Method, system and apparatus for capturing the critical parameters of a golf ball in flight and displaying those parameters to the individual golfers

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus is disclosed for utilizing the ability to capture the essential parameters of a golf ball in flight and to generate immediate feedback to the golfer regarding the drive. The apparatus can also pair the golf ball flight information with advertising in order to increase revenue to the golf course that employs the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf tee range finder system comprising:
 a golf tee range finder module capable of capturing certain parameters of the ball in flight;   a calculating module in communication with the range finder module, said calculating module being capable of receiving the data captured by the range finder module and calculating one or more of the following: the total carry distance, the estimated roll distance and the power transfer ratio;   a tee divider; and,   a display module located on the tee divider and in communication with the calculating module capable of receiving the data generated by the range finder module and the calculating module and displaying that information on a display screen.   
     
     
         2 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 1  wherein the display module comprises a video and audio display. 
     
     
         3 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 2  wherein the tee divider possesses at least one storage area, at least one golf bag support and at least one golf club support. 
     
     
         4 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 2 , wherein the range finder module uses electromagnetic radiation to capture at least one of the parameters of the golf hall in flight. 
     
     
         5 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 2  wherein the range finder module captures the at least one of the parameters of the golf ball in flight by reflecting electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in flight and comparing the frequency of the outgoing electromagnetic radiation with the frequency of the incoming electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         6 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 2  wherein the range finder module employs a Doppler radar to capture the at least one parameter of the golf ball in flight. 
     
     
         7 . The golf tee range finder system of  claim 2  wherein the range finder module utilizes a camera to capture multiple images of the ball in flight and employs a computer program to analyze those images in terms of their image size and position in relation to one another over time to generate the parameters of the golf ball in flight. 
     
     
         8 . The golf tee range finding system of  claim 2  wherein range finder module comprises at least two receiver units capable of receiving electromagnetic signals, which receiver units are placed strategically on the driving range, and further comprising golf balls capable of transmitting electromagnetic signals received by the receiver units and wherein the signals are then used by the calculating module to triangulate the positions of the golf ball as it is in flight. 
     
     
         9 . The golf tee range finding system of  claim 3  wherein the video display displays advertising as well as the parameters of the golf balls in flight. 
     
     
         10 . An advertising system to employ at a golf course driving range comprising:
 a golf tee range finder module capable of capturing certain parameters of the ball in flight;   a calculating module in communication with the range finder module, said calculating module being capable of receiving the data captured by the range finder module and calculating one or more of the following: the total carry distance, the estimated roll distance and the power transfer ratio;   a tee divider; and,   a display module located on the tee divider and in communication with the calculating module capable of receiving the data generated by the range finder module and the calculating module and displaying that information on a display screen along with audio and video advertisements.   
     
     
         11 . The advertising system of  claim 10  wherein the display module possesses a processor capable of determining which of one or more stored advertisements are most relevant to the displayed parameters and displaying those advertisements. 
     
     
         12 . The golf tee range finder of  claim 10  wherein the display module comprises a video and audio display. 
     
     
         13 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein the tee divider possesses at least one storage area, at least one golf bag support and at least one golf club support. 
     
     
         14 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein the range finder module uses electromagnetic radiation to capture at least one of the parameters of the golf ball in flight. 
     
     
         15 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein the range finder module captures the at least one of the parameters of the golf ball in flight by reflecting electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in flight and comparing the frequency of the outgoing electromagnetic radiation with the frequency of the incoming electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         16 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein the range finder module employs a Doppler radar to capture the at least one parameter of the golf ball in flight. 
     
     
         17 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein the range finder module utilizes a camera to capture multiple images of the ball in flight and employs a computer program to analyze those images in terms of their image size and position in relation to one another over time to generate the parameters of the golf ball in flight. 
     
     
         18 . The advertising system of  claim 11  wherein range finder module comprises at least two receiver units capable of receiving electromagnetic signals, which receiver units are placed strategically on the driving range, and further comprising golf balls capable of transmitting electromagnetic signals received by the receiver units and wherein the signals are then used by the calculating module to triangulate the positions of the golf ball as it is in flight. 
     
     
         19 . A golf tee range finder system comprising:
 a golf tee range finder module capable of capturing certain parameters of the ball in flight;   a calculating module in communication with the range finder module, said calculating module being capable of receiving the data captured by the range finder module and calculating one or more of the following: the total carry distance, the estimated roll distance and the power transfer ratio; and,   a display module in communication with the calculating module and capable of receiving the data generated by the range finder module and the calculating module and displaying that information on a display screen.   
     
     
         20 . The golf tee range finder of  claim 19  wherein the video display displays advertising as well as the parameters of the golf balls in flight.