Golf distance measuring system and method

Abstract

A method and system for determing the approximate distance from a golf ball to the golf cup on the golf-green is described. The system stores the location of the golf cup in computer memory and determines the location of a global positioning satellite receiver positioned near the golf ball. The system calculates the distance between the golf cup location and the receiver location. Preferably, the receiver includes a display of the golf hole being played, with the location of the receiver on the hole, the golf cup on the green, and the distance to the golf cup being displayed. In a preferred form the player can designate a mark on the display and find out the distance from the receiver to the mark or the distance from the mark to the golf pin. The position of the receiver is error corrected, with the error correction preferably calculated using a reference global positioning satellite receiver positioned at a known location. The known location is compared to the apparent position to calculate the error correction. The error correction is periodically transmitted and the remote receiver calculates the distance from the remote receiver to the golf cup for the hole being played using the transmitted error correction. Using an error corrected position enables distance calculation accuracy to within several meters even using global positioning satellite system "c" code with selective availability enabled. The method and system of the present invention allows the golfer to accurately select the proper club for the shot, plan a shot strategy for the hole, and to decrease playing time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.