Virtual golf game

Details Virtual golf game Virtual golf game

1999-10-01

2001-11-20

Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)

Data processing: generic control systems or specific application

Specific application, apparatus or process

Contest or contestant analysis, management, or monitoring

C473S131000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06321128

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for determining one or more scores of one or more virtual games of golf based on the actual scores of two or more players from different courses, and which may be implemented electronically through an interconnected network, such as an on-line server through a web site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A problem arises when two or more golfers living hundreds of miles apart, or even golfers who play different courses within the same community, wish to play each other in a game of golf and compete head-to-head or by teams. For instance, each player may be a member of a different golf course or club. Typically, each player plays at his or her local golf course, but finds it impractical to travel hundreds of miles simply to play against a friend. Even those players living in the same community have no indisputable, objective method to compare scores achieved at different courses within the same community. While players may compare scores with each other, the two or more golf courses may greatly differ and the scores cannot be directly compared. The two or more golfers may have previously established handicaps, United States Golf Association (“USGA”) Handicap Index, and may have even attempted to compare their golf scores based on the USGA Slope Rating and Course Rating systems, but this requires making numerous calculations and is seldom if ever done and is generally not entirely accurate in terms of who would win if the players played a game or tournament on the same course.
Existing internet games allow individuals to compete in a limited fashion in what is known as “fantasy leagues.” Typical fantasy golf games involve users selecting a foursome for each tournament from qualified professional players. Users draft real-life professional players as members of their fantasy teams. This provides a way for individuals to compete against each other to see who has superior managing skills in any given sport, such as golf. Users may compete against friends, family members and co-workers by forming their own private division or league. However, these programs do not provide a way to compare user's real golf scores played on different golf courses.
Some existing golf games involve software applications and are generally directed towards virtual golf simulations. Users play golf in the virtual world via computers and/or a network of computers. The golf game system simulates the speed and the direction of a golf swing. The user swings a real golf club while the computer, software and other devices sense and interpret the swing and enter and display results via the software package. Although the game might seem highly realistic in some aspects, an actual round of golf under actual playing conditions is never played.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,549 (Walker et al.) is directed towards a database-driven online distributed tournament system. This patent discloses a method for an online tournament in which many remotely located players participate in a tournament through input/output devices connected to a central controller that manages the tournament. Electronic tournaments allow players to compete at a virtual location at any time. Thus, participants are not required to travel and coordinate a time and place to meet. This patent discloses a method for collecting entry fees and payment of prizes and allows for the coordination of multiple tournaments. However, this patent does not involve actual golf scores achieved at actual golf courses by the players and does not disclose a method of comparing golf scores played on different golf courses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a unique system and method that enables two golfers or teams of golfers who play on different courses to compete on a virtual golf course, or Tournament course. The invention provides a method where one or more actual scores, i.e., scores achieved by a player playing a round of golf on a real golf course, not an electronic or other simulated game of golf, from one or more courses may be compared based on various factors, such as USGA Slope Ratings and Course Ratings systems. The Tournament course is used to objectively relate for comparison the players' actual scores and may be (i) an imaginary course, (ii) one of the courses played by the golfers, or (iii) another physical course on which none of the golfers played, a “neutral” course. If the scores are converted to a course, the Tournament course, on which at least one golfer played, the invention system converts the golfers' scores that did not play on such course to a score for the Tournament course for head-to-head or team-to-team comparison. In other words, when applying the present invention to two golfers' scores, it is possible to convert one of the golfer's score to the course played by the other golfer, the Tournament course.
In one embodiment of the present invention, after each player has played a game of golf, the scores are arranged by hole length for each given course; after which the scores are transferred to the Tournament course which has also been arranged by hole length, shortest to longest. Once the scores have been transferred to the Tournament course and the Tournament course rearranged by hole number, the players can then apply their USGA handicaps according to the hole handicaps to adjust the scores. The apportionment of the hole handicaps may be applied in a variety of different ways, including by hole length or by other methods. In one manner, the respective scores may be compared based on “par” for the hole actually played. By basing the scores off par, the inventive method avoids discrepancies which occur from course to course caused by differing course make-up of par threes, par fours and par fives.
After the conversion of the scores, the players end up with predicted scores for a Tournament course based on their past scores at different courses. This idea can be further implemented into so-called “virtual tournaments” in which players from all over the country may compete against each other simply by submitting their scores from USGA approved courses in their locality. While the above description calls for converting each of the golfer's scores to a Tournament course, it will be recognized that it is not necessary to convert every golfer's score if one of the courses on which the golfers played is used as the Tournament course.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and by way of example and not limitation, the collection and conversion of the scores and the display of the Tournament course are implemented through a web site. Two or more players or teams of players having Internet access may play against each other even though they live hundreds of miles apart. The present invention is not limited to Internet use, but may also be accessed through intranet, Ethernet or any system comprising a network of computers, or software applications.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the player and course handicap adjustment and course rating adjustment are calculated based on one or more of the USGA Handicap Index, Slope Rating and Course Rating. Next, the holes of the played courses and the Tournament course are arranged by hole handicap, most challenging to least challenging. The players' scores are then adjusted by the number of strokes determined by the adjustment calculations. Finally, the scores are compared relative to par to determine the winning player or team.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the holes are adjusted by handicap and then by hole number against the Tournament course. After such adjustment, the players may play match play, a hole-by-hole contest in which each hole is won based on the best score relative to par on each hole actually played (i.e., eagle, birdie, par, bogie, double bogie). The winner of the match is determined by summing the total number of holes won by each player.
Although many of the embodiments describe a method for comparing the scores of a plural

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