CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/792,686, filed on January 15, 2019, and entitled“System and Method for Low-Cost Gamified Golfing.” The contents of that provisional application are relied upon herein and are incorporated by refer ence.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001]The present disclosure relates to a system and method for low-cost gamified golfing.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Conventional golfing can have a high barrier to entry. Although people of all ages love golf, both as a competitive sport and as recreation, playing can be expensive: the costs of golf clubs, course fees, and golfing lessons (among other things) add up quickly.

[0003] Several solutions have been presented to this problem. The most effective solutions may involve providing a reduced number of holes of golf, with various games associated with those holes. A popular implementation of this solution tracks a position of a serialized golf ball con taining an RFID chip to create games that one or more golfers can play, such as“closest to the pin” or“longest drive.” While popular, the need for specialized golf balls, and the static design of a playing field that builds in obsolescence and boredom, make this approach prohibitively ex pensive for many situations, such as for those wishing to open similar golfing establishments or those wishing to periodically update a design of a playing field.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a system for facilitating low-cost, gamified golfing, without the need for specialized golf balls and also provide a capability to quickly modi fy a game field design. According to the present disclosure, high-speed monitoring equipment is coupled with timing apparatus and trajectory equipment to accurately capture a ball launch; pre dict a trajectory of a launched ball and capture an associated landing and resting place of the ball. Additional items of equipment monitor site-specific variables that affect the speed and pathway of the trajectory of a launched ball. [0005]Still other equipment monitors ancillary variables, such as ball type, dimple attributes, club selection, angle of a club striking a ball, placement of a club striking a ball, arc of a club swing prior to striking a launched ball, while striking a launched ball and following striking the launched ball. Timing of some or all variable events may indexed. The timing index verifies the identity of a launched ball. The timing index may also be coupled with unstructured queries and artificial intelligence analysis to predict the flight of a launched ball. In some embodiments, val ues for environmental and circumstantial variable that may effect a launch and flight of a ball are captured via automation, such as CCD image-capture devices, infrared, and weather monitoring apparatus.

[0006]Ball launching variables may be stored and used to predict a potential flight of a ball about to be launched. Ball launching variables may also be stored and associated with actual ball per formance. Still further, data may be referenced to provide guidance to a golfer as to which club and/or ball type to utilize in order to obtain a particular result.

[0007]0n the playing field, one or more ball tracking apparatus, such as: high-definition camer as; infrared sensors; impact sensors and the like, may be placed proximate to a golf tee, a target, a boundary fence and anywhere in between. These cameras transmit image data to a server that is capable of computing a trajectory of a launched golf ball ad a determined destination for the launched ball.

[0008]Based on the trajectory, a projected landing spot for the golf ball may be computed. Points may be awarded to players based on a determined landing position. Thus, a server can “track” the location of a launched ball without resorting to more expensive solutions, such as RFID chips installed within specialized golf balls.

[0009] Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]The accompanying drawings, that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specifi cation, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure: [0011]Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a system in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0012]Fig. 3 illustrates a method in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0013]The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless clearly indicated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014]In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples though thorough are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art, variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. The examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the un derlying disclosure as defined by the claims.

[0015]“Image-capture device,” as used herein, means an apparatus for capturing digital or analog image data. An image-capture device may be one or both of: a two-dimensional camera or a three-dimensional camera. An image-capture device may comprise a stereoscopic camera. The image data may be based upon visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other light waves. In some exam ples, an image-capture device may include a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. An image- capture device may also be capable of taking a series of images in a short time interval and asso ciated the images together with a time index to create videos for use in embodiments comprising a display in two or three spatial dimensions, plus a temporal dimension. In some embodiments, image-capture devices may be encased in polyvinyl chloride sleeves, or other sleeve sufficient to protect the image-capture device from malfunction due to weather or being struck by a ball or club.

[0016]Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the system for low-cost gamified golfing, at a point in time prior to a golf swing. Fig. 2 shows the same embodiment after the golf swing. Golfer 101 may hold golf club 102 and stand adjacent to golf ball 110. Golfer 101’s goal may be to use golf club 102 to hit golf ball 110 from tee 112 to target 131.

[0017] Surrounding the golf ball 110 may be one or more tee image-capture devices 121. Tee image-capture devices 121 are operable to capture image data proximate to the tee 112. Such image data may include the locations of golf ball 110 and an arc of an approaching golf club 102. In embodiments in which tee image-capture devices 121 are capable of capturing video, tee im- age-capture devices 121 may capture data relating to an arc of swing 211A of the golf club 102 approaching the ball 110; the trajectory of the golf ball 110 after it is struck by golf club 102; an arc of swing 211A of the golf club 102 after launching the ball 110; the posture and body move ments of golfer 101; the tee 112; or other image data that may be useful to track ball movement, predict a ball trajectory; predict a time in the air for the ball; predict a location of impact for the ball 110 and other relevant factors.

[0018]Target 131 may comprise a desirable area for golf ball 110 to land. For example, target 131 may include any of: a hole; a flag; a green; a bullseye; a position on a golf course; a fellow golfer; or any other such desirable area. For example, in some embodiments, golfer 101 may wish to hit golf ball 110 into a hole, such as in traditional games of golf. In other embodiments, golfer 101 may wish to hit golf ball 110 farther than a certain predetermined distance, such as the distance between tee 112 and the position in which a golf ball landed that was previously hit by himself, a companion, or other person.

[0019]Target 131 may be surrounded by one or more arrival image-capture devices 123. In some embodiments, arrival image-capture devices 123 monitor target 131 and capture image da ta of target 131 and ball 110 arrival as the ball 110 approaches target 131.

[0020]Unlike previously known methods, the present invention is capable of recording data in dicative of a path of travel (trajectory) of a ball 110 and noting a threshold change of direction. Change of direction is programmed so that a threshold change in direction is determined to be an impact of the ball 110 in flight, or in travel along the game field.

[0021]A timing index is also associated with each change in direction of a ball. The timing in dex is accurate enough to associate, with a high degree of confidence, that a given ball 110 is a ball launched by a particular player from a particular tee. Therefore, in some embodiments, a timing index may include accuracy to within single digit milliseconds. Other time index accura cy may be upwards of 1 second and still provide a significant accuracy of which ball 110 is launched by which golfer 101.

[0022]In some embodiments, image capture data captured by one or more tee image-capture de vices 121 may be displayed on display 141. For example, display 141 may show a virtual, his torical, or live golfer version 142 of golfer 101. Similarly, display 141 may show a virtual, his torical, or live target version of target 143. Once the ball 110 has been struck, as shown in FIG. 2, display 141 may show an actual or virtual trajectory 241 of ball 110.

[0023]While the ball 110 is flying through the air, it may be monitored by one or more field im age-capture devices 122. Field image-capture devices 122 may provide additional data on the trajectory of golf ball 110.

[0024]In some embodiments, image-capture devices 121-123 are in logical connection with a server comprising a processor, a memory, a network communications device, and software exe cutable on command. The server is capable of receiving image data from image-capture devices 121-123, and image-capture devices 121-123 may comprise a means for transmitting image data to the server. By way of non-limiting example, such means may include: wired connection, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, radio frequency transmission, or Bluetooth. In some embodiments, image- capture devices 121-123 may further comprise an internal clock capable of generating timing data. In such embodiments, image-capture devices 121-123 may transmit, concurrently or sepa rately from the image data, timing data to the server. This allows the image data to be associated with a specific time index. In some embodiments, image-capture devices 121-123 can generate other synchronization signals.

[0025]Accordingly, the server can use the time index to synchronize multiple quanta of image data. In practice, this may allow the server to take video files from multiple image-capture de vices 121-123 and synchronize them to create one nearly consistent, multiple-vantage-point dis play of the golfing game. The time index may serve a second purpose as well: computation of a trajectory of golf ball 110. One or more tee image-capture devices 121 may be primarily focused on tee 112. This may enable the tee image-capture devices 121 (or the server) to determine when golf ball 110 has been stuck. Using edge detection or a similar algorithm, tee image-capture de vices 121 (or the server) may determine a set of coordinates (e.g., Cartesian, cylindrical, spheri cal) for golf ball 110 at time intervals, and associate those coordinates with an appropriate time index. This may allow the server to use dead reckoning or a similar algorithm to compute one or more ballistic quantities: velocity, acceleration, skew, angular velocity (of the ball or relative to one or more fixed points in a field), or angular acceleration. Using these ballistic quantities, a trajectory 21 IB of the golf ball 110 may be computed. In some embodiments, ballistic quantities may be computed regarding the club 102 (e.g., the speed of the club, the angle of the club head when striking the ball, etc.). These quantities may also be communicated to the server. [0026]Based upon the trajectory, one or more projected landing spots for the golf ball 110 may be computed. The landing spot can then dictate some point value to assign to the golf swing. For example, it may be computed that a trajectory of a ball 110 will bring the ball 110 to land ten yards away from a target. Arrival image-capture devices track an actual point of impact and ar rival of the ball 110 to a final destination.

[0027]The present invention may include multiple protective encasings for cameras or other im age-capture devices placed throughout the game field and a perimeter of the game field. A pro tective casing may include, for example, a polyvinylchloride (PVC) encasement and/or Plexiglas shield. Although there is no design limitation to a number of encasements and cameras, the number will generally be dependent upon a size on an area of game play and a field of view of each camera. A typical area of game play may include therefore between three and twenty cam eras and encasements per simultaneous golfer.

[0028] In some embodiments, an X,Y coordinate may be recorded indicating a specific point of impact. In addition, another X,Y coordinates may be recorded for a final resting place of the ball. The X,Y coordinates may be relative (for example, they may reflect a system in which, for each golfer, the initial tee position is (0,0)) or global (for example, there may be one static set of all X,Y coordinates for all golfers using the system simultaneously). Other coordinate systems may be useful in various situations (e.g., three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, polar coordi nates, etc.).

[0029]Points may be assigned based upon predetermined criteria (e.g., a golf ball landing ten yards away from the target may receive more points than a golf ball landing twenty yards away from the target; a final resting position may also be associated with an award of points).

[0030] In a second example, a point value may be based on distance traveled by the golf ball (e.g., a golf ball that travels 200 yards may receive more points than a golf ball that travels 150 yards; further, the point value may simply be proportional to the number of yards traveled). This trajectory-based point computation method allows specialized golf games without specialized golf balls.

[0031]In some embodiments, one or more tee image-capture devices 121 may be focused on golfer 101. Accordingly, in addition to images or video of the flight of golf ball 110, images or video of the golfer 101 may also be sent to the server. Additionally, if the server (through, for example, target image-capture device 123) records that golf ball 110 hit or landed near target 131, the server may automatically isolate the image or video of golfer 101 associated with one or more time indices associated with the trajectory of golf ball 110. This allows the server to auto matically edit video of the golfer’s reaction to a good shot. Similarly, the server may be capable of collecting video of the golfer’s body mechanics during one or more such good shots, thus al lowing the golfer to improve the golfer’s golf game.

[0032]In another aspect, some embodiments may include analysis of a ball 110 trajectory and a “good” shot may be determined based upon a distance to a target. Once a shot is determined to meet criteria for being“good” or“bad” golfer’s reaction may be recorded and one or both of a link to the imagery and the imagery itself may be forwarded to the golfer. In some embodi ments, a vehicle for the golfer to purchase or otherwise take ownership of the imagery may be presented to the golfer. Imagery of a ball 110 landing and going into a hole may also be dis played upon a viewing screen to assist in eliciting a response from the golfer 101 and/or other game participants.

[0033]In some embodiments, the server is in logical connection with a communications network and may transmit the video of the golfer 101 to a desired location, such as a smart device associ ated with golfer 101, a manager of the golfing game, or a third party. The server may also transmit a computed trajectory of golf ball 110 to the golfer 101’ s smart device. This may allow the golfer 101 to build a profile of distances he has struck golf balls with certain clubs (e.g., golf er 101 may average 170 yards with a 4-iron club). This information may be displayed on golfer 101’s smart device.

[0034]Weather data may also be transmitted to golfer 101’s a controller used in performing the functions described herein, and/or a user’s smart device. Weather data may be referenced as a variable in determining a trajectory of a launched ball. By way of non-limiting example, a weather condition that includes high humidity may have considerable effect on a launched ball 110 that has relatively prominent dimples and less effect on a ball 110 that has less prominent dimples. Dimple design, density and material may also be referenced as a variable of ball 110 travel.

[0035]This may enhance golfer 101’s club profile. For example, while golfer 101 may average 170 yards with a 4-iron on a clear day, golfer 101 may only average 140 yards with a 4-iron on a rainy day. The golfer 101’s profile may account for these weather differences.

[0036]In some embodiments, display 141 may comprise an audio transmission apparatus, such as speakers. In these embodiments, the audio transmission apparatus may be operable to receive from the server an indication that the golfer 101 hit golf ball 110 in such a way that it landed at the target, exceeded golfer 101’s average distance with a particular club, or any other noteworthy hit. In such cases, audio transmission apparatus may generate a certain sound, such as a cheer, to enhance enjoyment of the game.

[0037] Similarly, arrival image-capture devices 123 may monitor the progress of ball 110 as it comes to a stop.

[0038]Given that the trajectory of golf ball 110 may be projected by the server, in some embod iments it can be inferred that the ball missed the target 131 if one or more arrival image-capture devices 123 do not detect golf ball 110 near the time at which golf ball 110 was projected to land near target 131. A time of impact and a point of impact may also be determined based upon an actual path of travel of a ball 110 that includes a sharp deviation in the path and/or velocity of the ball 110. For example a change of ball 110 travel from speed X to speed X-Y (or zero) may indi cate an impact. Similarly, a change of direction greater than 15 degrees (or other delta in trajec tory) may be measured via image sensors and/or impact transducers and interpreted to be an im pact.

[0039] In some embodiments, one or more wind speed sensors may be placed in and around one or more of: the tee, the field, or the target. These sensors may be in logical connection with the server, and data from the sensors may be used to inform the computation of the trajectory of golf ball 110. Examples of other atmospheric data that may be detected by one or more sensors and used to inform the trajectory computation include: wind direction, temperature, humidity, and precipitation detectors.

[0040]The adaptability of the present invention allows for multiple disparate facilities at different locations to conduct cooperative competitions. Each facility may adopt a configuration for a par ticular competition event and players at the multiple facilities may compete as if they were all present at a single facility. In addition, the present invention allows for course features, such as obstacles (e.g., sand traps, water, mounds) to be replicated in multiple facilities for a specified duration of play, which may only be a single round and then changed for a second duration of play since the basis for the award of points is based upon a determined X,Y coordinate (or other coordinate system) of a final ball position, not RFID detection which is much more difficult to move or reconfigure.

[0041] Similarly, a“money ball” competition may span multiple facilities, wherein a predeter mined criterion for being awarded a prize may be accomplished in any of the participating facili ties, or in a single facility. The award of the prize may be correlated to a final X,Y position of a launched ball 110.

[0042]To assist in training golfers to improve their game, a“precision” competition may be used. Golfers may be awarded points for similar successive swings, where the similarity may be based on any of: distance travelled by the ball, angular momentum (i.e., spin) of ball after being struck, angular displacement between the angle of departure of the struck ball and the angle of landing on the course, closeness to a target, and the like.

[0043] Referring now to Fig. 3, a method for low-cost gamified golfing is shown. The method relies generally on placing three or more high-speed cameras in various locations around a play ing field configured for golf (e.g., a course, a driving range, etc.). The high-speed cameras are capable of monitoring and computing a trajectory for a struck golf ball. Based on a trait of the ball trajectory (e.g., distance from starting point, final landing place, flight pattern relative to previous struck balls), points may be allocated to the golfer who hit the ball.

[0044] Where some prior art solutions require implanting a special chip or emitter in the golf ball, or applying some trackable marker to the golf ball, the present method uses cameras and estimat ed trajectories to monitor the ball from launch to landing. The prior art solutions were necessary due, in part, to the difficulties associated with tracking a golf ball across a large playing field, such as a driving range. The present invention solves that problem in some embodiments

[0045] Accordingly, at step 301, a first image-capture device is placed in visual contact with a tee. In some embodiments, the first image-capture device may be equipped with a motion sensor and may be placed on a pivot to allow the image-capture device to rotate relative to a struck ball to improve tracking. Later in the method, at step 305, the first image-capture device may be used to monitor the immediate trajectory of a struck ball. The struck ball may initially be moving at high speeds. Accordingly, the first image-capture device likely needs a relatively high frame re fresh rate to ensure it can capture enough images of the ball after it is struck. The first image- capture device, along with the other image-capture devices, may be housed in a protective sleeve (made from, e.g., PVC) to protect the image-capture devices from weather, errant golf balls, etc. The tee may be any apparatus capable of supporting a golf ball at an appropriate height to be struck be a golf club. In some embodiments, the tee may be made from a rigid material, while in other embodiments, it may be desirable to make the tee from a flexible material or to fix the tee to a point to accommodate the tee being struck at the same time as the golf ball.

[0046]At step 302, a second image-capture device is placed in visual contact with an anticipated target of the golf ball. As the present method is directed to gamifying golfing, in many embodi ments, the golf game will have a target, such as a hole or a target zone. Accordingly, in those embodiments, the end target may be anticipated prior to the ball being struck. If an image- capture device is placed in visual contact with the target, then the final trajectory of a struck golf ball may be better computed. In other embodiments, the target may be dynamic (e.g., in a preci sion game in which the goal is to hit a second ball in such a way that it lands proximate to a first ball). In this case, multiple third image-capture devices may be necessary, as discussed below.

[0047] At step 303, one or more third image-capture devices are placed between the first and sec ond image-capture devices in the field of play. These image-capture devices may be stationary or may be placed on a rotatable or otherwise moveable staging structure to better track the trajec tory of a struck golf ball. Together, the first, second, and third image-capture devices may cap ture images that, when read in the aggregate by an observer or computer system, can assist in computing a trajectory of a struck golf ball.

[0048]With image-capture devices in place to monitor the trajectory of a struck golf ball, at step 304, a ball may be placed on the tee and located by the first image-capture device. In embodi ments in which the first image-capture device is placed on a pivot, in exemplary embodiments, the first image-capture device may be pointed directly at the ball. In other embodiments, the first image-capture device may be pointed askance from the ball in the direction of an anticipated tra jectory (e.g., towards the ultimate target).

[0049]At step 305, the ball may be struck by a club or other apparatus, and measurements of one or more ball quantities may be recorded. These quantities may include, as non-limiting exam ples, position, velocity, spin, a vector indicating a displacement, acceleration, force, energy, momentum, a drag factor (e.g., Newtonian drag or Stokes drag), or other suitable ballistics quan- tity that may be useful in computing a trajectory of a struck golf ball. When the ball is struck, the event may be associated with a time index. Weather data may also be recorded.

[0050]At step 306, the trajectory of the struck golf ball is tracked using images from at least some of the image-capture devices. In exemplary embodiments, the image-capture devices may be in logical communication with a central server, using wired or wireless means (e.g., Blue tooth, Wi-Fi, ultra-wideband, or other wireless data transmission means). The central server may receive a plurality of images captured from the image-capture device to assist in determining the trajectory.

[0051]In an exemplary embodiment, the trajectory may be computed by beginning with an initial image of the ball. This initial image may be captured while the ball is on the tee, or shortly after the ball is struck. The server may isolate the location of the ball in a given image using edge de tection or similar techniques. A second image may be compared to the first image to determine one or more ballistic quantities pertaining to the ball.

[0052]As a basic (but illustrative) example, suppose the first image-capture device captures two two-dimensional images. The two-dimensional images can be conceptualized as a Cartesian co ordinate plane isomorphic to a three-dimensional playing space. If the first image-capture device captures a first image showing the center of the ball at a (0,0) position at time t=0.0 s, and a sec ond image showing the center of the ball at a (1,1) position at time t=0.1, then at time t=0.1, the server may compute the location of the ball (by translating (0,0) and (1,1) into a position in real space, based on the known resolution and position of the first image-capture device), an angle of departure of the struck ball (in this case, 45°), the velocity of the ball (approximately 1.4 x the length of one unit in the Cartesian coordinate plane), a predicted location at time t=0.2 (the trans lation of (2,2) from the Cartesian coordinate plane into real space), among other factors. A third image taken at time t=0.2 may be compared with the second image taken at time t=0.1 to verify or correct the initial modeled trajectory, as well as to measure other ballistic qualities like accel eration. In addition, a change in the apparent size of the ball (i.e., the size of the ball as projected on the two-dimensional Cartesian plane) may be used to ascertain an approximate change in lo cation in three-dimensional space. The change in location in three-dimensional space may also be determined using three-dimensional image-capture devices.

[0053]At step 307, the ball may have traveled along its trajectory to a point too far from the first image-capture device for the first image-capture device to continue producing reliable images of the ball in motion. Accordingly, any of the third image-capture devices, which are deployed in the playing field, may take over primary tracking of the ball at an appropriate point. In embodi ments utilizing a central server to track the trajectory of the ball, the server may give different weight to different image-capture devices based on the location of the ball relative to each of them (e.g., it may be desirable to give the most weight to data produced from the image-capture device closest to the ball). Moreover, in some embodiments, any of the third image-capture de vices may pivot to maintain visual contact with the struck ball as it travels along its trajectory.

[0054]As discussed, one difficulty existing in the prior art is tracking the ball without using a marking or emitter associated with the ball. This difficulty is exacerbated in a deployed golfing system that may involve multiple balls in the air simultaneously with crossing trajectories. The present system does not necessarily use specially marked balls and so may need to solve this problem. In one embodiment, an image-capture device or the server may use edge detection or similar image-processing techniques to ascertain the presence of multiple balls in a captured im age. The centralized server may have a constantly updating database of the location, velocity, etc. of struck balls. If multiple balls are detected in an image, the measured velocity or the pre dicted trajectory may be used to ensure that the system does not confuse the balls.

[0055]At step 308, as the ball nears its anticipated target, tracking of the ball may be transitioned to the second image-capture device, which is placed in visual contact with the anticipated target. Tracking may be improved by continuing to monitor the position of the ball with any of the pre vious image-capture devices.

[0056]At step 309, a rest position of the ball is recorded. In some embodiments, the rest position may be defined as the position of the ball (either relative to the starting point or globally by ref erence to a model of the playing field) when the ball’s velocity is approximately zero. In some embodiments, the rest position may be some other steady state or extremum of a quantity of the ball, such as a maximum velocity.

[0057] At step 310, based on the recorded rest position of the ball, points are generated and as signed to the golfer who struck the golf ball. The points may be generated by reference to a points table based on a predetermined game type. For example, if the game is a“closest to the pin”-type of game, in which the goal is to land a golf ball nearest to the target, then the points generated may be proportional to the distance from the rest position of the golf ball to the target (e.g., points generated = 5 x [distance from rest position to target, in yards]). Alternatively, the points generated may be tiered by a points table (e.g., the golfer receives 20 points if the ball is within five yards of the target; 10 points if the ball is between five and ten yards of the target; etc.).

[0058] If the game is a precision-type game, in which the goal is to repeat certain qualities of a stroke over successive strokes (e.g., posture, final landing position of the ball, spin on the ball, etc.), then points may be assigned by similarities between a first strike and successive strikes. For example, if a first ball lands on Cartesian coordinate position (0,0,0), then the second ball may be scored by distance between the second ball’s landing position and (0,0,0). A third struck ball may be scored based on its landing position relative to the first two balls. In some embodi ments, the third struck ball may be given a score multiplier in addition to a raw score based on its precision relative to the first two balls. Similarly, if the scored quantity relates to a spin of the golf ball after being struck, then the first golf ball’s (rotational) angular momentum may be measured by the first image-capture device. The second golf ball may be scored based on the magnitude of the difference between the angular momentum of the second golf ball (as measured by the first image-capture device) and that of the first golf ball.

[0059] Moreover, as part of the game, a video of the golfer may be displayed alongside a trajecto ry of the golf ball on a display screen. In some embodiments, this video may be automatically edited with crowd noise or the like to improve enjoyment of the game.

[0060]A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, there should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure. While embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein by way of example using several illustrative draw ings, those skilled in the art will recognize the present disclosure is not limited to the embodi ments or drawings described. It should be understood the drawings and the detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. [0061]Although the present invention has generally been described with reference to the appa ratus involved and functionality, the present invention also includes associated method steps for bringing the functionality described into effect.

[0062]The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words“include”,“including”, and“in cludes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.

[0063]The phrases“at least one”,“one or more”, and“and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions“at least one of A, B and C”,“at least one of A, B, or C”,“one or more of A, B, and C”,“one or more of A, B, or C” and“A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

[0064]The term“a” or“an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms“a” (or “an”),“one or more” and“at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted the terms“comprising”,“including”, and“having” can be used interchangeably.

[0065] Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodi ments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various fea tures that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in com bination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, alt hough features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0066] Similarly, while method steps may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desira ble results. [0067] Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodi ments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various fea tures that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in com bination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, alt hough features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0068] Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated to gether in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0069]Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodi ments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order show, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclo sure.

[0070]In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure.