Radar based tracking system for golf driving range

Abstract

A golf ball range target system that includes a golf target, a golf ball dispenser, at least one golf ball, a target sensor, a tracking module, and a client computer is described. The golf target has a known geographic location and includes at least one golf target area. The golf ball dispenser houses golf balls. Each golf ball is associated with a particular player. The tracking module determines a golf ball flight trajectory for the golf ball associated with the particular player. The target sensor determines whether the golf ball has landed in a target area.

What is claimed is: 
     
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         22 . A golf ball target system comprising:
 at least one golf ball;   a game of skill associated with hitting the golf ball at a target area and awarding a skill based prize for hitting the ball at the target area;   at least one game of chance that includes a game session for the game of chance that is initiated when the game of skill is initiated;   the game of chance including a random game session result;   a game of chance prize that is awarded according to the random game session result; and   wherein the game of chance prize is awarded when the golf ball misses the target area.   
     
     
         23 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  further comprising a game of chance wager and a game of skill wager. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  wherein the target area further comprises a plurality of movable surface-mounted concentric circles. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of movable surface-mounted hazards. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  wherein the game of chance includes a spinning wheel, in which the prize is awarded according to the random game result of the spinning wheel. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  wherein the game of chance includes a slot machine reel that spins. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball target system of  claim 1  wherein the game of chance includes a bingo game. 
     
     
         29 . A golf ball target system comprising:
 a unique golf ball identifier associated with a golf ball;   a reader disposed within a golf driving range booth that reads the unique golf ball identifier corresponding to the golf ball;   at least one target area, in which the target area has a known geographic location and the target area reads the unique golf ball identifier;   a game of skill associated with hitting the RFID golf ball at the target area and awarding a skill based prize for hitting the RFID ball at one of the plurality of target areas;   at least one game of chance that includes a game session for the game of chance that is initiated when the game of skill is initiated;   the game of chance including a random game session result;   a game of chance prize that is awarded according to the random game session result; and   wherein the game of chance prize is awarded when the golf ball misses the target areas.   
     
     
         30 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  further comprising a game of chance wager and a game of skill wager. 
     
     
         31 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  wherein the target area further comprises a plurality of movable surface-mounted concentric circles. 
     
     
         32 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of movable surface-mounted hazards. 
     
     
         33 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  wherein the game of chance includes a spinning wheel, in which the prize is awarded according to the random game result of the spinning wheel. 
     
     
         34 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  wherein the game of chance includes a slot machine reel that spins. 
     
     
         35 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  wherein the game of chance includes a bingo game. 
     
     
         36 . A golf ball target system comprising:
 an RFID golf ball that includes a unique RFID golf ball identifier associated with the RFID golf ball;   an RFID reader disposed within a golf driving range booth that reads the plurality of RFID golf balls;   a plurality of target areas, in which each target area has a known geographic location and wherein each target area reads the RFID golf ball;   a game of skill associated with hitting the RFID golf ball at the golf target areas and awarding a skill based prize for hitting the RFID ball at one of the plurality of target areas;   at least one game of chance that includes a game session for the game of chance that is initiated when the game of skill is initiated;   the game of chance including a random game session result;   a game of chance prize that is awarded according to the random game session result; and   wherein the game of chance prize is awarded when the golf ball misses the target areas.   
     
     
         37 . The golf ball target system of  claim 15  wherein the target area further comprises a plurality of movable surface-mounted concentric circles. 
     
     
         38 . The golf ball target system of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of movable surface-mounted hazards. 
     
     
         39 . The golf ball target system of  claim 15  wherein the game of chance includes a spinning wheel, in which the prize is awarded according to the random game result of the spinning wheel. 
     
     
         40 . The golf ball target system of  claim 15  wherein the game of chance includes a slot machine reel that spins. 
     
     
         41 . The golf ball target system of  claim 15  wherein the game of chance includes a bingo game. 
     
     
         42 . The golf ball target system of  claim 8  further comprising a game of chance wager and a game of skill wager.