Systems for locating a golf ball position of a plurality of golfers

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining the at-rest position of the golf ball of one or more golfers during tournament play. Beacons worn either by a golfer or another person associated with the golfer's playing group collect or receive a location signal from one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites, wherein the signal's accuracy can be enhanced using real time kinematic (RTK) correction data. Location signals collected or received by the beacons are requested by, and transmitted back to, a portable device in radio frequency (RF) communication with one or more of the beacons and operated by the user. Methods and systems of the present invention can also utilize a laser rangefinder, operated by the user, to measure line-of-sight distance, inclination angle, and azimuth to a golfer's golf ball from the user's determined GNSS location when the beacon is worn by the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 643,884 filed on May 7, 2024, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to systems used locate a golf ball position for one or more golfers on a golf course during tournament play.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Recently, golf telecasts have communicated an increasing quantity of information to viewers regarding such items as: scoring; player equipment and statistics; sponsor information; the position of a player's ball or other course features; and distance(s) to a plurality of targets on a golf hole, including but not limited to hazards, natural features, and the pin on a green. Much of this same information is also communicated via the Internet to supplement the telecast and provide additional information to golf consumers.

[0004] In one example, the PGA TOUR utilizes ShotLink™, a scoring system and platform that captures and reports vital information for every shot, by every player, in real-time during tournament competition. ShotLink™ works by calculating the exact locations and distances between any two points—typically between the golf ball and the pin—using a digital image of each hole mapped in an x,y-coordinate system prior to the tournament and / or round. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are used to record different layers and elevations utilized to denote the locations of greens, fairways, bunkers, water, rough, trees and other course elements within the coordinate system.

[0005] Since 2003, ShotLink™ has compiled and stored data for millions of golf shots, all of which are tracked by a team of spotters who accompany each pairing and use wireless handheld devices to record and transmit data, including distance, lie, location and score, from every hole, for each player. This information is sent to the ShotLink™ trailer on site, laser operator volunteers throughout the course, and to a front-line application that packages and delivers the data to the media, broadcasters, and spectators at the event site. Successfully pulling off such a complex system is a highly labor- and equipment-intensive process requiring as many as 400 volunteers and staff per tournament, for more than 30 tournaments events per year. Such tournaments commonly contain a field of up to 144 players competing simultaneously throughout the entire golf course over four days.

[0006] In another example, the PGA TOUR has also developed its own score tracking and tournament management system (STTM), which includes a tracking module, companion device, location system, and scoring system (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,607,601 and 11,745,084, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties). Each tracking module worn by a player regularly transmits its current location coordinates over an interval, for example, every five or ten seconds, to the location system, which saves and stores the accumulated location coordinates in a database. Tracking modules either comprise: a cellular modem to connect directly to the Internet and upload, via the cloud, location coordinates and time stamps associated with the location coordinates; or, components configured to communicate with a plurality of cellular antennas and / or mesh networks positioned throughout the course, which perform the task of uploading the location coordinates and associated time stamps to the Internet.

[0007] In parallel with the automatic collection of location coordinates, walking scorers associated with each playing group carry a portable scoring device to document a “stroke event” each time one of the golfers in the playing group takes a stroke. Each stroke event is then logged into a separate scoring system, which accumulates each of the golfer's stroke events onto a virtual scorecard for the round. Each score on the player's virtual scorecard represents the number of strokes (stroke events) made on each hole, which is saved and communicated to a scoring database for all the players competing in the round and / or for the tournament.

[0008] Because the location system and scoring systems independently operate to obtain location coordinates and document scoring events, the location of a player at the time of the stroke event can only be determined upon synchronizing the time stamp of the stroke event with time stamps associated with each of the regularly-generated location coordinates. As a result, extensive, precise, and accurate time synchronization of all tracking modules, the location system, the scoring system, and other components of the STTM is required to query and pair data across systems to avoid causing data synchronization issues, such as if a stroke event reaches the scoring system prior to receiving the most recent (or relevant) location coordinates.

[0009] Further, the continuous obtaining and uploading of location coordinates by the tracking modules over a wireless connection requires a substantial amount of battery power, particularly in tracking modules comprising a cellular modem. Accordingly, for the tracking module to remain operational throughout an entire round, which can last up to about six hours, the tracking module must necessarily be robust in size and weight to house such a high-capacity battery. Although such bulky tracking modules may be suitable for men playing on the PGA TOUR, such a form factor can interfere with the golf swings of smaller individuals, including women and juniors.

[0010] Ultimately, the technical, financial, and personnel burden that must be overcome just to implement either or both of ShotLink™ or the PGA TOUR's STTM at a single event can be onerous, let alone for an entire season, particularly for organizations and tours that may not have access to the resources that large corporate sponsors can provide. Even at tournaments where many of the ground-level operators are local volunteers, a substantial number of employees is still required to train and manage the volunteers at each location.

[0011] Accordingly, there is a continued need to optimize processes and systems for data collection and content delivery to television viewers and / or internet consumers of golf tournaments.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention describes equipment and systems utilizable to determine the at-rest position of a golf ball, in real-time, of one or more golfers competing in a golf tournament at a golf course. Generally, golfers competing in a high-end amateur or professional tournament are assigned to a playing group of two to four golfers, each of whom may have a caddy to carry their clubs and assist them during play. Depending on the event, each playing group may also comprise a couple to several people that may perform various functions associated with the tournament or the golfers themselves, including but not limited to tournament officials, rules officials, walking scorers, scoreboard operators, camera operators, broadcast analysts, coaches, parents, sponsors, and others.

[0013] One person associated with a playing group may be assigned to wear a beacon configured to collect or receive a location signal transmitted from one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites and transmit that location to a portable device operated by either the same person or a different person associated with the playing group. Each beacon location can be accumulated on the portable device or transmitted to one or more systems external to the portable device.

[0014] In conjunction with determining the location of the beacon, the at-rest position of a golf ball can also be approximated or determined using the location of the beacon itself in relation to the ball, or by mathematical methods upon determining the slope distance, angle, and azimuth to the ball from a hand-held laser rangefinder operated by the person wearing the beacon. Slope distance, angle, and azimuth values can be transmitted from the laser rangefinder to the portable device, which can either determine the at-rest position of the ball natively or transmit the GNSS location of the beacon and the relative position of the ball relative to the rangefinder to one or more systems external to the portable device. Such methods are described in further detail below.

[0015] In one non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, a method of locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can comprise the steps of: requesting, by a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising one or more golfers, a GNSS location of a beacon worn by the user, wherein the request is made by the portable device to the beacon; collecting or receiving, by the beacon, a location signal associated with the beacon, from one or more GNSS satellites; transmitting, by the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon to the portable device via the first RF communications link; measuring, using a hand-holdable rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of the golf ball, wherein the relative position of the golf ball is determined from the straight-line distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf ball relative to the user; transmitting, by the rangefinder, the relative position of the golf ball to the portable device via a second RF communications link between the rangefinder and the portable device; and determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf ball.

[0016] In various embodiments, the azimuth corresponds to the angle formed from a first imaginary line extending from the golf ball to the user, and from a second imaginary line extending from the user to magnetic north. In other embodiments, the azimuth corresponds to the angle formed from a first imaginary line extending from the golf ball to the user, and from a second imaginary line extending from the user to a fixed secondary location. One such non-limiting example of a fixed secondary location is the golf pin located on the green of a particular golf hole.

[0017] In various embodiments, the method for locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can further comprise the step of determining the distance of the golf ball to the golf pin position on the golf hole. In some embodiments, the further step of determining the distance of the golf ball to the pin position can comprise the steps of: determining the GNSS location of a pin position on a golf hole; storing the GNSS location of the pin position within a memory of the portable device; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored GNSS location of the pin position with the determined at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the pin position. In one non-limiting example, the pin position can be determined prior to, or during, the round, by using a portable device to request the GNSS location of a beacon worn by a user standing at the pin position, or by positioning the beacon on the golf pin or within the hole itself. In another non-limiting example, the distance of the golf ball to the pin position can be determined without determining the GNSS location of the pin prior to, or during, the round, using the laser rangefinder. In various embodiments, the method can further comprise the steps of: storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device; measuring, using the rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of a golf pin on a golf hole, wherein the relative position of the golf pin is determined from a straight-line distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf ball relative to the user; determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf pin, upon geometrically applying the measured relative position of the golf pin to the GNSS location of the beacon; and computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored at-rest position of the golf ball with the determined at-rest position of the golf pin, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the golf pin.

[0018] In various embodiments, and in combination with any of the embodiments described above, the method for locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can further comprise the step of determining the distance of a golfer's golf shot. In some embodiments, the further step of determining the distance of the golf shot can comprise the steps of: storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device, thereby accumulating a first at-rest position of the golf ball; striking, by the golfer, a golf shot that displaces the golf ball from the first at-rest position of the golf ball; determining a second at-rest position of the golf ball; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored first at-rest position of the golf ball with the second at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance of the golf shot.

[0019] In another embodiment, the distance of a golf shot from a tee box on a golf hole can be determined, comprising the steps of: determining the GNSS location of the tee box; storing the GNSS location of the tee box within a memory of the portable device; striking, by the golfer, a golf shot that displaces the golf ball from the tee box; determining the at-rest position of the golf ball after the golf shot; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored GNSS location of the tee box with the determined at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance the golf ball was struck from the tee box to the at-rest position.

[0020] In another non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, a method of locating the at-rest position of the golfer's ball can comprise the steps of: addressing the golf ball, by the golfer, in an address position; requesting, by a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising one or more golfers, a GNSS location of a beacon worn by the golfer, wherein the request is made by the portable device to the beacon; collecting or receiving, by the beacon, a location signal associated with the beacon, from one or more GNSS satellites; and transmitting, by the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon to the portable device via an RF communications link from the portable device to the beacon, wherein the GNSS location of the beacon is used as a proxy for the location of the golf ball.

[0021] In various embodiments, the method can further comprise a step of applying, by the portable device, a correction factor to the GNSS location of the beacon, the correction factor corresponding to the beacon's distance from the golf ball at the address position. In various embodiments, the correction factor is unique to the golfer and based upon the golfer's profile information, which can include at least one value selected from the group consisting of the golfer's name, height, hip height, arm length, swing dexterity (left- or right-handed), equipment data, and any combination thereof, wherein the golfer's equipment data comprises one or more data points for one or more of the golfer's golf clubs, the one or more data points selected from the group consisting of: club type, club brand, club model, loft, lie angle, shaft length, and any combination thereof. In various embodiments, the golfer's profile information and computer-readable instructions for determining the correction factor from the golfer's profile information can be stored within the portable device's memory.

[0022] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the accuracy of the GNSS location of the beacon can be enhanced upon applying real-time kinematic (RTK) correction data from an RTK corrections source. Accordingly, and in various embodiments, any of the methods described herein can further comprise the steps of: collecting or receiving, by the portable device, real time kinematic (RTK) correction data from a RTK corrections source; transmitting, by the portable device, the RTK correction data via the RF communications link between the portable device and the beacon; and executing computer-readable instructions stored within a memory inside the beacon to combine the location signal with the RTK correction data, thereby determining and RTK-corrected GNSS location of the beacon.

[0023] Accordingly, in another aspect of the invention, any of the methods described herein, including embodiments described above, may be practiced using a system for locating a golf ball position, in real-time, of a golfer competing in a golf tournament at a golf course, the system comprising a beacon, a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising the golfer; and an RTK correction source.

[0024] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the RTK correction source is an RTK base station positioned at a fixed location on the golf course. In other various embodiments, the RTK corrections source is a Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP) service provider, the NTRIP service provider having one or more RTK base stations positioned offsite relative to the golf course.

[0025] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the GNSS location of the beacon determined using any of the methods or systems described herein has an accuracy of plus or minus 100 centimeters (cm) relative to its actual GNSS location, including such non-limiting examples as plus or minus 75 cm, 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, or 1 cm. In various embodiments, the determined at-rest position of the golf ball has an accuracy of plus or minus 100 centimeters (cm) relative to its actual GNSS location, including such non-limiting examples as plus or minus 75 cm, 50 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, 5 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, or 1 cm.

[0026] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the one or more GNSS satellites are global positioning system (GPS) satellites. However, and in various embodiments, GNSS satellites within any satellite navigation or augmentation system can be utilized. Non-limiting examples of navigation systems are GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, NAVIC, GZSS. Non-limiting examples of augmentation systems are OmniSTAR, StarFire, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, and SDCM. In various embodiments, the location signal transmitted by the GPS satellites is made over one or more frequencies selected from the group consisting of the L1 band, L2 band, L5 band, and any combination thereof.

[0027] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the beacon is unconnected to the Internet or a cellular network and in electronic communication only with the portable device. In some embodiments, the beacon is unconnected to the Internet or a cellular network and in electronic communication only the portable device and the laser rangefinder.

[0028] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the portable device comprises a user interface configured to receive an input from the user requesting from the beacon the GNSS location of the beacon, and a memory comprising computer-readable instructions for executing any of the processes described herein. In a non-limiting example, the memory comprises computer-readable instructions for collecting or receiving real time kinematic (RTK) correction data from a RTK corrections source, transmitting the RTK correction data to the beacon, collecting or receiving, from the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon, and / or applying a correction factor to the GNSS location of the beacon, wherein the correction factor corresponds to the beacon's distance from the golf ball at an address position by the golfer, when the golfer is wearing the beacon during play.

[0029] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the RF communications links described herein can utilize an RF communications protocol selected from the group consisting of the BlueTooth communication protocol, Zigbee communication protocol, LoRa-wide area network (LoRaWAN) protocol, and the Wi-Fi communication protocol. In various embodiments, the portable device, beacon, and / or laser rangefinder can electronically communicate using a Bluetooth communication protocol. In various embodiments, the portable device, beacon, and / or laser rangefinder can electronically communicate using a LoRaWAN communication protocol.

[0030] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the portable device, beacon, or laser rangefinder can be equipped with an RF range extender to amplify the RF communications link between the devices over expanded distances. As a non-limiting example, the portable computing device can be equipped with a Bluetooth range extender connected to the device via a serial bus.

[0031] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, any of the methods or systems described herein can be utilized to locate the golf ball position of a plurality of golfers within the same playing group. In one non-limiting example, and in various embodiments, the user interface on the portable device operated by a user using a laser rangefinder and wearing his or her own beacon can be configured to receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of golfers prior to measuring the relative position of the selected golfer's golf ball. In various embodiments, upon the selection of one of the plurality of golfers, the portable device can be programmed to execute a computer-readable instruction stored within a memory of the portable device to request the GNSS location of the user's beacon.

[0032] In another non-limiting example, each golfer within the playing group wears their own beacon in RF communication with the portable device, and wherein the portable device is configured to request and receive a GNSS location of each separate beacon. In various embodiments, the portable device can have a user interface configured to receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of golfers and request the GNSS location of the selected golfer's beacon.

[0033] When practicing any of the methods or systems described herein, and in various embodiments, the user operating the portable device is a walking scorer that follows the playing group throughout the golf course. In various embodiments, the portable device transmits each of the determined golf ball locations to a central scoring system. In various embodiments, the scoring system accumulates one or more golf ball positions for the golfer on a golf hole and determines the golfer's score for that hole based on the number of accumulated golf ball positions. When tracking the at-rest positions and score of a plurality of golfers, the scoring system can accumulate one or more golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole; and determine a score for each golfer on the golf hole, using the accumulated golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole. In various embodiments, the portable device and the scoring system are in electronic communication via the Internet or a cellular network.

[0034] These and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustrating hardware and directions of information exchange in an exemplary golf ball location system of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a component diagram of an exemplary beacon of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustrating hardware and directions of information exchange between the walking scorer and golfers within a playing group.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a golf hole, indicating the various positions of the golfers relative to the walking scorer operating a portable device of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 5A shows an exemplary user interface presented on a portable device, indicating the selection of a golfer and their assigned beacon from a selection list.

[0040] FIG. 5B shows an exemplary user interface presented on a portable device, indicating exemplary action buttons that may appear on the user interface of the portable device upon selecting one of the golfers within a playing group.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary user interface presented on a portable device, indicating exemplary action buttons that may appear on the user interface of the portable device to select a golf club to be used by a selected golfer for a golf shot.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows another illustration of a golf hole, indicating the positions of the multiple golf balls relative to a user operating a beacon, portable device, and laser rangefinder.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows another illustration of an exemplary user interface presented on a portable device, indicating the selection of a golfer from a selection list.

[0044] FIG. 9 shows an illustration of an exemplary two-dimensional projection for determining the at-rest position of a golf ball from a measured azimuth and line-of-sight distance.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The present description describes methods and systems for locating the golf ball position one or more golfers during tournament play, preferably in real time. Such information can be processed and communicated to broadcast teams and / or Internet content providers during the presentation of a golf tournament. The devices, systems, and methods described herein represent an improvement over existing technology, including ShotLink™, by streamlining and simplifying the real-time collection, communication, display, and updating of the golf ball positions of a plurality of golfers at a plurality of positions on a golf course. As a result, the volume and scale of the manpower, equipment, and cost required to conduct and / or broadcast a golf tournament can all be reduced.

[0046] Particularly, methods and systems of the present invention overcome the above issues by facilitating the collection of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location data on demand, instead of continuously, by beacons worn during tournament play, either by the golfer or by an independent user associated with a playing group. Further, and when implemented in conjunction with tracking one or more of a golfer's score, the methods and systems described herein provide self-authenticating and time-independent processes for associating the location of a player's golf ball with their score, obviating the requirement to synchronize from multiple systems a set of continuously-collected, time-stamped locations with the occurrence of “stroke events,” as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,607,601 and 11,745,084, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0047] Several of the operations described herein can be performed in association with one or more electronic user devices. Generally, methods and systems for determining the location of the golf ball for a single golfer will comprise a wearable beacon configured to collect or receive a location signal from one or more GNSS satellites, as well as a portable device in radio frequency (RF) communication with the beacon and configured to request the GNSS location of the beacon on demand, receive the GNSS location from the beacon, and to perform one or more additional processes to determine the location of the golf ball upon receiving the GNSS location of the beacon. In various embodiments, methods and systems of the present invention may also comprise a real time kinematic (RTK) corrections source to increase both the accuracy and precision of the GNSS location of the beacon. Additionally, methods and systems of the present invention may also comprise a central management system configured to perform non-limiting exemplary functions such as accumulating GNSS locations for each golfer, managing the location(s) of other golfers playing in the same tournament, and forwarding such information to a television or radio broadcast provider. Detailed description of each of these user devices and systems, as well as non-limiting examples of such systems in use, are provided in further detail below.

[0048] Computer readable instructions may be stored in memory and when executed by a processor cause a user device to perform operations described herein. The memory and / or processor may be local or remote with respect to the user devices, which may include, but are not limited to, beacons worn by a golfer or other user associated with a playing group, as well as devices operated by event staff, such as mainframes, servers, computers, dedicated handheld devices, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart device / phones, and / or personal data assistants. User devices can be configured to execute applications programmed to perform any of the operations described herein, wherein computer-readable instructions for executing such applications can be stored in local and / or remote memory and executed by local and / or remote processors. In various embodiments, some applications are provided in whole or in part in a cloud computing environment, non-limiting examples of which are SaaS, DCaaS, DaaS, PaaS, iPaaS, and IaaS.

[0049] A memory comprised within any of the electronic devices described herein may comprise one or more non-transitory computer-readable media for storing computer-executable instructions, code, or software. Non-transitory computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or more types of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical disks, one or more flash drives), and the like. For example, a memory included in the electronic device may store computer-readable and computer-executable instructions or software for implementing performing one or more of the steps of any of the methods described herein. In another embodiment, the memory may include a computer system memory or random-access memory, non-limiting examples include DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and others. The memory may include other types of memory as well, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the portable computing device also includes one or more configurable and / or programmable processing devices, for example, processors and associated cores.

[0050] Additionally, although some embodiments may incorporate or utilized advanced infrastructure with a large footprint, many of the methods and systems described herein can be provided in a flexible or modular package configured to minimize the size, weight, and power requirements of the associated equipment. Beacons can be configured with a minimal footprint, particularly when worn by a golfer, so it is unobtrusive when swinging or otherwise traveling throughout the golf course. As a non-limiting example, beacons utilized in accordance with the methods and systems of the present invention can be as small as 30 mm×30 mm×50 mm and weigh less than 2.5 ounces.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a non-limiting example is provided of a golf ball positioning system 10 configured to determine the GNSS location of a golfer's ball during a round of golf. Each GNSS location is communicated to a central management system 30. The golf ball positioning system 10 can comprise one or more devices, particularly one or more of a beacon 12, one or more of a portable device 14, and a RTK base station 16 for obtaining real-time kinematic (RTK) correction data. In some embodiments, the RTK base station can be positioned at the golf course itself or off-site (16a and 16b, respectively). Data can be transmitted to or from each of the portable devices 14 and the central management system 30, from either RTK base station 16a or 16b to the central management system 30, and between a beacon 12 and a portable device 14. Finally, each beacon 12 is configured to receive its GNSS location from one or more GNSS satellites.

[0052] Each of the beacons 12 are user devices generally configured to be carried by a competing player, or another person otherwise located proximal to the competing player. Beacons may include memories comprising computer-readable instructions and processors for executing the instructions stored within a memory to perform various operations, as further detailed below. In certain embodiments, processors may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Beacons 12 may be configured to perform various location operations. For example, beacons 12 may be configured to track their location and / or communicate locating information to one or more portable devices 14 and / or other devices controlled by the central management system 30. In various embodiments, during the round of golf, beacons 12 are configured to directly communicate only with an assigned portable device 14, without being paired with any other device.

[0053] In a non-limiting example, FIG. 2 illustrates an internal hardware diagram for a beacon comprising a GNSS antenna 120, a GNSS receiver 121, a microcontroller (MCU) 122, an RF radio 123, an RF antenna 124, a power supply circuit 125, a battery 126, a serial bus 127 connecting the GNSS receiver 121 and MCU 122, status (131a) and charging (131b) indicator lights, a power button 128, and an external device interface 129, all configured within a mechanical enclosure 130. The GNSS antenna 120 is configured to receive and amplify signals transmitted by the one or more GNSS satellites and convert them into an electronic signal for use by the GNSS receiver 121, wherein the GNSS receiver 121 is configured to determine the terrestrial GNSS location of the beacon 12 from the electronic signal, and wherein the MCU 122 is configured to request the GNSS location from the GNSS receiver 121 and transmit the GNSS location to a portable device 14. The external device interface 129 can be utilized to transmit or receive information from another computing device. In some embodiments, the external device interface 129 comprises one or more data buses. Non-limiting examples of protocols utilized by each data bus are Lightning, Thunderbolt, Universal Serial Bus (USB), MicroUSB, and USB-C.

[0054] In various embodiments, the beacon 12 comprises a compact mechanical enclosure 130, an exterior portion of which can comprise an attachment, typically fastened to the waist band or belt loop at the rear of the wearer's pants, skirt, or shorts using a clip, opposing pair of magnets, or similar means. Preferably, the beacon 12 is configured to have as small of a footprint as possible to promote comfortability and prevent interference during the golfer's golf swing when the golfer is wearing the beacon 12. However, beacons 12 of any size may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosure 130 can be configured to be opened for maintenance, part replacement, upgrades, or other desired purpose. As a non-limiting example, the mechanical enclosure 130 may include a removable panel or comprise a clamshell design. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosure 130 can be three-dimensionally printed. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosure 130 can water-resistant, or water-proof.

[0055] In various embodiments, the battery 126 can be a standard- or custom-sized battery, depending on the desired capacity and power needs of the beacon 12. Non-limiting examples are AA, CR123A, 23A, or coin cell such as CR2032. Optionally, larger batteries and / or power sources can be utilized, including external battery packs that can be utilized to power the beacon 12 either wirelessly or via a wired connection using the external device interface 129. Ultimately, any battery sufficient to power the beacon 12 can be utilized, including but not limited to batteries comprising lithium, alkaline, silver oxide, carbon zinc, zinc air, lithium ion, NiCD, or NiMH. In various embodiments, beacons 12 can be outfitted with a rechargeable battery, such a lithium ion, NiCD, or NiMH battery. In various embodiments, the external device interface 129 can be utilized as a charging port to recharge a rechargeable battery 126. Any of the data bus protocols described above may be utilized, or custom charging interfaces may also be used. In various embodiments, the external device interface 129 is configured to be plugged into a charger having a plurality of charging ports for bulk charging of multiple beacons 12 at once.

[0056] In various embodiments, a beacon 12 can be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless data communications via any communication medium or protocol, such as those including or incorporating radio waves, cellular, WiFi, short-range wireless, Bluetooth, ZigBee, LoRa-wide area network (LoRaWAN), or other suitable wireless communication technology. In a non-limiting example, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, a beacon can be outfitted with a radio-frequency (RF) radio 123 and an RF antenna 124. In various embodiments, a beacon 12 is configured to solely communicate over RF with one or more portable devices 14 without having access to a cellular network (e.g., 5G, 4G, LTE-M, NBIOT, 2G, etc.) or the Internet. In various embodiments, each beacon 12 is configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable device 14 using such non-limiting exemplary protocols as Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, and Wi-Fi. In various embodiments, and as described in further detail below, each beacon 12 is configured to transmit and / or receive its GNSS location data, and to transmit or receive phase correction data to enhance the accuracy of the determined location.

[0057] In various embodiments, a beacon 12 can further comprise a memory to store computer-readable instructions prior to their execution by the MCU 122. In various embodiments, the mechanical enclosure 130 includes a memory expansion port or slot for connecting to additional memory storage. The expansion slot may be configured to house an expansion memory device, such as a microSD card or the like, or receive a plug for a wired connection to an expansion memory device. The memory may be used to store collected location data. Such data may be transmitted to a storage device, receiving device, processing device continuously, periodically, daily, or upon request.

[0058] In various embodiments, the beacon 12 can optionally include a speaker operable to output sound. The speaker may be used to output audible alarms for locating purposes, battery life, confirmation of receipt of a user interaction or a communication, initiation of wake-up and / or sleep modes, communication of instructions received from a portable device 14, or other desired use.

[0059] In various embodiments, the beacon 12 can also optionally be equipped with locating, positioning, and / or proximity technology to assist in locating a misplaced beacon 12 and / or determining precision location of the beacon 12. For example, the beacon 12 may be configured to output locating signals, such as packets, blinks, requests, response, etc., directionally or omni directionally, that may be used by a portable device 14 and / or central management system 30 to locate and / or determine the location / position of the beacon 12, e.g., based on signal strength, signal parameters, and / or signal characteristics.

[0060] In various embodiments, a beacon 12 can be programmed to remain on standby and conserve power until a GNSS location is requested by the user operating the portable device 14.

[0061] Although the location of the beacon 12 is generally described herein as GNSS locations, people of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that such reference to GNSS also applies equally to other location systems, including but not limited to global positioning system (GPS), GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, or other current or future GNSS location systems. Particularly, GPS location may be augmented with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), Differential GPS (DGPS), e.g., Global Differential GPS (GDGPS), real time kinematic (RTK), Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), Signals of Opportunity (SOP)-based or augmented navigation, UWB, LTE, cellular, radio, television, Wi-Fi, other satellite signals, or the like.

[0062] In various embodiments, portable devices 14 are configured to communicate with, define, identify, and / or organize data, which may include location data, associated with a beacon 12. Additionally, or alternatively, portable devices 14 can be utilized by a user to access data, content, services, and / or to perform a variety of other tasks and functions. In one non-limiting example, a portable device 14 is configured to re-transmit the location of a beacon 12 to various network-based, web-based, cloud-based, and / or online services and content, such as those available on an internet, on other devices, and / or on various computing systems.

[0063] In various embodiments, a portable device 14 may be used by a scorer associated with a playing group of one or more golfers. In a non-limiting example, the scorer may be a human that walks (i.e., a “walking scorer”) or otherwise travels along with the playing group during play. Those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that walking scorers are commonly utilized in professional tournament play to provide a backup to the official scorekeeping by each golfer, as well as to communicate such scores to one or more end users such as tournament and / or broadcast personnel.

[0064] In other non-limiting examples, the walking scorer may be a human such as a dedicated user or a player, a passive robot, an active robot, a humanoid, a program, a computer, any type of user, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the portable device 14 may include a processor that executes the instructions from the memory to perform the various operations that are performed by the portable device 14. The portable device 14 may also include a user interface 40, for example, a screen, monitor, graphical user interface (GUI), etc., that may enable the scorer to interact with various applications executed on the portable device 14 and to interact with the central management system 30. In various embodiments, the portable device 14 may be and / or may include a computer, any type of sensor, a laptop, a set-top-box, a tablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, and / or any other type of computing device. As illustrated in the various figures and embodiments presented herein, the companion device is generally shown as a smartphone or tablet.

[0065] In various embodiments, a portable device 14 can contain applications or software for performing one or more of the steps in any of the methods disclosed herein, designed for use with one or more operating systems, non-limiting examples of which include Apple® OS X or macOS, Linux™, and any one of a number of Microsoft® Windows® operating systems, such as the currently active families of Windows® NT and Windows® Embedded, which encompass the subfamilies of Windows® Embedded Compact (Windows® CE) and / or Windows® Server. Non-limiting examples of operating systems utilized by phones, tablets, and other mobile devices generally include, but are not necessarily limited to, Android and Apple® iOS.

[0066] In various embodiments, a beacon 12 may also include a user interface to enable a scorer, player, and / or other user to interact with various applications and / or operations executable by the beacon 12 via computer-readable instructions stored either on a memory within the beacon 12 or within a portable device 14. For example, in some embodiments, a beacon 12 can be configured to obtain GNSS coordinates from one or more GNSS satellites upon receiving an instruction from a portable device 14, and to return the GNSS coordinates to the portable device 14 once obtained. In various embodiments, the user interface includes a display of any suitable type, such as, in a non-limiting example, an LED display, for displaying information. Non-limiting examples of information that can be displayed include battery capacity, battery life or state, an operational mode, such as awake, asleep, ready to receive instructions, operating, or the like. In some embodiments, the display may present data with respect to a current operation or assignment. For example, the display may be configured to display a group number and / or player to which the beacon 12 is assigned with respect to data collection.

[0067] In various embodiments, the portable devices 14 can operate as a gateway between the beacons 12 and the central management system 30. In a non-limiting example in which each golfer in a playing group wears a beacon, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a single portable device 14 can associated with a separate beacon (12a, 12b, and 12c) for each golfer. In various embodiments, the beacons 12a, 12b, and 12c and portable device 14 transmit to, and receive information from, each other according to a Bluetooth protocol, particularly a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. To facilitate communication over distances beyond the typical range of a standard Bluetooth connection (about 10 meters), the portable device 14 can be equipped with a range extender 15, which can receive the Bluetooth signal from the portable device 14 and retransmit an amplified signal to the beacon 12, extending the range by up to 150 yards. As a non-limiting example, a portable device 14 held by a walking scorer standing in the center of a fairway 3 can maintain simultaneous wireless communication with beacon 12a, associated with a golfer on the left side of the golf hole, and beacon 12b, associated with a golfer on the right side of the golf hole, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 5A, and in a non-limiting example, the user interface 40 of the portable device 14 can be programmed to display a selectable list 41 of players associated with beacons 12a, 12b, or 12c. Once a player is selected, the scorer can request their beacon's GNSS location by tapping an associated action button 42 on the user interface 40, illustrated in FIG. 5B. Non-limiting examples of prompts that may be listed on action button 42 are “Request Location”, “Shot Ready,” or “Shot Hit,” based on the activity of the golfer. In another non-limiting example, once a player has been selected from selectable list 41, multiple action buttons 42a and 42b can be provided, indicating “shot ready” and “shot hit,” respectively. In various embodiments, “shot ready” is selected to generate the GNSS location of the beacon 12 when the golfer is in her stance, or “address position,” while selecting “shot hit” can be programmed to generate a second data point for the beacon's GNSS location and / or simply indicate that a stroke has been made.

[0069] In various embodiments, a beacon 12 worn by a golfer can further comprise a multi-axis accelerometer for detecting movement, particularly during the golfer's swing. The use and incorporation of an accelerometer into a device configured to be worn by a golfer to detect golf shots has been described previously, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,682,562 and 11,219,814 and U.S. Patent Pub. Nos. 2018 / 0200605 and 2022 / 0161121, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Additional non-limiting examples of functionalities for movement detection by the accelerometer are positioning and location tracking, determination, and / or acquisition.

[0070] The accelerometer an include three or more axes of measurement and can output one or more signals corresponding to each axis of measurement and / or can output one or more signals corresponding to an aggregate or combination of the three axes of measurement. In various embodiments, the accelerometer can be a three-axis or three-dimensional accelerometer that includes three outputs (e.g., the accelerometer can output x, y, and z data), and which detects and monitors a magnitude and direction of acceleration, e.g., as a vector quantity, and / or can sense a change in orientation, vibration, and / or shock resulting from impact.

[0071] As a non-limiting example, the acceleration and velocity measured by the accelerometer can be used to identify and discriminate between different phases of a swing and determine whether an impact between the golf club and an object constitutes a shot. Particularly, during the backswing phase, a positive linear acceleration can be detected by the accelerometer. Approximately midway through the backswing, the velocity curve changes direction when the club slows down as it reaches the top of the backswing. When the curve changes direction, the acceleration is zero and linear velocity begins to decrease resulting in deceleration. At the end of the backswing phase, the club is temporarily static as the golf club changes direction, and therefore, no velocity is detected based on an output of the accelerometer. The downswing begins from the top of the backswing and as the club begins to move in a positive direction towards the ball, the linear acceleration increases. As the velocity approaches a constant value the rate of acceleration slowly decreases, and the downswing phase ends when an initial discontinuity in motion is detected by the accelerometer. This discontinuity marks the impact phase of the golf swing and the beginning of the follow-through phase of the golf swing.

[0072] Accordingly, and in various embodiments, detection of a golfer's swing by the accelerometer, particularly of the impact of the club with the golf ball, can be utilized in addition to, or instead of, entry by the walking scorer into the portable device 14 of a “shot hit.” As a non-limiting example, in response to receiving acceleration and velocity data from the accelerometer indicating that a shot has been hit, the MCU 122 can request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 from the GNSS receiver 121 and transmit the GNSS location to the walking scorer's portable device 14. In various embodiments, the portable device 14 automatically re-transmits the received GNSS location of the beacon 12 to the central management system without any interaction by the walking scorer with the portable device 14.

[0073] In various embodiments, the beacon 12 can further comprise a microphone capable of “listening” for impact between a golfer's club and golf ball during their golf swing, wherein the microphone can be utilized in addition to, or instead of, entry by the walking scorer into the portable device 14 of a “shot hit.” As a non-limiting example, in response to detecting impact of the golfer's club with the golf ball via the microphone, the MCU 122 can request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 from the GNSS receiver 121 and transmit the GNSS location to the walking scorer's portable device 14. In various embodiments, the portable device 14 automatically re-transmits the received GNSS location of the beacon 12 to the central management system without any interaction by the walking scorer with the portable device 14.

[0074] In another embodiment, a beacon 12 can comprise both an accelerometer and a microphone for detecting impact between a golfer's club and the golf ball. Particularly, the inclusion within the beacon 12 of an accelerometer and a microphone can be utilized to reduce or eliminate “false positives” in which there is an indication of a “shot hit” when a shot has, in fact, not taken place. Such occurrences may arise, for example, from the accelerometer registering a golfer's practice swing, or from a golfer's microphone detecting a shot made by one of her playing partners.

[0075] As a result, and in various embodiments, the MCU 122 can be programmed to request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 from the GNSS receiver 121 and subsequently transmit the GNSS location to the portable device 14, only if a sound detected by the microphone occurs within a pre-defined time threshold of an acceleration and velocity measured by the accelerometer. Those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the tempo for a golf swing can vary based on several factors, including but not limited to the lie, the type of shot being played, the force of the swing, and the player's own natural rhythm. Typically, the golf swing is completed in less than three seconds, particularly at the professional level. Thus, in various embodiments, the MCU 122 can be programmed to request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 only if the sound of golf ball impact detected by the microphone occurs less than about 3.0 seconds after the initiation of the golf swing measured by the accelerometer, including such non-limiting exemplary values of less than about 2.5, 2.0, 1.75, 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.25, 1.2, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.75, 0.6, or 0.5 seconds. In a further embodiment, the MCU 122 can be programmed to request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 only if the sound of golf ball impact detected by the microphone occurs less than about 1.5 seconds after the initiation of the golf swing measured by the accelerometer.

[0076] In various embodiments, the GNSS location determined by a beacon 12 can have an accuracy of plus or minus two meters. However, location accuracy can be improved by correcting for the phase shift that arises from the lengthy distance the signal wave must travel from the one or more GNSS satellites to the GNSS antenna 120 within the beacon, through RTK correction. Whether located on- or off-site, an RTK base station 16 can correct for the phase shift upon receiving a carrier wave from a GNSS satellite and determining a correction factor upon filtering out the information contained within the wave itself. As a result, and in some embodiments, the accuracy of the GNSS location of the beacon can be improved to within plus or minus 100 centimeters, plus or minus 10 centimeters, plus or minus 5 centimeters, plus or minus 2 centimeters, or plus or minus 1 centimeter. Similarly, and in some embodiments, the accuracy of the determined at-rest position of the golf ball can be within plus or minus 100 centimeters, plus or minus 10 centimeters, plus or minus 5 centimeters, plus or minus 2 centimeters, or plus or minus 1 centimeter. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the above exemplary ranges are non-limiting, and that the accuracy of the beacon or at-rest golf ball location can be any value less than plus or minus 2 meters, and for RTK-corrected locations, any value less than plus or minus 100 centimeters.

[0077] Accordingly, and in various embodiments, RTK correction data can be obtained from an RTK base station 16 by a portable device 14 and transmitted to a beacon 12 at the time a user requests the beacon's GNSS location via a user interface 40 of the portable device 14. In some embodiments, the portable device 14 utilizes receives the RTK correction data from an RTK base station 16a located on the golf course according to a wireless communication protocol. In some embodiments, a single RTK base station 16a can be placed in a central and / or elevated position on the golf course to simultaneously communicate with all the portable devices 14 on the golf course, using such non-limiting exemplary wireless communication protocols as SigFox, LoRaWAN (long-range wide area network), Zigbee, and IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow).

[0078] In various embodiments, an RTK base station 16b can be located offsite, but within the communication range of each of the portable devices 14. In other embodiments, RTK correction data can be obtained via a service provider that operates an RTK base station 16b outside of the range of one or more of the portable devices 14, and that transmits the collected RTK collection data over the Internet via a Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP). In some embodiments, RTK correction data can be obtained by the portable devices 14 from the service provider directly. In some embodiments, the RTK correction data can be obtained by the central management system 30 and pushed to each portable device 14.

[0079] In various embodiments, when RTK correction data is utilized to determine the location of a beacon 12, the portable device 14 can be programmed to direct the portable device 14 to push the RTK correction data to the beacon 12, with instructions to apply the RTK correction data to a GNSS location signal acquired by the beacon to generate an RTK-corrected GNSS location.

[0080] Without being limited by a particular theory, it is believed that the utilization of RTK correction data to determine a centimeter-accurate location of the beacon 12 can be utilized to approximate the location of the golfer's ball itself, with minimal loss in accuracy. In one non-limiting example, in situations in which a golfer is wearing a beacon 12, the user can request the GNSS location of the beacon 12 when the golfer is in his or her address position. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that at a tournament level, professionals particularly are skilled enough to adopt a nearly identical address position prior to a vast majority of their golf shots, placing the beacon 12 a consistent distance, d, away from, and angle, θ, relative to, the golf ball.

[0081] In various embodiments, the memory of the portable device 14 can comprise computer-readable instructions for applying the distance d as a correction factor to the GNSS location of the beacon 12 to determine the position of a golf ball 1. In various embodiments, the distance d is approximated to a set value, based on an average distance from the beacon 12 to the golf ball 1 determine for one or more golfers. In other various embodiments, the distance d is a value unique to each golfer, based on the golfer's profile information stored in the memory of the portable device 14. As a non-limiting example, a golfer's profile information can comprise one or more values selected from the list consisting of his or her name, height, weight, hip height, arm length, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the golfer's profile information can be utilized to approximate the distance d from the beacon 12 to the golf ball 1. In some embodiments, a golfer's actual distance d from the beacon 12 to the golf ball 1 can be measured prior to the round stored within the portable device 14 memory.

[0082] In further embodiments, the golfer's profile information can additionally comprise equipment data for one or more of the golfer's golf clubs, including but not limited to club type, club brand, club model, loft, lie angle, shaft length, and any combination thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that each golf club within a player's bag usually has a unique lie angle, corresponding to θ in FIG. 8, and shaft length, which can affect distance d by influencing how close or far the golfer stands from the ball in his or her address position. Without being limited by a particular theory, it is believed that golf clubs with higher lofts will have shorter shaft lengths and greater values for θ than golf clubs with lower lofts, which have longer shaft lengths and decreased values for θ. Accordingly, the distance d for a golfer may be shorter for higher-lofted clubs, like wedges, than for lower-lofted clubs, like woods or a driver. As a result, and in various embodiments, selecting a golfer from selectable list 41, as illustrated in FIG. 6, can provide a menu with selectable options 43a, 43b, 43c, . . . 43n indicating which club is to be played, whereupon selecting a club instructs the portable device 14 regarding which correction factor to apply to the GNSS location of the beacon 12 to determine the position of the golf ball.

[0083] In another non-limiting example, a beacon can be worn by a user associated with a playing group other than the golfer, in which a single portable device 14 can be associated both with a single beacon worn by the user and a laser rangefinder operated by the user to determine the at-rest position of a golfer's golf ball relative to the user. Laser rangefinders utilizable on a golf course are generally known in the art to provide a laser range sensor to provide a line-of-sight (LOS) distance to a target and a tilt sensor, or alternatively, an “inclinometer” or “angle sensor” for determining an angle to a target relative to the device. Non-limiting examples of such rangefinders are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,239,377, 7,535,553, 7,859,650, 8,314,923, and 11,833,404, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. However, while such laser rangefinders are suitable for determining an absolute or adjusted distance to a target from the rangefinder operator, conventional rangefinders are not configured to provide enough information to determine the precise geographical location of that target, such as golf pin or golf ball, relative to the operator his or herself.

[0084] Without being limited by a particular theory, it is believed that if the GNSS location of a laser rangefinder operator is known, based on the operator wearing a beacon and requesting the location of the beacon using the portable device, the GNSS location of a target, such as a golfer's golf ball, can be determined upon measuring the LOS distance, inclination angle, and azimuth to the target. As used herein, “azimuth” can refer to the angle formed from a relative position vector originating from the user to the target, such as a golf ball, and a reference vector originating from the user to a reference point, when the two vectors are projected onto a horizontal plane.

[0085] A non-limiting example of a laser rangefinder comprising components configured to measure an azimuth value in addition to the LOS distance and inclination angle relative is the TruPulse® 360i, sold commercially by Laser Technology, Inc. Such rangefinders are also described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,240,186 and 11,914,077, the disclosure of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Generally, these rangefinder components comprise a plurality of magnetic sensors that, once properly calibrated, can measure magnetic field values in the x-, y-, and z-directions with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees or less. Moreover, such rangefinders are often calibrated based on a magnetic vector having a true North heading, wherein the azimuth values can range from 0° to 360°, where 0° represents the vector pointed toward true North.

[0086] As a non-limiting example and as illustrated in FIG. 7, a laser rangefinder 18 operated by a user standing in the center of a fairway 3 can be utilized to determine the relative position of a golf ball 1a on the left side of the hole and a golf ball 1b on the right side of the golf hole. Just as the user interface 40 of the portable device 14 could be programmed to display a selectable list 41 of players associated with beacons 12a, 12b, or 12c, as described above and in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the user interface 40 of the portable device can be programmed to display a selectable list 45 of a single player or multiple players within the same playing group, as illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein selecting a player causes the portable device 14 to request the GNSS location of a beacon 12 worn by the user. After selecting a player, for instance, the player who struck golf ball 1a, the user can then use the laser rangefinder 18 to measure the LOS distance, inclination angle, and azimuth values from the rangefinder to the golf ball 1a and subsequently transmit those values to the portable device 14 via an RF communications link between the laser rangefinder 18 and user device 14.

[0087] FIG. 9 illustrates a non-limiting example of a schematic for geometrically determining the GNSS location of a golf ball, such as golf ball 1a in FIG. 7 above, once the GNSS location of beacon 12, as well as the LOS distance, inclination angle, and azimuth values of the ball relative to the rangefinder 18, are collected. The GNSS location of the user, wearing a beacon 12 and operating the user device 14 and laser rangefinder 18, standing at point O, can be projected onto a two-dimensional grid in which the user is at the origin, having the coordinates (0,0). Golf ball 1a is at rest at point A, having the coordinates (x, y). The LOS distance, d, between point O and point A represents the hypotenuse of a right triangle, in which one leg of the triangle extends true North from point O and in the direction of the magnetic vector to a point B having the coordinates (0, y), and the other leg of the triangle is represented by the line, AB. The azimuth, α, is measured by the rangefinder. Because both d and α are both known the values of x and y can be determined by the multiplying the LOS distance d by the sine of α or the cosine of α, respectively. Those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that similar geometric operations can be applied using the LOS distance and the inclination angle, both measured by the laser rangefinder directly, to determine an elevation, z, of the golf ball relative to the rangefinder.

[0088] Accordingly, the values x, y, and z, can be applied to the GNSS location of the beacon 12 to determine the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the at-rest location of the golf ball 1a. In various embodiments, the operation to determine the at-rest location of a golf ball can be performed on the user device 14. In other embodiments, the GNSS location of the beacon and the LOS distance, inclination angle, and azimuth can be transmitted to the central management system 30.

[0089] In various embodiments, the position of the golf ball calculated by any of the methods described herein can be compared against a pre-determined location of a flag on the green to determine the ball's distance to the pin (DTP). The GNSS position of the pin on each hole can be found using any means known in the art and stored within the portable device 14 memory prior to the beginning of a tournament round. In a non-limiting example, the GNSS location of the pin can be determined by placing a beacon 12 inside the cup, or otherwise at the location on the green where the pin will be inserted. In another non-limiting example, the GNSS location of the pin can be determined using a satellite image of the hole and the location of the pin on the green, typically posted by tournament officials prior to a round. Accordingly, when the GNSS location of a beacon 12 is requested during play, the portable device 14 can determine not only the position of the golf ball, but also the distance of the golf ball from the pin upon comparing calculated golf ball position with the GNSS location of the pin.

[0090] In another non-limiting example when the golf pin and golf ball are both visible to the user, a laser rangefinder 18 can be used to measure the LOD distance and inclination angle from the rangefinder to both the golf ball and the pin, wherein the rangefinder can calculate a two-dimensional (2D) missing line that represents the calculated distance value between two remote points within the same plane. Some rangefinders are additionally able to measure a three-dimensional (3D) missing line that represents a calculated value determined by the LOS distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value to each of the golf ball and golf pin. Such rangefinders are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,914,077 and 12,111,182, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0091] Any of the methods described herein for determining the GNSS location of a player's golf ball can also utilized in conjunction with a system for compiling the scores for one or more of the golfers playing in the tournament and / or for directing the operations for the tournament itself. In various embodiments, the central management system 30 can be utilized to track the scoring with respect to the play of a plurality of golfers competing in a tournament. Such score tracking may include all operations, elements, and equipment associated with determining golf ball locations, non-limiting examples of which are the beacons 12, portable devices 14, and RTK base station(s) 16. Score tracking may also include the logging and accumulation of strokes taken by the golfer, which determine the golfer's total score for the hole, the round, and / or the tournament. The central management system 30 can be configured to receive data from portable devices 14, as well as to transmit information back to each of the portable devices 14. However, in various embodiments, the central management system 30 is configured such that it cannot communicate with any of the beacons 12. Instead, information meant for a particular beacon 12 is first transmitted to a portable device 14, which then relays the information to the beacon. As described above, it is believed that pairing the beacon only with the portable device 14 and not the central management system 30, reduces the beacon's power requirements and obviates the need to outfit the beacon 12 with a cellular modem or similar components.

[0092] In various embodiments, the central management system 30 can be operated in-whole or in-part using one or more management devices configured to transmit to, and / or receive information from, other devices within a communications network. Each of the management devices can comprise a memory for storing computer-readable instructions and a processor for executing instructions from the memory to perform various operations executable on the management device(s). In various embodiments, the processor may be hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Each management device can also include an interface e.g. screen, monitor, graphical user interface, etc.) configured to permit a user to interact with various applications (e.g., management applications) on the management device itself and / or with other devices comprised within or operated by the central management system 30. Non-limiting examples of management devices are a computer, a laptop, a set-top-box, a tablet device, a phablet, a mainframe, a dedicated device, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet, a smart watch, and / or any other type of computing device. In various embodiments, management devices can be local or remote with respect to the tournament location. In various embodiments, management devices can be cloud-based or web-based. Non-limiting examples of cloud-computing services providers are Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

[0093] In various embodiments, a portable device 14 or management device may have any number of software applications and / or application services stored and / or accessible thereon. For example, a portable device 14 may have applications for controlling any system device, cloud-based applications, VOIP applications, cellular applications, other types of phone-based applications, location and / or positioning applications, media streaming applications, content-based applications, media-editing applications, database applications, internet-based applications, browser applications, mobile applications, service-based applications, productivity applications, video applications, any other type of applications, any types of application services, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the software applications and services may include one or more graphical user interfaces to enable users, such as, in a non-limiting example, a walking scorer, to readily interact with software application(s) on a portable device, as described above and herein.

[0094] In various embodiments, the portable devices 14 can be linked with any of the management devices and / or other devices, components, or elements comprised within the central management system 30 via a communications network. In various embodiments, any of the devices described herein can belong to and / or form a portion of the communications network, which may be a local, mesh, or other network that enables and / or facilitates various aspects of the functionality of the system. In various embodiments, the communications network is formed between or among any or all the beacons 12, portable devices 14, RTK base stations 16, databases, or management devices comprised within, or controlled by, the central management system 30, using any type of wireless or other protocol and / or technology. In a non-limiting example, user devices may communicate with one another in the communications network by utilizing any protocol and / or wireless technology, satellite, fiber, or any combination thereof. The communications network may also include and be connected to a mesh network, a local network, a cloud-computing network, an IMS network, a VoIP network, a security network, a VOLTE network, a wireless network, an Ethernet network, a satellite network, a broadband network, a cellular network, a private network, a cable network, the Internet, an intranet, an internet protocol network, MPLS network, a content distribution network, short range wireless communication network, or any combination thereof.

[0095] In a non-limiting example, the central management system 30 communicates with each portable device 14 and RTK base station 16 using a wireless communication medium or protocol, including but not limited to radio, cellular, Wi-Fi, short-range wireless, and Bluetooth. Wireless communication between the central management system 30 and portable devices 14 and RTK base station 16 may operate over multiband systems, including but not limited to cellular networks (5G, 4G, LTE-M, NBIot, 2G, etc.) and / or other frequency bands. Each beacon 12 is comprised within the communications network solely through a Bluetooth connection with a “paired” portable device 14, in which wireless communication between a beacon 12 and a portable device 14 occurs only when the GNSS location of the beacon 12 is requested by the portable device, such as in a non-limiting example in which a walking scorer presses an action button indicating, “shot hit,” as described herein.

[0096] In another non-limiting example, the central management system 30 can comprise a cloud server that collects RTK correction data from an RTK base station 16 and relays the data through the communications network to the portable devices 14, which subsequently forwards it to paired beacons 12 along with a request for their GNSS location. The beacon 12 obtains its GNSS location coordinates from a satellite navigation system, non-limiting examples of which are GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, NAVIC, and GZSS, and combines it with the RTK correction data to determine an RTK-corrected GNSS location for the beacon 12. In a further embodiment, for tournaments conducted in the United States, the beacon 12 obtains its location coordinates from the Global Positioning System (GPS) over one or more frequencies selected from the group consisting of the L1 band, L2 band, L5 band, and any combination thereof. The beacon 12 transmits the beacon's RTK-corrected GNSS location back to the portable device 14. When a beacon is worn by the golfer, the portable device 14 can apply a correction factor stored within its memory to calculate the position of the golf ball. The portable device 14 also may determines the distance from the golf ball to the golf pin by comparing the GNSS location of the pin with the determined golf ball position. The calculated golf ball position and distance to the pin is then transmitted by the portable device 14 to the central management system 30 for further use.

[0097] In another non-limiting example, the central management system 30 is configured to communicate with a plurality of portable devices 14, with each portable device 14 apportioned to a single playing group comprising one, two, or three golfers. For instance, and in another non-limiting example, a golf tournament may have 144 golfers split into 48 playing groups of 3. Each playing group has a walking scorer whose primary responsibility is to track the number of strokes for each golfer in the playing group. The walking scorer carries and operates a single portable device 14, and each golfer wears a beacon 12 paired to the portable device 14. When it is the first golfer's turn to take a shot, the walking scorer selects the golfer from a selection list 41 using the user interface 40 of the portable device 14. Once the golfer addresses the ball, the walking scorer presses the action button 42 on the user interface 40 indicating that the golfer is “ready to hit,” whereupon the portable device 14 transmits RTK correction data to the beacon 12. The beacon 12 obtains its GNSS coordinates and determines its RTK-corrected GNSS location, which it transmits back to portable device 14. The portable device applies a correction factor that is unique to the selected player and stored within the memory of the portable device 14 to calculate the golf ball position and its distance to the pin. The calculated golf ball position and distance to the pin is then transmitted by the portable device 14 to the central management system 30 for further use. After the golfer strikes the shot, the walking scorer presses the action button 42 on the user interface 40 indicating that there was a “shot hit.” The walking scorer can then select a second golfer from the selection list 41 and repeat the above process of requesting and receiving the RTK-corrected GNSS location of the beacon and transmitting the second golfer's golf ball position and distance to the hole to the central management system 30.

[0098] The central management system 30 can also comprise or utilize one or more databases for storing and relaying information. Such information may include, but not be limited to, GNSS locations and various information about the player, such as their biographical information, historical statistics, and scoring. The one or more databases may also store data about any of the devices comprised within or operated by the central management system 30, including but not limited to the beacons 12, portable devices 14, and / or the RTK base station 16. Further, databases can comprise a processor and memory or be connected to a processor and memory to perform the various operations associated with the database. Databases may be housed locally or remotely and / or may be cloud-based.

[0099] The central management system 30 can also include or transmit competition related data to one or more data platforms, which can comprise hardware, software, servers, computers, programs, applications, or the like configured to view, manipulate, analyze, store, or otherwise consume the generated data. In various embodiments, data platforms comprise competition data viewers and analyzing platforms available to players, coaches, administrators, fans, members of media organizations, broadcasters, or any other person. In a further embodiment, data platforms comprise client platforms for data consumption and may include competition data views or analyzing platforms.

[0100] In various embodiments, the beacons 12 and portable devices 14 can comprise components of a scoring system configured to track the scoring with respect to one or more golfers, including but not limited to all the golfers competing in a particular tournament. Particularly, and in various embodiments and described in further detail in the Examples below, scoring for a golfer can be tracked via the compiled list of locations requested for the golfer's beacon 12 over the course of a particular hole, round, and / or tournament, wherein each location is requested in conjunction of a stroke taken by the golfer. For instance, and in some embodiments, a log of four locations compiled for a golfer on the first hole of a tournament round may lead to entry of “4” as the score for the golfer on that hole. In some embodiments, in addition to requesting and transmitting each GNSS location for the beacon 12, the portable device 14 may be configured to permit the walking scorer to input a numerical score after the golfer completes the hole, as a control.

[0101] As introduced above and described in more detail herein, a scoring system associated with a single player can comprise a beacon 12, worn by the player, and a portable device 14, carried by a walking scorer who follows the player during her round. The portable device 14 can be configured to request the GNSS location of the player's beacon 12 each time the player is in her stance addressing her ball, and to transmit each location to the central management system 30. Each time a GNSS location is requested from the beacon 12, its subsequent receipt by the portable device 14 can result in the retrieval, identification, calculation, and / or transmission of location data from the beacon 12 corresponding to the event, such as the player's addressing or striking of her ball. Those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the typical amount of time between shots, generally ranging from at least 15 seconds to one or more minutes, of multiple players in a single playing group can facilitate the use of a single walking scorer operating a single portable device 14 to obtain GNSS locations and track the scores of each of the golfers efficiently and unobtrusively. Accordingly, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, above, each of the golfers can wear their own beacon (12a, 12b, and 12c) that is in Bluetooth communication a single portable device 14 carried by the walking scorer for that group.

[0102] When utilized for scoring, each of the portable devices 14 can be configured to run a score tracking application. A score tracking application may comprise a mobile app, web app, cloud-based, or other application format and include instructions operable to perform the score collection features described herein with respect to the portable device 14. In non-limiting examples, the application can be configured to provide communication protocols between the portable device 14 and each of its assigned beacons 12, for example, to provide updates, receive data for storage, provide processing operations, transmit alarm initiation instructions, obtain battery life or battery charge status, request and receive beacon 12 location data, relay data received from a beacon 12 to a storage or another computing device, or perform proxy services for the beacon 12, among others.

[0103] Additionally, and in various embodiments, the score tracking application can configure the portable device 14 for communication with the RTK base station 16 and / or any of the management or other devices associated with the central management system 30. As non-limiting examples, the application may be configured to receive and incorporate groupings assignments, round information, tee times, or the like from the round management system, receive player and beacon 12 assignments from the device management system, incorporate player and beacon 12 assignments into collected scoring data (stroke event data, location data, club selection, etc.), transmit scoring data to any or all of the device management system, data management system, and / or validation system, and / or communicate with beacons 12 to pair the beacons 12 to assigned players.

[0104] To facilitate the accumulation of GNSS locations and track scoring for all the players in a tournament, the central management system 30 can further comprise one or more sub-systems in addition to the scoring system. Such sub-systems can include, but are not limited to: a device management system configured to manage the operation of the plurality of beacons 12 prior, during, and after a tournament round, including the assignment of beacon(s) to player(s) and / or playing group(s); a data management system configured to review, edit, and communicate scoring data recorded by the scoring system; a round management system configured to manage rounds and groupings for all or a subset of players competing in the tournament; a validation system configured to provide streamlined validation of a player's official scorecard against scores collected by the scoring system; and a location system configured to manage location data and communicate RTK correction data from the RTK base station 16 to each of the beacons 12, either directly or via the portable devices 14. Detailed description of devices, functionalities, and other aspects of each of these systems, and how they can integrate score tracking with approximating golfer location(s), is described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,607,601, 11,745,084, and 11,998,829, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties

[0105] While several embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or otherwise be able to ascertain, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures, embodiments, claims, and examples described herein using no more than routine experimentation. Accordingly, such equivalents are considered within the scope of the invention, and this application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, the invention is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the appended claims.

[0106] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

[0107] As used herein, the term, “and / or” when used in the context of a listing of entities, means the entities being present singly or in combination. Thus, for example, the phrase “A, B, C, and / or D” includes A, B, C, and D individually, but also includes all combinations and sub-combinations of A, B, C, and D.

[0108] As used herein, “a,”“an,”“the,”“at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably.

[0109] In describing features herein as pertaining to “any of the various embodiments” or “in various embodiments”, the described feature should be understood to be capable of being combined with any other features and embodiments described within the description, unless such combination or use would be clearly unreasonable or contradict the usefulness or purpose of the described feature.

[0110] Many of the embodiments described herein are described in terms of sequences of method steps to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the various method steps described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and / or by program instructions executed by at least one processor. Additionally, the sequence of actions described herein can be embodied entirely within any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such that execution of the sequence of actions enables the processor to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the present invention may be embodied in numerous different forms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiments may be described herein as, for example, “a processor configured to” perform the described action.

[0111] The contents of all references, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference and shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. All the incorporated publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains and are incorporated to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically indicated and individually indicated by reference.EXAMPLES

[0112] The following working and prophetic examples illustrate the embodiments of the invention that are presently best known. However, it is to be understood that the following are only exemplary or illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative methods and systems may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, while the present invention has been described above with particularity, the following examples provide further detail in connection with what are presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the invention.Example 1: In-Competition Testing of Distances-to-Pin for Multiple Golfers

[0113] A study was conducted in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure to implement a course-wide system for determining the distances-to-pin (DTP) of each shot for a plurality of golfers across several groups over 18 holes during a round of LPGA tournament play. Prior to the start of the round, six golfers were each distributed a beacon outfitted with a clip to facilitate attachment to her waistband during play. Each golfer and her playing group number are illustrated in Table 1, below.TABLE 1GolferGroupIdentifierNumberPlayer A4Player B6Player C11Player D13Player E15Player F19

[0114] Each of the playing groups that comprised a golfer taking part in the test were also assigned a walking scorer. Walking scorers each carried a smartphone device, in which the smartphone device was maintained in Bluetooth® communication with the corresponding player's beacon and in cellular communication with a real-time kinematic (RTK) base station capable of generating RTK correction data. The smartphone device also contained a user interface comprising a selectable button indicating “shot hit,” to be pressed each time the golfer made a stroke. Selecting “shot it” initiated a series of computer-executable instructions comprising: (1) collection by the smartphone device of the RTK correction data from the RTK base station; (2) transmission of the RTK correction data from the smartphone device to the golfer's beacon; (3) a request by the smartphone device to the beacon for the GNSS location of the beacon; and (4) receiving by the smartphone device the GNSS location of the beacon. Upon receiving the request from the smartphone device, the beacon collected a location signal from one or more GNSS satellites and then combined the location signal with the received RTK correction data to generate the GNSS location of the beacon. Each requested and returned GNSS location was then communicated by the smartphone device to a web-based scoring system, which accumulated each of the golfer's locations over the course of a single hole and for the entire round, as a means for remotely keeping the golfer's score.

[0115] The user interface for the smartphone device also included other selectable options for the walking scorer. Associated with each stroke, the walking scorer was requested to also select, from a series of options, from which type of lie the stroke was made. Options were “tee,”“fairway,”“rough,”“bunker,”“fringe,” and “hazard.” Additionally, the user interface contains a button indicating a “tap-in,” for situations in which the golfer's ball comes to rest within a short distance from the hole, such as, in a non-limiting example, less than 18 inches from the hole. When “tap-in” was selected, an entry corresponding to the stroke was created by the smartphone device and communicated to the scoring system, but the GNSS location of the beacon was not determined. The hole number was also displayed on the user interface and updated as the walking scorer moved from hole to hole.

[0116] GNSS latitude and longitudes for each of the pins, or golf holes, were determined prior to the beginning of the round, using Google Earth. As an internal control, the GNSS location of a beacon can be verified by requesting its position while the beacon is placed within or immediately above the hole. The DTP for the beacon was calculated using the scoring system upon comparing the beacon's measured GNSS location with the pre-determined location of the pin.

[0117] An exemplary entry for a golfer's (Player A's) RTK-corrected GNSS location and DTP for a shot taken from the fairway of the fourth hole is illustrated in Table 2, below.TABLE 2ShotShotShotShotAltitudeDTPHoleNumberLocationLongitudeLatitude(m)(yds)42Fairway45.592061−122.6421924.49155

[0118] Within Table 2, the DTP is rounded to the nearest yard. However, because the utilization of RTK correction data facilitates a determination of location within 1-2 centimeters, those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that values can be rounded to higher decimal places to make the data more easily viewable, such as, in a non-limiting example and in Table 2 above, to the nearest yard.

[0119] As described above, the accumulation of GNSS locations for a particular golfer was also utilized to keep score for each of the golfers. Table 3, below, illustrates the scorekeeping for Player F over the first six holes of her round.

[0120] Although only a portion of Player F's round is illustrated in Table 3, DTPs were determined for each stroke taken by Player F on the remaining 12 holes, as well as the entirety of the 18-hole rounds for the other five players. Those results are omitted from Table 3 for brevity.

[0121] Further, while only one golfer from each of a subset of the playing groups was selected to wear a beacon, a person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that that the system can be adapted to determine the DTP for each stroke of all the members of a single playing group, by adapting the user interface of the walking scorer's smartphone device to provide an option for selecting which golfer's beacon to request the GNSS location. As a non-limiting example, within a playing group consisting of a Player A, Player B, and Player C, the user interface of the walking scorer's smartphone device can comprise a first menu providing a means for selecting Player A, Player B, or Player C, whereupon selecting one of the players, a second menu provides one or more selectable buttons specific to that player, including a button to indicate “shot hit.”TABLE 3ShotShotShotShotAltitudeDTPHoleRoundHoleNumberLocationLong.Lat.(m)(yds)ParScoreScore11Tee45.5992629−122.64285210.37036344E2Fairway45.5973982−122.64268714.6911423Green45.5963513−122.64311927.12631.44Tap-in21Tee45.5959566−122.64305317.36116333E2Green45.5961681−122.64491346.32325.43Tap-In31Tee45.5962247−122.64544867.19940244E2Fairway45.5946546−122.64367687.4411633Green45.5933419−122.64292687.81928.74Tap-In41Tee45.5940202−122.64227527.07837143−12Fairway45.5920533−122.64224316.7671343Green45.5910026−122.64257886.98112.551Tee45.5910435−122.64319016.05753954−22Fairway45.5928202−122.6436183.4772613Fairway45.5936614−122.64541434.739774Green45.5939433−122.64621386.9058.961Tee45.593878−122.64662557.73536544−22Fairway45.5943693−122.6493624.4841263Green45.5948685−122.6506647.00712.24Green45.5948218−122.65069536.9466.8

Claims

1) A method of locating the at-rest position of a golf ball, in real-time, of a golfer competing in a golf tournament at a golf course, comprising the steps of:requesting, by a portable device configured to be carried by a user associated with a playing group comprising one or more golfers, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location of a beacon worn by the user, wherein the request is made by the portable device to the beacon;collecting or receiving, by the portable device, real time kinematic (RTK) correction data from a RTK corrections source;transmitting, by the portable device, the RTK correction data via a first radio-frequency (RF) communications link between the portable device and the beacon;collecting or receiving, by the beacon, a location signal associated with the beacon, from one or more GNSS satellites;combining, by the beacon, the location signal with the RTK correction data, thereby determining the GNSS location of the beacon;transmitting, by the beacon, the GNSS location of the beacon to the portable device via the first RF communications link;measuring, using a laser rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of the golf ball, wherein the relative position of the golf ball is determined from a line-of-sight distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf ball relative to the user;transmitting, by the laser rangefinder, the relative position of the golf ball to the portable device via a second RF communications link between the laser rangefinder and the portable device;determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf ball, upon geometrically applying the measured relative position of the golf ball to the GNSS location of the beacon.2) The method according to claim 1, wherein the beacon is unconnected to the Internet or a cellular network.3) The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined GNSS location of the beacon has an accuracy of + / −2 centimeters.4) The method according to claim 3, wherein the RTK corrections source is an RTK base station, positioned at a fixed location on the golf course.5) The method according to claim 3, wherein the RTK corrections source is a Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol (NTRIP) service provider, the NTRIP service provider having one or more RTK base stations positioned offsite relative to the golf course.6) The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more GNSS satellites are Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.7) The method according to claim 6, wherein the location signal transmitted by the GPS satellites is transmitted over one or more frequencies selected from the group consisting of the L1 band, L2 band, L5 band, and any combination thereof.8) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RF communications link and the second RF communications link comprise a Bluetooth communication protocol.9) The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a user interface configured to receive an input from the user requesting the GNSS location of the beacon.10) The method according to claim 1, wherein the playing group comprises a plurality of golfers.11) The method according to claim 10, wherein the portable device comprises a user interface configured to receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of golfers prior to measuring the relative location of the selected golfer's golf ball.12) The method according to claim 11, wherein upon the selection of one of the plurality of golfers, the portable device executes a computer-readable instruction stored within a memory of the portable device to request the GNSS location of the beacon.13) The method according to claim 10, wherein the user is a walking scorer for the playing group.14) The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting, by the portable device, the at-rest position of a selected golfer's golf ball to a scoring system.15) The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:accumulating, by the scoring system, one or more at-rest positions of the selected golfer's golf ball on a golf hole; anddetermining, by the scoring system, a score for the selected golfer on the golf hole from the accumulated golf ball positions for the golf hole.16) The method according to Step 14, wherein:the scoring system accumulates one or more at-rest golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole; andthe scoring system determines a score for each golfer on the golf hole, using the accumulated at-rest golf ball positions for each golfer on the golf hole.17) The method according to claim 14, wherein the portable device and the scoring system are in electronic communication via the Internet or a cellular network.18) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:determining the GNSS location of a pin position on a golf hole;storing the GNSS location of the pin position within a memory of the portable device; andexecuting computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored GNSS location of the pin position with the determined at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the pin position.19) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device;measuring, using the rangefinder operated by the user, the relative position of a golf pin on a golf hole, wherein the relative position of the golf pin is determined from a line-of-sight distance, inclination angle, and azimuth value of the golf pin relative to the user;determining, by the portable device, the at-rest position of the golf pin, upon geometrically applying the measured relative position of the golf pin to the GNSS location of the beacon; andexecuting computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored at-rest position of the golf ball with the determined at-rest position of the golf pin, thereby determining the distance from the golf ball to the golf pin.20) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:storing the determined at-rest position of the golf ball within a memory of the portable device, thereby accumulating a first at-rest position of the golf ball;striking, by the golfer, a golf shot that displaces the golf ball from the first at-rest position of the golf ball;determining a second at-rest position of the golf ball upon repeating each of the steps of claim 1;executing computer-readable instructions stored within the portable device memory to compare the stored first at-rest position of the golf ball with the second at-rest position of the golf ball, thereby determining the distance of the golf shot.

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