculated display of player scores at the right hand side of the device (4) player name (5) and handicap (7) display and a selector key (6) to select which golf scoring methodology is being viewed (e. g.

Stableford/Medal/Matchplay/Skins) both located in the top right hand side of the device. Player scores can be entered either using the electronic pencil (8) to write in the score for each hole key (3) or by using the entry keys (3) which double as the hole number display A player can select which hole is being viewed on the graphic hole display, by depressing the hole display area (1). Similarly the player name, handicap and score being viewed is selected by depressing the player display area (5) There a four sub total and total score displays (4) which are all are calculated automatically by the device so there is no entry key for these displays.

Figure 2 shows a rear facing view of the scoring device on which there is a player entry pad (9) which is compatible with the electronic pencil (8). A player would use the electronic pencil to enter the names and handicaps of up to four players which would then be stored information within the device to be displayed on the player view panel (5 + 7) Figure 3. Shows a side edge view of the scoring device which contains the upload/ download connector (12) and a view of the battery container (10) and bag attachment chain (11) The scoring device can be plugged into the host device shown in Figure 4 and the connector (12) would be compatible to upload and download all player, course and score information to either device or a personal computer.

Figure 4 Shows a 3 dimensional view of the host device containing the data entry keys (17) and upload/download connectors (13 + 14) The host device may be located in the golf pro shop or starters"hut"and would contain all the course information for that particular club including graphic representations of all the holes (18) on the course and information for each hole including hole number, par, stroke index and distance in yards or meters. At the end of the round a player would plug the scoring device into the upload slot on the host device (14) to record their score (19) into the club computer (not shown) The invention in use. Course information would be loaded into the host device by the golf club's pro shop staff using computer software provided with the device which will be compatible with standard personal computers and scanners. When starting a game of golf a player will plug the scoring device into the host device's download slot (13) and automatically download the course data from the host device. Once the course information has been downloaded the scoring device is removed from the host. The player would then enter the names and handicaps of all the players involved in the game using the player entry pad (9) and electronic pencil (8) All the information would be stored and saved for the next round or can be overwritten for each new round. As the players progress with their game the score for each player on each hole would be entered into the hole score display (3) using either the electronic pencil (8) or alphanumeric keys (3) The scoring device would calculate players'sub total and total scores which can be viewed using the various scoring methodologies used in golf including Stableford, Medal, Matchplay and Skins by using he viewer select key (6). For competition use, a player's signature can be recorded on the player entry pad using the electronic pencil (8).

Once the round is complete the player would plug the scoring device into the host device upload slot (14) the score information is then automatically uploaded into the host device for use in the golf club or player's personal computer (not shown) via the PC connector (16) using a software package (not part of this patent application.)

Claims

Claims 1. An electronic golf scoring device including displays on which up to 4 players'scores and information about the golf course they are playing can be viewed during a game of golf.
2. A host device which will electronically store golf course information including a graphic representation of every hole on that particular course, hole number, par, stroke index and distance in yards or meters
3. A host device as claimed in claim 2 which will have upload & download connectors which are compatible with all existing personal computers.
4. A scoring device as claimed in claim 1 where the front panel includes player information including names and handicaps to identify the players
5. A scoring device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 4 where the front panel contains a hole information graphic display which will show up to 27 individual hole graphics along with up to 27 holes information including hole number, distance in yards or meters, par, stroke index.
6. A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claim on which information can be entered by using an electronic pencil or an alpha/numeric key pad.
7. A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claims where 18 numerical keys are provided for players to view the score on each hole played and the keys would also function as alpha/numeric data entry keys.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim which will calculate and display up to 4 players scores using the various scoring methodologies used in golf including Stableford, Medal, Matchplay & Skins
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim which is made of metals or plastics materials or from any combination of these materials and is waterproof.
10. A device which is substantially, as herein, described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.