Method For Conducting A Golf Tournament Over A Plurality Of Geographic Locations

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is provided for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations. The method includes the steps of providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each geographic location and directing one or more players to simultaneously commence play at the golf course in each geographic location. The method further includes the steps of recording a score of each player at the golf course in each geographic location and ranking the scores of the players over the plurality of geographic locations with a computer. The method further includes the step of broadcasting the ranking of the scores over a broadcast medium linked to the computer. Another method and system are also included.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations, said method comprising:
 providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each of the plurality of geographic locations;   directing one or more players to simultaneously commence play at the golf course in each geographic location;   recording a score of each player at the golf course in each geographic location;   ranking the scores of the players over the plurality of geographic locations with a computer; and   broadcasting the ranking of the scores over a broadcast medium linked to the computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recording step further comprises recording data related to playing conditions at each geographic location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the data includes at least one of wind speed, temperature, precipitation and altitude at each geographic location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adjusting the ranking of the scores of the players into a net ranking of the scores with the computer, said adjusting based on the data related to the playing conditions at each geographic location; and   broadcasting the net ranking of the scores over the broadcast medium.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the broadcasting step further comprises broadcasting the data related to the playing conditions for each score within the ranking of the scores. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises broadcasting a respective ranking of the scores for the players over the plurality of geographic locations, wherein the scores included within each respective ranking are based on a respective range of the data related to the playing conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recording further comprises recording data related to each player at each geographic location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data includes at least one of age, gender and handicap of each player. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 adjusting the ranking of the scores of the players into a net ranking of the scores, said adjusting based on the data related to each player at each geographic location; and   broadcasting the net ranking of the scores over the broadcast medium.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the broadcasting step further comprises broadcasting the data related to each player for each score within the ranking of the scores. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises broadcasting a respective ranking of the scores for the players over the plurality of geographic locations, wherein the scores included within each respective ranking are based on a respective range of the data related to each player. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of geographic locations are a plurality of distinct metropolitan areas. 
     
     
         13 . A method for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations, said method comprising:
 providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each of the plurality of geographic locations;   directing one or more players to simultaneously commence play at the golf course in each geographic location;   recording a score of each player in a local database at each geographic location;   transmitting the score of each player in each geographic location from the local database to a central database;   ranking the scores of all of the players over the plurality of geographic locations with a computer linked to the central database; and   broadcasting the ranking of the scores over a website linked to the computer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the recording step further comprises:
 recording playing condition data at each geographic location in the local database, said playing condition data including at least one of wind speed, temperature, precipitation and altitude; and   recording player data of each player at each geographic location in the local database, said player data including at least one of age, gender and handicap.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adjusting the ranking of the scores into a net ranking of the scores, based on at least one of the playing condition data and the player data for each score; and   broadcasting the net ranking of the scores over the website.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises broadcasting the ranking of the scores and broadcasting at least one of the playing condition data and the player data for each score within the ranking of the scores. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises broadcasting a respective ranking of the scores, wherein the scores included within each respective ranking are determined based on a respective range of playing condition data or player data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the respective ranking of the scores includes scores based on one of:
 the wind speed at the geographic location of the score being greater than a threshold wind speed; and   the wind speed at the geographic location of the score being less than a threshold wind speed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the respective ranking of the scores includes scores based on one of:
 the handicap of the player is less than a handicap threshold; and   the handicap of the player is greater than a handicap threshold.   
     
     
         20 . A system for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations, said system comprising:
 a local database maintaining data about a golf course with a fixed layout in each of the plurality of geographic locations, said local database configured to store gross scores of each player, playing condition data and course condition data at the golf course at each geographic location, said playing condition data including wind speed data and altitude data;   a computer located at a central database, said computer configured to receive the gross scores, the playing condition data and the course condition data from the local database at each geographic location;   wherein the computer is configured to calculate a par adjustment of each hole of the golf course at each geographic location, based on the playing condition data and course condition data from the local database at each geographic location;   wherein the computer is configured to adjust the gross scores of the players at the golf course at each geographic location into net scores based on the par adjustment of each hole of the golf course at each geographic location;   and wherein the computer is configured to upload the net scores to a website.