Golf scoring, marketing, and reporting system and method of operation

Abstract

A system and method automatically report electronically recorded golf scores and other information to a golfer during or upon completion of a round of golf. A golfer operates a mobile terminal during play of a round of golf. The mobile terminal displays at least an electronic score card on its display. The mobile terminal may optionally display other information, such as advertisements, that may be of interest to the golfer. During play, the mobile terminal receives inputs from the golfer to record the golfer's scores. Other inputs may include selection of a displayed advertisement or purchase of a displayed product or service. Once the scores have been entered, the mobile terminal wirelessly transmits the scores and/or other information to a central server via a wireless subsystem. The scores and/or other information are then automatically communicated from the server to an email account and/or personal web portal account of the golfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf-related marketing and reporting system comprising:
 a first server coupled to an external communication network and operable to store personal accounts of a plurality of golfers, each personal account including a user profile and being created and customized by a respective golfer prior to play of a round of golf, the user profile including demographic information for the respective golfer, the first server being further operable to:
 receive advertisements from a plurality of advertisers, 
 receive information identifying golfers of the plurality of golfers that are playing rounds of golf, and 
 communicate an advertisement of the received advertisements to a group of golfers that are playing rounds of golf based on target marketing requirements of an advertiser of the advertisement and demographic information for each golfer in the group of golfers, wherein the target marketing requirements include demographics of golfers to which the advertisement is to be communicated; 
   a mobile terminal operable by a golfer during play of one of the rounds of golf, the golfer having a user profile stored in a personal account at the first server, the mobile terminal including:
 a processing device operable to control operation of the mobile terminal and to determine an identification of the golfer; 
 a transmitter operable under control of the processing device to wirelessly transmit at least the identification of the golfer; 
 a receiver operable under control of the processing device to wirelessly receive, subsequent to transmission of the identification of the golfer, at least one advertisement, wherein the at least one advertisement includes the advertisement of the advertiser when the demographic information stored in the user profile of the golfer matches demographics included in the target marketing requirements of the advertiser; 
 a display operable under control of the processing device to display the at least one advertisement and information relating to the round of golf being played by the golfer; and 
 a user interface operable to receive inputs from the golfer during the round of golf being played by the golfer, the golfer inputs including selection of an advertisement of the at least one advertisement, 
 wherein the transmitter is further operable under the control of the processing device to transmit information related to the selected advertisement; 
   a fixed wireless subsystem operable to at least receive the identification of the golfer and the information related to the selected advertisement from the mobile terminal and to transmit the at least one advertisement to the mobile terminal; and   a second server operably coupled to the fixed wireless subsystem and the external communication network, the second server operable to at least:
 receive the identification of the golfer from the fixed wireless subsystem, 
 communicate the identification of the golfer to the first server via the external communication network, 
 receive the at least one advertisement from the first server via the external communication network subsequent to communication of the identification of the golfer to the first server, 
 communicate the at least one advertisement to the fixed wireless subsystem for provision to the mobile terminal, 
 receive the information related to the selected advertisement from the fixed wireless subsystem subsequent to communication of the at least one advertisement to the fixed wireless subsystem, and 
 communicate the information related to the selected advertisement to the first server via the external communication network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal further includes an identification card detector operable under control of the processing device to detect a presence of the golfer at the mobile terminal, and wherein the processing device determines the identification of the golfer responsive to detection of an identification card of the golfer by the identification card detector. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface of the mobile terminal is a touch screen interface that is incorporated into the display of the mobile terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter of the mobile terminal is further operable under control of the processing device to transmit a request for a user profile of the golfer, the user profile of the golfer being stored in a personal account of the golfer at the first server and including personal profile information, supplemental information to be displayed to the golfer during the round of golf, and display arrangement instructions for displaying at least the supplemental information to the golfer at the mobile terminal, the display arrangement instructions corresponding to display arrangement customization performed by the golfer via the first server prior to the round of golf;
 wherein the receiver of the mobile terminal is further operable under control of the processing device to wirelessly receive the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information responsive to transmission of the request for the user profile of the golfer;   wherein the display of the mobile terminal is further operable under control of the processing device to display at least some of the received supplemental information according to the display arrangement instructions;   wherein the fixed wireless subsystem is further operable to receive the request for the user profile of the golfer from the mobile terminal and to transmit the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information to the mobile terminal; and   wherein the second server is further operable to receive the request for the user profile of the golfer from the fixed wireless subsystem, automatically communicate the request for the user profile of the golfer to the first server via the external communication network, receive the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information from the first server via the external communication network responsive to the request for the user profile of the golfer, and communicate the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information to the fixed wireless subsystem for provision to the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the round of golf displayed on the display includes an electronic scorecard, wherein the golfer inputs received by the user interface further include scores entered into the electronic scorecard, wherein the transmitter is further operable under the control of the processing device to transmit the scores to the fixed wireless subsystem, wherein the fixed wireless subsystem is further operable to receive the scores from the mobile terminal, wherein the second server is further operable to communicate the scores to the first server via the external communication network, and wherein the first server is further operable to receive the scores from the external communication and automatically communicate the scores to an electronic mail account of the golfer via at least the external communication network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the demographic information stored in the user profile of the golfer includes a golf handicap for the golfer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed wireless subsystem and the second server are located on grounds of a golf course being played by the golfer and wherein the first server is located remotely from the golf course. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a kiosk coupled to the second server and located on grounds of a golf course being played by the golfer, the kiosk being operable to enable the golfer to at least one of: access an electronic tee sheet, purchase one or more products advertised in the at least one advertisement, and access the personal account of the golfer. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operation of at least one server used in connection with a golf-related marketing and reporting system that includes a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal being remote from the at least one server and operable by a golfer during play of a round of golf, the method comprising:
 receiving advertisements and target marking requirements from a plurality of advertisers;   receiving, from the mobile terminal, an identification of the golfer;   accessing a user profile of the golfer, the user profile having been customized by the golfer and stored in a personal account of the golfer at the at least one server prior to the round of golf, the user profile including demographic information for the golfer;   determining demographics of the golfer based on the demographic information in the user profile;   determining target marketing requirements of an advertiser of the plurality of advertisers based on the received target marketing requirements; and   communicating an advertisement of the advertiser to the mobile terminal for display during the round of golf when the demographics of the golfer match the target marketing requirements of the advertiser.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 after communicating the advertisement to the mobile terminal, receiving, from the mobile terminal, a selection of the advertisement to produce a selected advertisement; and   automatically storing information related to the selected advertisement in the personal account of the golfer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one server includes a web portal server, the method further comprising:
 receiving, from the mobile terminal, a request for the user profile of the golfer, the user profile further including supplemental information to be displayed to the golfer during the round of golf and display arrangement instructions for displaying at least the supplemental information to the golfer on a display screen of the mobile terminal, the display arrangement instructions corresponding to display arrangement customization performed by the golfer via the web portal server.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 communicating an electronic scorecard to the mobile terminal;   receiving from the mobile terminal scores entered into the electronic scorecard; and   automatically communicating the scores to an electronic mail account of the golfer.   
     
     
         13 . A method for automatically providing information to a golfer during play of a round of golf, the method comprising:
 determining, by a mobile terminal operable by the golfer, an identification of the golfer;   wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile terminal, the identification of the golfer;   wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal and subsequent to transmission of the identification of the golfer, at least one advertisement providing targeted advertising to a group of golfers having demographics that match target marketing requirements of at least one advertiser of the at least one advertisement, the golfer being included in the group of golfers based on demographic information for the golfer stored in a user profile of the golfer at a remote server, the user profile having been customized by the golfer and stored in a personal account of the golfer at the remote server; and   displaying, on a display screen of the mobile terminal, the at least one advertisement.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the mobile terminal, inputs from the golfer during the round of golf, the golfer inputs including selection of an advertisement of the at least one advertisement; and   wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile terminal, information related to the selected advertisement responsive to receipt of the golfer inputs.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein wirelessly transmitting information related to the selected advertisement comprises:
 wirelessly transmitting information relating to the selected advertisement to the personal account of the golfer via at least the remote server.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information relating to the selected advertisement includes a hyperlink to a web site at which products of an advertiser identified in the selected advertisement can be purchased. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of displaying the at least one advertisement comprises:
 displaying, on the display screen of the mobile terminal, a plurality of advertisements in a predetermined arrangement.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined arrangement includes positioning each of the plurality of advertisements in a side-by-side arrangement around at least part of the display screen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined arrangement includes a plurality of advertisement positions, wherein each advertisement position is associated with a respective advertisement fee, and wherein at least one advertisement fee results from bidding among prospective advertisers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined arrangement includes positioning the plurality of advertisements in a side-by-side manner so as to completely surround a displayed score card. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile terminal, a request for the user profile of the golfer, the user profile further including supplemental information to be displayed to the golfer during the round of golf and display arrangement instructions for displaying at least the supplemental information to the golfer on the display screen of the mobile terminal, the display arrangement instructions corresponding to display arrangement customization performed by the golfer via the remote server;   wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal and responsive to the user profile request, the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information;   displaying, on the display screen of the mobile terminal, information relating to the round of golf and at least some of the received supplemental information according to the display arrangement instructions;   receiving, at the mobile terminal, inputs from the golfer during the round of golf, the golfer inputs relating at least to the round of golf; and   wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile terminal, information based on the golfer inputs to the personal account of the golfer via at least the remote server.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the round of golf is being played on a first golf course and a second round of golf is being played on a second golf course, the two rounds of golf forming at least part of a golf event, wherein the mobile terminal is located at the first golf course, and wherein the golfer inputs include scores entered into a first electronic golf score card displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by a second mobile terminal located at the second golf course, a second set of inputs into a second electronic golf score card from at least a second golfer during the second round of golf, the second set of inputs including a second set of scores obtained during play of the second round of golf;   wirelessly transmitting, by the second mobile terminal, at least the second set of scores to the mobile terminal located at the first golf course; and   displaying, by the mobile terminal located at the first golf course, the second set of scores on the display screen of the mobile terminal as a standing sheet for the golf event.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of receiving inputs from the golfer further comprises:
 receiving identifications of golf clubs used at particular times during play of the round of golf.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein wirelessly transmitting information based on the golfer inputs comprises:
 wirelessly transmitting information relating to distances between locations of a ball of the golfer and hole pins electronically measured during play of the round of golf.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the golfer inputs include scores entered into an electronic golf score card displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal, the method further comprising:
 determining, by the mobile terminal, whether the electronic score card has been completed;   wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting information based on the golfer inputs further includes wirelessly transmitting at least the scores upon determining that the electronic score card has been completed.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the golfer is accompanied by a second golfer, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile terminal, an electronic signature of the second golfer attesting to the scores entered into the electronic score card;   
       wherein determining whether the electronic score card has been completed includes:
 determining whether the electronic score card has been filled out by the golfer; and 
 determining whether the electronic signature of the second golfer has been received. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information relating to the round of golf displayed on the display screen includes an electronic scorecard and wherein the golfer inputs include scores entered into the electronic scorecard, the method further comprising:
 upon completion of the round of golf, automatically communicating at least the scores to an electronic mail account of the golfer via at least the remote server.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal and responsive to the request, at least some of the personal profile information;   determining, at the mobile terminal, yardage information relating to yardage of a golf ball of the golfer to a hole on a golf course during the round of golf; and   
       recommending, by the mobile terminal, a club for use by the golfer based at least on the received personal profile information and the yardage information. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, at the mobile terminal and responsive to the request, at least some of the personal profile information; and   recommending, by the mobile terminal, a procedure for playing a hole on a golf course during the round of golf based on the received personal profile information.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 video recording a swing of the golfer during at least part of the round of golf.   
     
     
         31 . A mobile terminal for use in a golf-related marketing and reporting system that includes at least one remote server that stores personal accounts of a plurality of golfers and receives advertisements from a plurality of advertisers, the mobile terminal being operable by a golfer during play of a round of golf, the golfer having a user profile stored in a personal account at a remote server, the user profile including demographic information for the golfer, the mobile terminal comprising:
 an identification card detector operable to receive identification information from an identification card of the golfer;   a processing device operable to control operation of the mobile terminal and determine an identification of the golfer from the identification information received by the identification card detector;   a transmitter operable under control of the processing device to wirelessly transmit at least the identification of the golfer to the at least one remote server;   a receiver operable under control of the processing device to wirelessly receive, subsequent to transmission of the identification of the golfer, at least one advertisement from the at least one remote server, wherein the at least one advertisement was selected for communication to the mobile terminal based on the demographic information stored in the user profile of the golfer matching demographics indicated in target marketing requirements of an advertiser;   a display operable under control of the processing device to display the at least one advertisement and information relating to the round of golf played by the golfer; and   a user interface operable to receive inputs from the golfer during the round of golf played by the golfer, the golfer inputs including selection of an advertisement of the at least one advertisement,   wherein the transmitter is further operable under the control of the processing device to transmit information related to the selected advertisement to the at least one remote server.   
     
     
         32 . The mobile terminal of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the processing device is further operable to wirelessly transmit, via the transmitter, a request for the user profile of the golfer, the user profile further including supplemental information to be displayed to the golfer during the round of golf and display arrangement instructions for displaying at least the supplemental information to the golfer on the display of the mobile terminal, the display arrangement instructions corresponding to display arrangement customization performed by the golfer via the at least one remote server prior to play of the round of golf;   the receiver is further operable to wirelessly receive the display arrangement instructions and at least some of the supplemental information responsive to the user profile request; and   the processing device is further operable to cause information relating to the round of golf and at least some of the received supplemental information to be displayed on the display according to the display arrangement instructions.