Management of golf tournament scoring data

Abstract

A scoring module for managing golf tournament scoring data may include a score management device, location device, and an object detection device. The score management device may include a user interface having a display. The object detection device may be used to determine ball locations on a golf course from a location remote from the ball locations. The scoring module may be movable throughout the golf course during play of a golf tournament and the location device may be employed to determine a current location of the scoring module following each move. Determination of ball locations may utilize the current location of the scoring module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scoring module for managing golf tournament scoring data, comprising:
 a score management device comprising a user interface including a display;   a location device configured to communicate with one or more location services;   an object detection device configured to detect ball locations from a location remote from the ball locations, wherein the scoring module is movable throughout a golf course during a golf event;   one or more processors;   one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors configure the scoring module to:   receive scoring data collected by one or more tracking systems during a golf tournament, wherein the scoring data comprises stroke data of players competing in the golf event and location data of golf balls hit by the players;   display the received scoring data on the display;   determine a current location of the scoring module relative to the golf course following each move using the location device; and   enable management operations with respect to the scoring data.   
     
     
         2 . The scoring module of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: plot location data on a hole graphic representation on the display of the score management device corresponding to a current shot of a player, wherein the location data was collected by one or more of the tracking systems. 
     
     
         3 . The scoring module of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more tracking systems comprise two or more of:
 a shot prediction system configured to predict ball flight and final resting positions using ball flight data collected by one or more radar devices;   an automated scoring system configured to track balls hit by players using at least a camera device employing computer vision to identify players and balls; or   a companion scoring system wherein a scorer enters stroke events into a companion device while accompanying players during play.   
     
     
         4 . The scoring module of  claim 3 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: display in the hole graphic representation source identifiers with respect to the plots that identify which tracking system is the source of the location data. 
     
     
         5 . The scoring module of  claim 2 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: provide a user option to verify location data corresponding to a location data plot or input new location data for the current shot. 
     
     
         6 . The scoring module of  claim 5 , wherein the object detection device comprises a laser rangefinder and wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to:
 determine a ball location on the golf course for input as new location data for the current shot utilizing a distance measurement captured by the laser rangefinder and the determined current location of the scoring module.   
     
     
         7 . The scoring module of  claim 6 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: with respect to input of new location data for the current shot, provide a user option to input the new ball location data via interaction with the hole graphic representation to plot the new ball location or utilization of the laser rangefinder. 
     
     
         8 . The scoring module of  claim 1 , wherein the object detection device comprises a laser rangefinder and wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to:
 determine a ball location on the golf course utilizing a distance measurement captured by the laser rangefinder and the determined current location of the scoring module.   
     
     
         9 . The scoring module of  claim 8 , wherein the location device comprises a GNSS antenna, and wherein the GNSS antenna is configured to receive correction data from a GNSS antenna base station of a local location network positioned at a known location. 
     
     
         10 . The scoring module of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to:
 display a shot hit indication on the hole graphic representation when a shot is taken on a hole, wherein the shot hit indication comprises:
 a line from where the shot was taken to a pin of the hole; and 
 a distance to the pin. 
   
     
     
         11 . The scoring module of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to execute a score management tool configured to enable score management operations via interaction with the score management device comprising one or more of:
 entering strokes, drops, or penalties;   altering timestamps with respect to scoring data captured by the one or more tracking systems;   correcting shot from locations set by the one or more tracking systems; or   deleting strokes collected by the one or more tracking systems.   
     
     
         12 . The scoring module of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: analyze the received scoring data to automatically identify anomalies; and display action messages corresponding to identified anomalies on the display for resolution. 
     
     
         13 . The scoring module of  claim 12 , wherein the anomalies comprise at least one of: strokes without corresponding ball location coordinates; shot distances exceeding predetermined thresholds; multiple consecutive penalties or drops; tracking system offline conditions; non-sequential player stroke patterns within a group; multiple locations present for a particular stroke; multiple strokes present for a particular location; strokes present without corresponding locations; locations present without corresponding strokes; strokes or locations present without player identification; stroke coordinates not closer to a pin location than previous stroke coordinates; time gaps between strokes exceeding a predefined period; multiple strokes from tee location without penalties; or non-typical scores for a player. 
     
     
         14 . The scoring module of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further configure the scoring module to: display a hole graphic representation responsive to selection of an action message; plot available location data from the one or more tracking systems on the hole graphic representation; and enable user verification or correction of the anomalous scoring data. 
     
     
         15 . The scoring module of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further configure the score management device to: flag reviewed anomalies as completed; store validated scoring data; and transmit resolved anomaly data to a data management system. 
     
     
         16 . The scoring module of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further configure the score management device to: compare zone locations determined by different tracking systems; translate coordinates between coordinate systems; and generate notifications when zone and coordinate determinations are inconsistent. 
     
     
         17 . The scoring module of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further configure the score management device to: enable resolution of anomalies comprising: collection of new location data using an object detection device; modification of existing stroke scoring data; entering missing scoring data; or validating or canceling scoring data collected by tracking systems. 
     
     
         18 . A method of managing golf tournament scoring data, comprising:
 receiving, by a score management device of a scoring module, scoring data collected by one or more tracking systems during a golf tournament, wherein the scoring data comprises stroke data of players competing on a golf course and location data of golf balls hit by the players;   displaying the received scoring data on a display of the score management device;   
       determining a current location of the scoring module relative to the golf course following each move of the scoring module using a location device of the scoring module;
 enabling management operations with respect to the scoring data. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 plotting location data on a hole graphic representation on the display of the score management device corresponding to a current shot of a player, wherein the location data was collected by one or more of the tracking systems, the one or more tracking systems comprise two or more of:
 a shot prediction system configured to predict ball flight and final resting positions using ball flight data collected by one or more radar devices; 
 an automated scoring system configured to track balls hit by players using at least a camera device employing computer vision to identify players and balls; or 
 a companion scoring system wherein a scorer enters stroke events into a companion device while accompanying players during play; 
   displaying in the hole graphic representation source identifiers with respect to the plots that identify which tracking system is the source of the location data;   providing a user option to verify location data corresponding to a location data plot or input new location data for the current shot;   determining a ball location on the golf course for input as new location data for the current shot utilizing a distance measurement captured by an object detection device of the scoring module and the determined current location of the scoring module.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 analyzing the received scoring data to automatically identify anomalies;   displaying action messages corresponding to identified anomalies on the display for resolution;   plotting available location data from the one or more tracking systems in a hole graphic representation; and   enabling resolution of anomalies comprising:
 collection of new location data using an object detection device; 
 modification of existing scoring data; 
 entering missing scoring data; or 
 validating or canceling scoring data collected by tracking systems, 
   wherein the anomalies comprise at least one of:
 strokes without corresponding ball location coordinates; shot distances exceeding predetermined thresholds; multiple consecutive penalties or drops; tracking system offline conditions; non-sequential player stroke patterns within a group; multiple locations present for a particular stroke; multiple strokes present for a particular location; strokes present without corresponding locations; locations present without corresponding strokes; strokes or locations present without player identification; stroke coordinates not closer to a pin location than previous stroke coordinates; time gaps between strokes exceeding a predefined period; multiple strokes from tee location without penalties; or non-typical scores for a player.