System and method for estimating final resting position of golf balls

A system for automated scoring in golf tournament play, the system comprising:

• a ball tracking network comprising sensors positioned around a golf course and configured to collect ball flight data of a golf ball during flight;
• a prediction generator comprising one or more processors configured to:
• receive the ball flight data from the ball tracking network,
• predict a first impact location and first impact physics from the ball flight data,
• iteratively model bounce and roll behavior by selecting prediction models from a plurality of prediction models based on zones corresponding to impact locations, wherein the plurality of prediction models incorporate surface properties and zone-specific coefficients corresponding to respective zones, and
• determine predicted coordinates of a final resting position based on the modeled bounce and roll behavior;
• and
• a processor and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• receive the predicted coordinates from the prediction generator,
• determine a predicted zone on the golf course corresponding to the predicted coordinates,
• calculate a distance from the predicted coordinates to a nearest boundary of a different zone adjacent to the predicted zone,
• when the distance to the nearest boundary exceeds a zone threshold value, automatically mark the predicted zone as final in a scoring database without requiring validation from position-determining equipment, and
• when the distance to the nearest boundary does not exceed the zone threshold value, flag the predicted zone for validation before marking as final in the scoring database.

A method for automated scoring in golf tournament play, the method comprising:

• collecting ball flight data of a golf ball during flight using sensors of a ball tracking network positioned around a golf course;
• generating predicted coordinates of a final resting position by:
• predicting a first impact location and first impact physics from the ball flight data,
• iteratively modeling bounce and roll behavior by selecting prediction models from a plurality of prediction models based on zones corresponding to impact locations, wherein the plurality of prediction models incorporate surface properties and zone-specific coefficients corresponding to respective zones, and
• determining the predicted coordinates of the final resting position based on the modeled bounce and roll behavior;
• determining a predicted zone on the golf course corresponding to the predicted coordinates;
• calculating a distance from the predicted coordinates to a nearest boundary of a different zone adjacent to the predicted zone;
• when the distance to the nearest boundary exceeds a zone threshold value, automatically marking the predicted zone as final in a scoring database without requiring validation from position-determining equipment;
• and
• when the distance to the nearest boundary does not exceed the zone threshold value, flagging the predicted zone for validation before marking as final in the scoring database.

A system for automated scoring in golf tournament play, the system comprising:

• a processor and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• receive predicted coordinates of a final resting position of a golf ball on a golf course from a prediction system,
• receive actual coordinates of the final resting position of the golf ball from position-determining equipment operated on the golf course,
• compare the predicted coordinates to the actual coordinates to determine a distance between the predicted coordinates and the actual coordinates,
• determine whether the distance is within a predetermined tolerance value, and
• when the distance is within the predetermined tolerance value, automatically mark the actual coordinates as final in a scoring database without requiring human review.