Golf stroke information

Abstract

A scorekeeper may detect swing candidate and obtains a confirmation from a golfer that the swing candidate contributes to a golf score, provided that a sufficient gap in time or distance occurs after the last swing candidate is received. Next, the scorekeeper may receive a first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke, and in response, update a score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the first location. The scorekeeper may repeat these steps to obtain at least a second swing candidate that is verified by the golfer as contributing to the score. In response to these verified swing candidates, the scorekeeper updates the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and store the second location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for collecting golf stroke information, the method comprising:
 detecting a first swing candidate, the first swing candidate having a first location associated therewith, and in response determining whether secondary swing candidates fail to be received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location;   in response to a determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location, storing the first location, first prompting a golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate;   receiving a first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke, and in response, updating a score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the first location;   detecting a second swing candidate, the second swing candidate having a second location associated therewith, and in response, determining whether no secondary swing candidates are received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location;   in response to a determination of no secondary swing candidates being received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location storing the second location, second prompting the golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate; and   receiving a second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke, and in response, updating the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the second location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein first prompting and second prompting further comprises signaling a vibration generator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to a determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location, obtaining a club identity used to produce at least one stroke; and   collecting distance information associated with the club identity to form a statistical distribution concerning golf ball distances associated with the club identity to a golfer, and displaying a statistic related to the club identity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of obtaining the club identity is by receiving a signal from a radio transponder connected to the club. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the radio transponder is designed to emit detectable signals up to 10 centimeters from the radio transponder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying each location in a map showing relative locations of each of the first location and the second location with respect to features of a golf course, wherein the features comprise at least two selected from the group consisting of a location of the tee; a location of the green; a location of the pin; a location of a hazard and a location of a fairway.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising displaying a distance of the golfer, wherein the distance is to the second location or to a current hole. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 uploading at least the first location and the second location, each with a respective score cumulative up to each respective location to a server, wherein the cumulative score is one selected from the group consisting of strokes recorded by the golfer since beginning a round of golf, and strokes recorded by the golfer since teeing off.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the golfer is located on a green, and in response determining whether a location of the hole corresponding to the green is available from a public source;   in response to a determination that the green is not available from a public source, determining that hole coordinates are unavailable, and in response, soliciting the golfer to walk to the hole; and   receiving a signal that golfer is at the hole, and in response, storing the hole location.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, prompting the golfer to confirm a stroke count, including any penalties, from a corresponding tee to the hole. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of prompting the golfer to confirm a stroke count further comprises, displaying the first location and the second location stored since a last tee-off, on a display to the golfer. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product for collecting golf stroke information, the computer program product comprising:
 one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions, stored thereon the program instructions comprising:   computer usable program code configured to detect a first swing candidate, the first swing candidate having a first location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to determine whether secondary swing candidates fail to be received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location, in response to detecting a first swing candidate, the first swing candidate having a first location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to store the first location, first prompting a golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate, in response to a determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location;   computer usable program code configured to receive a first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update a score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the first location, in response to receiving the first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to detect a second swing candidate, the second swing candidate having a second location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to determine whether no secondary swing candidates are received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location, in response to detecting the second swing candidate;   computer usable program code configured to second prompt the golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate, in response to detecting no secondary swing candidates are received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location; and   computer usable program code configured to receive a second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the second location, in response to receiving the second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein first prompting and second prompting further comprises signaling a vibration generator. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to store the second location, in response to a determination of no secondary swing candidates being received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location;   computer usable program code configured to second prompt the golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate; and   computer usable program code configured to receive a second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the second location, in response to receiving the second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to obtain a club identity used to produce at least one stroke by receiving a signal from a radio transponder connected to the club, in response to the determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location; and   computer usable program code configured to collect distance information associated with the club identity to form a statistical distribution concerning golf ball distances associated with the club identity to a golfer, and display a statistic related to the club identity.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to display each location in a map showing relative locations of each of the first location and the second location with respect to features of a golf course, wherein the features comprise at least two selected from the group consisting of a location of the tee; a location of the green; a location of the pin; a location of a hazard and a location of a fairway.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising displaying a distance of the golfer, wherein the distance is to the second location or to a current hole. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to upload at least the first location and the second location, each with a respective score cumulative up to each respective location to a server, wherein the cumulative score is one selected from the group consisting of strokes recorded by the golfer since beginning a round of golf, and strokes recorded by the golfer since teeing off.   
     
     
         18 . A computer system for collecting golf stroke information, the computer system comprising:
 one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions, stored on the one or more storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising:   computer usable program code configured to detect a first swing candidate, the first swing candidate having a first location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to determine whether secondary swing candidates fail to be received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location, in response to detecting a first swing candidate, the first swing candidate having a first location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to store the first location, first prompting a golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate, in response to a determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location;   computer usable program code configured to receive a first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update a score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the first location, in response to receiving the first feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to detect a second swing candidate, the second swing candidate having a second location associated therewith;   computer usable program code configured to determine whether no secondary swing candidates are received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location, in response to detecting the second swing candidate;   computer usable program code configured to second prompt the golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate, in response to detecting no secondary swing candidates are received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location; and   computer usable program code configured to receive a second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the second location, in response to receiving the second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein first prompting and second prompting further comprises signaling a vibration generator. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to store the second location, in response to a determination of no secondary swing candidates being received for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the second location;   computer usable program code configured to second prompt the golfer to indicate whether zero, one or more strokes are to be associated with a last received swing candidate; and   computer usable program code configured to receive a second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to update the score to reflect at the least one stroke, and storing the second location, in response to receiving the second feedback from the golfer indicating at least one stroke;   computer usable program code configured to obtain a club identity used to produce at least one stroke by receiving a signal from a radio transponder connected to the club, in response to the determination of no swing candidates being for a predetermined time thereafter or distance from the first location; and   computer usable program code configured to collect distance information associated with the club identity to form a statistical distribution concerning golf ball distances associated with the club identity to a golfer, and display a statistic related to the club identity.   
     
     
         21 . The computer system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to display each location in a map showing relative locations of each of the first location and the second location with respect to features of a golf course, wherein the features comprise at least two selected from the group consisting of a location of the tee; a location of the green; a location of the pin; a location of a hazard and a location of a fairway.   
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying a distance of the golfer, wherein the distance is to the second location or to a current hole. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to upload at least the first location and the second location, each with a respective score cumulative up to each respective location to a server, wherein the cumulative score is one selected from the group consisting of strokes recorded by the golfer since beginning a round of golf, and strokes recorded by the golfer since teeing off.