Rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining and providing user specific suggestions for golfing applications

Abstract

A rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining and providing user specific suggestions for golfing applications wherein a user enters at least one club type and associated representative user range for the at least one club type to a data store associated with a rangefinding instrument. The instrument determines a range to a selected point on a golf course and extrapolates and displays a suggested club type appropriate to the determined range from the stored data. Other factors, such as the course terrain, weather and/or soil conditions may be analyzed to provide an alternative suggested club type for the same determined distance.

1 . A rangefinding instrument comprising: 
 a user input for providing data to said instrument indicative of at least one golf club type and at least one representative user range for said at least one golf club type;    a data store associated with said instrument and said user input for maintaining said at least one golf club type and said at least one representative user range as a first correlated data set;    a processor coupled to said data store for computing at least one other correlated data set indicative of another golf club type and associated representative user range based upon a relationship in said first correlated data set;    a rangefinder for determining a range to a selected point on a golf course; and    a display coupled to said processor and said rangefinder for indicating a suggested golf club type based upon at least one of said first or one other correlated data sets and said determined range to said selected point.    
   
   
       2 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said determined range.  
   
   
       3 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  wherein said display is an in-sight display.  
   
   
       4 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a tilt sensor coupled to said processor for indicating an angular inclination of said selected point from said instrument for possible alteration of said suggested golf club type based upon said determined range and said angular inclination.    
   
   
       5 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 4  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said angular inclination of said selected point.  
   
   
       6 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a wind speed and direction sensor coupled to said processor for indicating a wind direction at said instrument for possible alteration of said suggested club type based upon said determined range and said wind speed and direction.    
   
   
       7 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 6  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.  
   
   
       8 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  further comprising said user input coupled to said processor for entering a wind speed and direction at said selected point for possible alteration of said suggested club type based upon said determined range and said wind speed and direction.  
   
   
       9 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 8  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.  
   
   
       10 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  further comprising said user input coupled to said processor for entering a ground condition at said selected point for possible alteration of said suggested club type based upon said range and said ground condition.  
   
   
       11 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 8  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said ground condition.  
   
   
       12 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 1  wherein said user input is further operative for entering at least one user identification associated with said first and said at least one other correlated data sets.  
   
   
       13 . A rangefinding instrument comprising: 
 a processor;    a rangefinder coupled to said processor for determining a range to a selected point on a golf course green;    a tilt sensor coupled to said processor for indicating an angular inclination of said selected point from said instrument; and    a display coupled to said processor for displaying an indication of a suggested aim point based upon said range and said angular inclination.    
   
   
       14 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said determined range.  
   
   
       15 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  wherein said display is an in-sight display.  
   
   
       16 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  wherein said indication of said suggested aim point is a graphical indication of said aim point.  
   
   
       17 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  wherein said indication of said suggested aim point is a textual indication of said aim point.  
   
   
       18 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said angular inclination of said selected point.  
   
   
       19 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a wind speed and direction sensor coupled to said processor for indicating a wind direction at said instrument for possible alteration of said suggested aim point based upon said determined range, said angular inclination and said wind speed and direction.    
   
   
       20 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 19  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.  
   
   
       21 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 13  further comprising a user input coupled to said processor for entering a ground condition at said selected point for possible alteration of said suggested aim point based upon said range, said angular inclination and said ground condition.  
   
   
       22 . The rangefinding instrument of  claim 21  wherein said display is further operative to indicate said ground condition.  
   
   
       23 . A method associated with a golf game comprising: 
 entering at least one club type and associated representative user range for said at least one club type to a data store associated with a rangefinding instrument;    determining a range to a selected point on a golf course with said rangefinding instrument;    extrapolating a suggested club type appropriate to said determined range from said at least one club type and associated representative user range; and    displaying said suggested club type to a user of said rangefinding instrument.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the step of: 
 computing at least said suggested club type and an associated representative user range for said at least one other club type for retention in said data store.    
   
   
       25 . A golfing instrument comprising: 
 a user input for providing data to said instrument indicative of at least one golf club type, at least one representative user range for said at least one golf club type and a range to a selected point on a golf course;    a data store associated with said instrument and said user input for maintaining said at least one golf club type and said at least one representative user range as a first correlated data set;    a processor associated with said data store and said user input for computing at least one other correlated data set indicative of another golf club type and associated representative user range based upon a relationship in said first correlated data set; and    a display coupled to said processor for indicating a suggested golf club type based upon at least one of said first or one other correlated data sets and said input range to said selected point.