Passive golf information system and method

A method for determining the position of a golf ball relative to known locations on a golf course using a GPS system comprising the steps of:

• locating the positions of a plurality of landmarks on the golf course;
• defining a plurality of regions on the golf course, each of said regions mapped in relationship to a green having a cup on the golf course;
• mapping at least one of said landmarks to one of said regions;
• storing in memory the definitions of each of the regions in combination with region mapping information;
• storing the position of the green in memory;
• positioning a remote GPS receiver near the golf ball on the golf course;
• determining the position of the remote receiver using the GPS system;
• determining the region in which the golf ball is located on the course from such position wherein said mapping region information pertaining to a particular hole are automatically retrieved upon the remote receiver's presence in a certain region;
• recalling such landmarks present in such golf ball region;
• determining the distance from the remote receiver to such landmarks using previously stored landmark position information, such mapping region information, and the position of the GPS receiver;
• and
• displaying distances from the remote receiver to the cup and landmarks mapped with such region.

A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:

• golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course;
• and
• location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer locating signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer;
• said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input;
• wherein said output means is configured for outputting non-golf information to the golfer while said golfer locating means is in motion between stationary positions.

A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:

• golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course,
• location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input, and
• receiver means for receiving golf related information from a transmitting station wherein said received information comprises golf related information and further comprises golf tournament standings information.

A golf information system for providing a golfer with information regarding the position and distance of designated features on a golf course having a plurality of golf holes comprising:

• golfer locating means which moves with the golfer for receiving signals and generating a golfer location signal which locates the golfer on the golf course,
• location interpreting and comparing means which moves with the golfer for interpreting said golfer location signal via a memory, said memory constructed and arranged for storing coordinate data of landmarks comprising topographical features of the golf course, and including means for designating a plurality of zones for one or more of each of the golf holes on the golf course, and relating specific subsets of said landmark coordinate data to each of said zones and comparing a difference in position of said golfer location signal to one or more of said landmark coordinate data assigned to one of said zones on the golf course where the golfer is located, said location interpreting and comparing means relaying said difference in position as a distance between said landmarks associated with said zone and said golfer locating means to output means for outputting said information to the golfer, and said location interpreting and comparing means passively providing said information to said golfer without golfer input, and
• receiver means for receiving information from a transmitting station wherein said received information comprises non-golf related information.