Method and system for locating a lost golf ball

Abstract

An object is applied to a golf ball after the golf ball is manufactured for the purpose of allowing the golf ball to be easily located if lost during play in a round of golf. The object is applied to the golf ball without adversely affecting the aerodynamic properties of the golf ball. The object can be applied using Pin Printing technology to at least one dimple of a golf ball. The object applied can be detected by a hand-held device operable to detect one or more properties of the object.

1 . A method of detecting the location of an golf ball, the method comprising: 
 receiving a golf ball;    locating an area on the golf ball;    transferring an object to the area on the golf ball;    detecting a property of the object transferred to the golf ball.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein locating an area on the golf ball further comprises rotating the golf ball.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the area on the golf ball is a dimple.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising storing the object in a reservoir  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising removing the object from the reservoir.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is one of: a highly reflective substance, a naturally radioactive substance, a RFID chip, and an organic substance.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the property includes any one of: reflected light, vapor, radioactivity and RF signal.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for determining detecting the location of an golf ball comprising: 
 a processor operable to execute computer program instructions; and    a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor, for performing the steps of:    receiving a golf ball;    locating an area on the golf ball;    transferring an object to the area on the golf ball;    detecting a property of the object transferred to the golf ball.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein locating an area on the golf ball further comprises rotating the golf ball.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the area on the golf ball is a dimple.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising computer program instructions executable by the processor, for removing the object from a reservoir  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the object is one of: a highly reflective substance, a naturally radioactive substance, a RFID chip, and an organic substance.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the property includes any one of: reflected light, vapor, radioactivity and RF signal.