Target Golf Game System

Abstract

A golf target system featuring a hitting bay including a golf ball launch monitor system, a playing area including a plurality of illuminated panels, and a controller in communication with the golf ball launch monitor system and the plurality of illuminated panels, wherein the controller selectively controls the illumination of the plurality of panels to define one or more visual targets observable from the hitting bay and receives information from the golf ball launch monitor system such that, when a golf ball is hit from the hitting bay towards the playing area, the golf ball launch monitor system communicates data to the controller sufficient for the controller to identify a landing position of the golf ball with respect to the one or more visual targets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf target system comprising:
 a hitting bay including a golf ball launch monitor system;   a playing area including a plurality of illuminated panels; and   a controller in communication with the golf ball launch monitor system and the plurality of illuminated panels, wherein the controller selectively controls the illumination of the plurality of panels to define one or more visual targets observable from the hitting bay and receives information from the golf ball launch monitor system such that, when a golf ball is hit from the hitting bay towards the playing area, the golf ball launch monitor system communicates data to the controller sufficient for the controller to identify a landing position of the golf ball with respect to the one or more visual targets.   
     
     
         2 . The golf target system of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting bay further includes a user interface in communication with the controller such that the user interface receives information related to the landing position of the golf ball with respect to the one or more visual targets. 
     
     
         3 . The golf target system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface communicates a user's selection of the illumination of the plurality of panels defining one or more visual targets observable from the hitting bay to the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The golf target system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface displays target information related to the one or more visual targets observable from the hitting bay. 
     
     
         5 . The golf target system of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball launch monitor system includes a first camera and a second camera. 
     
     
         6 . The golf target system of  claim 5 , wherein the first camera communicates information to the controller regarding an initial position of the ball hit from the hitting bay and the second camera communicates information to the controller regarding a subsequent position of the ball hit from the hitting bay. 
     
     
         7 . The golf target system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more panels positioned within the playing area and are angled towards the hitting bay. 
     
     
         8 . The golf target system of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the panels are supported by a pivot point enabling the positioning of the supported panel within a range of angles. 
     
     
         9 . The golf target system of  claim 1 , wherein the identified landing position of the golf ball is calculated based on the information received from the golf ball launch monitor system. 
     
     
         10 . The golf target system of  claim 1 , wherein the identified landing position of the golf ball is observed based on the information received from the golf ball launch monitor system. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball flight tracking system comprising:
 a first camera;   a second camera;   a controller communicatively coupled;   wherein the controller receives from the first camera data regarding a first location of a golf ball prior to the ball being struck and receives from the second camera data regarding a second location of the ball subsequent to the ball being struck;   wherein the controller determines a landing location of the golf ball by utilizing the data regarding the balls first and second positions.