Method and apparatus for managing golf related information obtained in part by using impulse radio technology

A method for generating revenue from at least one source, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining golf related information using impulse radio technology;
• providing a golfer with a unit capable of calculating additional golf related information using the obtained golf related information and further capable of displaying the calculated additional golf related information to the golfer, wherein the calculated additional golf related information includes a distance that a golf ball is located from a golf pin where the distance that the golf ball is located from the golf pin is calculated by:
• determining a position of the golfer located near the golf ball from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course;
• and
• calculating a distance between the determined position of the golfer and a known position of the golf pin;
• and
• enabling golf course personnel to enhance marketing of goods to the golfer by communicating with the golfer, wherein the golf course personnel can use another ultra wideband impulse radio unit to establish communications with the golfer using the ultra wideband impulse radio unit, wherein the ultra wideband impulse radio unit is used to determine the position of the golfer and is also used to establish communications between the golf course personnel and the golfer.

A method for increasing the profitability of a golf course, said method comprising the step of:

• providing a golfer with a unit capable of using impulse radio technology to aid in determining a distance that a golf ball is located from a golf pin thus eliminating a need for the golfer to pace of a distance when playing golf on the golf course which results in speeding up the play of the golfer, wherein the distance that the golf ball is located from the golf pin is calculated by:
• determining a position of the golfer located near the golf ball from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course;
• and
• calculating a distance between the determined position of the golfer and a known position of the golf pin.

An apparatus comprising:

• a display;
• an ultra wideband impulse radio unit;
• a user interface;
• and
• a controller, coupled to said display, said ultra wideband impulse radio unit and said user interface, capable of providing a golfer with at least a portion of golf related information that was obtained utilizing impulse radio technology, wherein the golfer is provided information about a position of the golfer relative to a golf pin on a golf course, wherein the position of the golfer is determined from the interaction between the ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course.

A base station comprising:

• a processor capable of receiving golf related information from an apparatus that was used by a golfer, said apparatus including:
• a display;
• an ultra wideband impulse radio unit:
• a user interface;
• a controller, coupled to said display, said ultra wideband impulse radio unit and said user interface, capable of obtaining a portion of the golf related information utilizing impulse radio technology and further capable of obtaining another portion of the golf related information by interacting with the golfer;
• and
• said controller capable of providing the golfer with information about a position of the golfer relative to a golf pin on a golf course, wherein the position of the golfer is determined from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course;
• and
• said processor is further capable of generating a score card illustrating at least a portion of the golf related information.

A server comprising:

• a web site capable of receiving and displaying golf related information from an apparatus that was used by a golfer, said apparatus including:
• a display;
• an ultra wideband impulse radio unit;
• a user interface;
• a controller, coupled to said display, said ultra wideband impulse radio unit and said user interface, capable of obtaining a portion of the golf related information utilizing impulse radio technology and further capable of calculating another portion of the golf related information by interacting with the golfer, and
• said controller capable of providing the golfer with information about a position of the golfer relative to a golf pin on a golf course, wherein the position of the golfer is determined from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course.

A system capable of managing golf related information, said system comprising:

• an apparatus including:
• a display;
• an ultra wideband impulse radio unit;
• a user interface;
• a controller, coupled to said display, said ultra wideband impulse radio unit and said user interface, capable of providing a golfer with golf related information that was obtained in part by utilizing impulse radio technology;
• and
• said controller capable of providing the golfer with information about a position of the golfer relative to a golf pin on a golf course, wherein the position of the golfer is determined from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course;
• and
• a base station capable of receiving golf related information from said apparatus and further capable of generating a score card illustrating at least a portion of the golf related information;
• and
• a server including a web site capable of receiving the golf related information from said base station.

A method of managing golf-related information for golf course personnel, comprising:

• a. obtaining, via an impulse radio signal, information associated with a golf course;
• b. processing the obtained golf-related information;
• and
• c. providing the processed golf-related information to the golf course personnel to assist at least one person of such personnel in making at least one decision respecting the golf course, wherein said at least one person is provided information about a position of a golfer located on a golf course, wherein the position of the golfer is determined from the interaction between an ultra wideband impulse radio unit associated with the golfer and at least two beacon ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout the golf course.