Management of Golf Tournament Scoring Data

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/574,753, filed Apr. 4, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.

The present application is directed to managing golf tournament scoring data collected by various tracking systems for verification, replacement, and entry of missing scoring data.

In one aspect, a scoring module for managing golf tournament scoring data may include a score management device, location device, and an object detection device. The score management device executes a score management application and includes a user interface having a display. The object detection device determines ball locations on a golf course from a location remote from the ball locations. The scoring module is movable throughout the golf course during play of the golf tournament and the location device is configured to determine current location of the scoring module following each move. The object detection device is configured to utilize the current location determined by the location device to determine the ball locations on the golf course. In one example, the object detection device includes a laser range finder.

The location device may be configured to communicate with one or more location services to determine the current location, and the location services include a global satellite constellation network and a local location network. The location device may include a GNSS antenna. The GNSS antenna may be configured to receive correction data from a GNSS antenna base station of the local location network positioned at a known location.

The score management application may be configured to receive scoring data collected by one or more tracking systems. The scoring data may include stroke data of players competing on the golf course and location data of golf balls hit by the players.

The one or more tracking systems comprise a shot prediction system, an automated scoring system configured to track balls hit by players using at least a camera device, a manual scoring system whereby personnel set location data corresponding to shots using a camera device.

The score management application may be configured to cause the score management device to display the scoring data collected by the one or more tracking systems on the display.

The score management application may include a score management tool that interfaces a user of the score management device with management operations with respect to the collected scoring data. The management operations may include validation of the collected scoring data, modification of the collected scoring data, and cancelation of the collected scoring data. The score management application may be configured to enable the user to enter missing or canceled scoring data.

The score management tool may include a hole graphic representation comprising a display of a hole set as active by the score management tool or user interaction therewith.

The score management application may include a score management tool that interfaces a user of the score management device with management operations with respect to the collected scoring data. As collected scoring data is received by the score management application, the score management tool may be configured to plot location data corresponding to a current shot of a player on a hole set as active that was collected by one or more of the one or more tracking systems on the hole graphic representation.

The hole graphic representation may include source identifiers with respect to the plots that identify the tracking system that is the source of the location data.

The score management tool may be configured to provide the user an option of verifying location data corresponding to a location data plot or input new location data for the current shot. The score management tool may be configured to provide the user an option to collect the new location data using the object detection device or by plotting location of the golf ball on the hole graphic representation.

The score management tool may be configured to allow the user to one or more of enter strokes, drops, or penalties, alter timestamps, correct shot from locations set, or delete strokes collected by the one or more tracking systems.

In one configuration, the scoring module is configured to collect location data with respect to all shots on an active hole that are in the fairway of an active hole.

In one embodiment, once a shot is taken on an active hole, a shot hit indication is displayed on the hole graphic representation. The shot hit indication may include a line from where the shot was taken to a pin of the hole. The shot hit indication may include a distance to the pin. In one example, the shot hit indication is displayed before ball hit lands.

In one embodiment, the score management application is configured to analyze the collected scoring data and identify anomalies and includes a score management tool. The score management tool may include an actions panel to display the anomalies in action messages corresponding to a player and hole the anomaly relates.

illustrate various components and operations of a golf data collection and management systemincluding a scoring modulefor managing scoring data wherein like numbers represent like features.

With reference to, a golf data collection and management systemmay include a tracking systemcomprising one or more score tracking systems configured to collect scoring data during a golf tournament. The tracking systemmay collect scoring data via manual entry, utilization of sensors, or both. Nonlimiting examples of sensors that may be used by tracking systems may include GPS, radar devices, lasers, or camera sensors. The tracking systemmay collect scoring data for each competing player, which may be competing in groups, during golf tournament play in a live scoring process. In some embodiments, one or more aspects of the tracking systemmay be automated.

Scoring data may comprise tracking data collected or otherwise generated by the tracking system. The tracking data may comprise location data with respect to players, balls, or other objects. For example, location data may comprise sensor data collected by sensors, manual entry data entered by personnel, or both. The location data may comprise shot data with respect to ball locations, e.g., ball to or ball from, ball flight data, or the like, which may be collected by sensors or personnel via interaction with electronic communication devices. Tracking data may include stroke data with respect to player stroke count, which may be collected via sensor data, manual entry data by personnel, or both. As described in more detail below, in various embodiments, the tracking systemmay use location data with respect to players and balls, e.g., ball to and ball from, to generate stroke data, which, in some implementations may further include incorporation of ball flight data. This location data may comprise sensor data, manual entry data, or a combination of sensor data and manual entry data. Tracking one or more of locations, shots, or stroke determinations may be fully or partially automated. As also described in more detail below, one or more aspects of the scoring data may include tracking data generated by a shot prediction systemusing sensor data with respect to ball location and flight. Scoring data may also include tracking, location, sensor, manual entry, stroke, or other data collected or modified by the scoring module, as described in more detail below.

In some embodiments, electronic communication devices may be used to collect, record, or manage scoring data comprising location data. Electronic communication devices may include a handheld tablet, smart device/phone, personal data assistant, or a dedicated electronic communication device, as examples. Electronic communication devices may include interactive maps for presentation on a display of the electronic communication device and be configured with interface elements to receive user interactions with the interactive maps to indicate a location, e.g., with a pointer or by touch, of objects such as balls and players. Electronic communication devices may also be configured for use in combination with laser rangefinders or LIDAR for object detection, tracking, mapping, or combination thereof. Photogrammetry techniques may be used to analyze photographs or other images to extract measurements and other information. In the illustrated embodiment depicted in, the one or more tracking systems of the tracking systeminclude one or more of a companion scoring system, an automated scoring system, a shot prediction system, or a manual scoring system.

With further reference to, which illustrates an example tracking systemincluding tracking systems identified inpositioned around a hole of a golf course to collect scoring data, the tracking systemmay utilize an array of sensors to collect various sensor data to track and manage golf play. The tracking systemmay provide for the collection of sensor data and data derived therefrom to support statistical information for golf events. In various embodiments, multiple tracking systems may use the same or similar sensors in their operations to collect and/or derive scoring data. Example sensors may include global positioning sensors, e.g., global positioning sensors (GPS), radar, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), cameras, e.g., implementing computer vision, and lasers. Radar devicesmay include those implementing ground-to-air Doppler radar. Camera devicesmay include digital video cameras, infrared cameras, ultraviolet cameras, thermal cameras, high speed cameras, machine vision cameras, or other similar optical capture devices. Techniques such as photogrammetry may be implemented to extract location or other information from images. Laser devices may include those implementing laser technologies, such as LIDAR, for measuring geographic features and laser rangefinders for collecting location data. In some embodiments, GPS-enabled laser rangefinders or LIDAR may be implemented to measure distance of an object and collect location for that object. Such laser technologies may utilize real time kinematic (RTK), which increases the accuracy of location measurements by using a small ground network, including a GPS base station, to correct position measurements in real time.

Radar devicesmay be used to collect and record location data for a golf ball at any point in flight. In some embodiments, the radar may be used to collect data indicating the location, velocity, trajectory, acceleration, or other parameters of the ball flight of a golf ball. Radar may be used to identify location of a golf ball at impact with a golf club and impact with ground. Radar may be used to determine ball flight and related location when the golf ball is at a location where the golf ball is no longer visible by cameras or lasers, such as when the golf ball is behind obstacles, such as trees, stones, etc. In some embodiments, radar may be used track golf balls up to 400 yards or more away from the radar source under various weather conditions, such as rain, fog, sunrise, and sunset. In one implementation, the tracking systemutilizes radar devicesemploying ground-to-air Doppler. Radar devicesmay be located a one or more locations along a golf course or hole. In the illustrated example radar devicesare placed behind each tee and green of a course, and may be angled towards the center of the fairway. In some embodiments, the radar devicesmay be operated by a human, robot, or fully autonomous. In other embodiments, as described in more detail herein, the radar devicesmay be mobile.

Laser devices may be utilized to measure and record the distance of objects, such as players or golf balls, from the device. For instance, in some embodiments, a laser device comprises a laser rangefinder. Laser rangefinders may be GPS-enabled to enable the laser rangefinder to record location data for objects detected by the laser rangefinder in addition to distance measurements. Laser rangefinders may utilize RTK to determine the location of an object with high accuracy, e.g., within centimeter. Laser rangefinders may be associated with other sensors of one or more tracking systemssuch that the laser rangefinder measures and records the distance of objects detected by other sensors of the tracking system. In some embodiments, laser rangefinders may be operated by a human, robot, or fully autonomous. In one example, targeting of laser rangefinders may be remotely controllable by the tracking system. For instance, targeting of a laser rangefinder may be calibrated with a camera feed view and be mounted with positioning hardware that is remotely controllable by powered components, such as actuators, of the tracking systemsuch that the tracking systemmay autonomously, or at the direction of a user, manipulate the laser rangefinder to target a particular location or object. In some embodiments, the tracking systemmay employ laser devices implementing LIDAR to identify players and balls, track players and balls, or both.

Camera devicesmay be used to determine location, track players, balls, or object movement. Camera devicesmay be configured with player recognition, ball recognition, or other object recognition. In one embodiment, a player may carry or wear an optical, electromagnetic, or reflective maker identifiable by a camera or associated receiver that uniquely identifies the player. Camera devicesmay utilize optical recognition/augmented reality (AR) to locate players and/or balls. Camera devicesmay be configured with machine learning for optical recognition. For instance, the tracking systemmay utilize camera devicesand employ facial recognition, body recognition, gait recognition, clothing recognition, ball/shape recognition, or the like with respect to camera data to identify participants and/or balls, pair location with player or player ball, or both. Camera devicesmay typically be located at known locations, but in some instances one or more camera devicesmay be utilized in a mobile environment, e.g., utilizing RTK. In some embodiments, camera devicesmay be used to identify motion and objects in captured video or image frames thereof and a GPS-enabled laser or laser rangefinder associated with a camera may target such objects to determine distance of the object from the camera. In one example, combining camera view angle with distance, the location of the object may be determined. In some embodiments, topology of the region may be mapped or determined by LIDAR, photogrammetry, or combination thereof and added to the distance calculations. The tracking systemmay utilize known size of objects for scaling to determine distances of objects captured in camera images. In some embodiments, such camera devicesare operated by a human, robot, or may be fully autonomous. Camera devicesmay operate in the visual spectrum and/or optical spectrum to include one or more of the visual spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, or infrared spectrum.

The tracking systemmay implement an electronic communication device that personnel, such as scorers or spotters, carry to interact with the tracking system. For example, a companion scoring system, manual scoring system, or both may utilize electronic communication devices to track scoring data. In one embodiment, an electronic communication device includes an interactive display presenting digital interactive maps of the course. Users of the electronic communication devices may interact with the interactive maps to mark locations of golf balls, players, or both. In one example, one or more users carrying the electronic communication devices may be located on each hole to collect the location data. In some embodiments, electronic communication devices may be used to record the location of objects on the course and a laser, e.g., laser rangefinder, integrated or operatively coupled with the electronic communication device, may be used to measure the distance of the object. In one such embodiment, users may use the electronic communication device to record the location of the object by either tapping the location on the digital map, using the associated rangefinder to record the distance and location of the object, or a combine thereof. In some embodiments, the electronic communication device may utilize RTK to determine and record the location of objects.

The scoring data collected by the tracking systemmay be transmitted to a data management system. The data management systemmay transmit the scoring data for review to a scoring module. In some embodiments, one or more of the tracking systems of the tracking systemmay transmit scoring data directly to the scoring module.

As introduced above, the tracking systemmay include one or more tracking systems, thus, in some embodiments the scoring modulemay operate in an environment wherein large amounts of scoring data are being transmitted from multiple tracking systems, which may include multiple sensor types and personnel. The scoring data may include location data such as player or ball location coordinates, zones, or both and data logging related to corresponding shots, which may include association of stroke data corresponding to the ball locations with respect to the competing players. However, as multiple scoring systems may be collecting such location and stroke data, with varying levels of accuracy, multiple locations may be present for a particular stroke, multiple strokes may be present for a particular location, a stroke may be present without a corresponding location, a location may be present without a corresponding stroke, strokes or locations may be present without identification of a player, and any of the above may be incorrect. Sensors collecting ball locations may also be partially or fully autonomous or automated such that the ball location coordinates may not be transmitted with data identifying a corresponding hole event, e.g., player and stroke. Every sensor type used by the one or more tracking systems may not collect scoring data for every hole event, may be offline, or may miss various events. Accordingly, it may be difficult to determine which locations correspond to which players and strokes. This problem is magnified in a tournament environment wherein three players are playing each hole of an 18 hole course at the same time with each player tallying multiple hole events on each hole.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a scoring moduleand methods of managing scoring data collected by a tracking systemcomprising one or more tracking systems. In various embodiments, the scoring modulemay manage oncourse data collection and validation of one or more tracking systems. Nonlimiting examples of scoring data include location data and stroke data. Nonlimiting examples of location data may include location of a ball on the course before or after being hit; location of a player, such as at ball, approaching ball, in tee box, or on green; or location of a ball before or after being hit. The location may comprise coordinates, which may be GPS or other coordinates, such as a custom coordinate system. Coordinates may be translated between coordinate systems. In some embodiments, location may also include zones, such as those described herein. In some embodiments, the scoring moduleis configured to translate coordinates to zones or compare a zone location determination of one of the one or more tracking systems with a coordinate determination of the same or different tracking system, e.g., to determine if they are consistent or if a notification or action message should be generated. Nonlimiting examples of stroke data may include stroke, swinging, ball hit, penalty, drop, provisional, or ball in hole.

The scoring modulemay include a score management device, an object detection device, and a location device. The scoring modulemay include or otherwise be configured to execute program instructions, which may be referred to herein as a score management application, and which may include access, run, emulate, or otherwise utilize the program instructions via interaction and operation of the score management deviceand other scoring modulecomponents, to perform score management operations. For instance, the scoring modulemay include one or more processors and one or more memories storing the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors perform the score management operations.

The scoring moduleis configured to enable score management operations comprising management of the scoring data. As described herein, score management operations may include verification, correction of information that is received from data collection sensors or manual entry in the live scoring process, or entry of absent scoring data. In some embodiments, the scoring modulemay override scoring data. The scoring modulemay include or incorporate hardware enabling the scoring moduleto receive tracking systemscoring data, such as one or more wired or wireless receivers, transceivers, or transmitters, as well as one or more processors configured to execute program instructions to determine scoring data, such as locations of balls or players, stroke data, or other scoring data. This may include the ability to enter in stroke-by-stroke detail information along with identify accurate shot locations, such accurate GPS shot locations, which may include providing interface elements to enable users to enter or identify such information via the score management device, object detection device, or combination thereof.

The score management devicemay comprise an electronic communication device including one or more processors and one or more memories storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors performs score management operations. to perform score management operations. The score management devicemay include a user interface. The user interfacemay include a display, one or more hard or soft buttons, or other interface elements enabling users to interface with score management operations. The score management devicemay be deployed to collect location data, such as GPS or other coordinate system coordinates, for balls some distance away from the score management device. In one example, the distance ranges from 5 feet to 100 yards. In one embodiment, the score management devicegenerates an interactive course map that is presented on the display. The user may interface with the interactive map to indicate a ball location. In this or another embodiment, a user may capture a current location of the score management device, or other component of the scoring module, and set the location as the location of a ball. For example, the score management devicemay be positioned over a ball and the user may capture the location and set the location as the ball location. As described in more detail below, the score management devicemay utilize the location deviceto receive or determine its location.

As introduced above, the score management devicemay include a user interface including a display and one or more interface elements. The display may be used to communicate information regarding operations of the scoring module, such as managing scoring data collected by the one or more tracking systems of the tracking system, which may include one or more of validating, modifying, replacing, or adding scoring data. The user interfacemay additionally or alternatively include on or more hard or soft buttons the user may use to interface with the score management operations of the score management device, which may include those described with respect to the score management application, object detection device, or location device. In one example the display comprises a touchscreen to enable a user to communicate through interaction with the display by selecting soft buttons, map locations, or other interactive display elements.

The object detection devicemay be configured to, at least in part, determine a location of an object on or around the golf course from a remote position. The object detection devicemay be deployed to collect location, such as GPS or other coordinate system coordinates, for ball positions some distance away from the object detection device. In one example, the distance ranges from a foot to 100 or more yards.

The scoring modulemay include or incorporate location servicessuch as those provided by one or more of a global satellite constellation infrastructure networkor a location network. The location networkwill typically be a local location networkwith respect to a golf course the tournament is played, such as an on-course location network, and may include or incorporate operation of various location network elements such as radio receivers, transmitters, transceivers, antennas, UWB antennas, anchors, initiators, responders, cell towers, Wi-Fi access points, beacons, geo-beacons, BLE gateways, or the like. In some embodiments, the location networkincludes or incorporates external location/signal networks that utilize short range or long range location technologies, which may include signals of opportunity.

The location devicemay be configured to communicate with location servicesto determine its location. In various embodiments, the location devicemay comprise a global navigation satellite system, or other location technology, device receiver, transmitter, transceiver, antennae, anchor, initiator, responder, or the like configured to communicate with location servicesto determine its location. In one embodiment, the location devicemay be integrated with the score management device, object detection device, or both. The scoring modulemay be configured to be mobile, allowing a user to move the components of the scoring modulearound the course while still enabling the user to use the components to accurately determine object locations on and around the course. For example, the location devicemay be utilized to allow the scoring moduleto be mobile and quickly determine its location when moved, preferably to an accuracy of a centimeter or less within 10 seconds of moving. Utilizing the location deviceand communication with the location services, the scoring modulemay quickly and accurately update its location for use in determining object locations, e.g., locations of balls, relative to its location.

In one embodiment, location servicesinclude services provided by a global navigation satellite constellation infrastructurethat interact with one or more elements of the location networkto provide highly accurate location servicing. For example, such location network elements may include one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) base stations positioned at known locations on or around a course to provide location services with respect to a location devicecomprising a GNSS antenna. For instance, the GNSS base station and GNSS antenna may receive GNSS signals for location determination. The GNSS base station and GNSS antenna may apply differential correction where the GNSS base station determines location correction data that is used to correct fine errors in location determinations that would occur by use of the GNSS antenna alone. In some embodiments, differential correction includes precise point position (PPP), RTK, or a PPP-RTK hybrid. In one embodiment, a location devicecomprising a GNSS antenna is employed without a GNSS base station.

The score management devicemay include one or more communication ports configured for wired or wireless communication with the location deviceand object detection device. The scoring modulemay include a communication port for wireless communication with the data management system. The communication port may be the same or different than the one or more communication ports utilized for communication between the score management deviceand the object detection deviceand location device.

The scoring modulemay be configured to transmit the managed scoring data to the data management systemfor additional analysis, modification, formatting, storage, or other desired application. In one embodiment, the managed scoring data may be transmitted by the scoring moduleor data management systemto one or more data platformsfor use by various data consumers such as applications, websites, clients, distribution platforms, statistical analysis, archival application, television broadcasts, or the like.

In some embodiments, one or more tracking systems of the tracking systemmay utilize GPS-monitoring devices worn or carried by players, caddies, or course personnel in order to obtain location data. As players walk the course from hole-to-hole, a GPS device may collect and record location data. The GPS device may be individualized to uniquely identify the player wearing the device. The location data recorded from the device associated with a specific player may also contain additional information to uniquely identify that player. The location data recorded from the GPS device may also be cross-referenced with location data recorded from other GPS-enabled sensors used in the tracking system. The locations may be used by the tracking systemin automated or manual tracking, such as with respect to companion scoring system, automated scoring system, shot prediction system, or manual scoring system, to pair or temporally pair stroke data such as ball hit or ball landing with a player by pairing a time stamp of a location of a player with the time stamp of the stroke data. In some embodiments, a player's location tracked on a hole may be available as “breadcrumbs”. These breadcrumbs may be used by one or more tracking systemsto identify a player at a location on a hole to pair with stroke data at the location having the similar time stamp as described above. In one embodiment, the breadcrumbs may be integrated into a graphic displayed on an electronic communication device used by the companion scoring systemor manual scoring systemto assist in player identification. In this or another embodiment, breadcrumbs may be integrated into a graphic displayed on a score management deviceto assist in player identification with respect to live or past scoring data events.

While the present description generally refers to GPS, those having skill in the art will appreciate that such reference applies equally to other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, or other current or future GNSS. GPS location may be augmented with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), Differential GPS (DGPS), e.g., Global Differential GPS (GDGPS), RTK, Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), Signals of Opportunity (SOP)-based or augmented navigation, UWB, LTE, cellular, radio, television, Wi-Fi, other satellite signals, or the like.

The golf data collection and management systemmay include or utilize one or more databases to store and relay information that traverses the platform, cache content that traverses the platform, store data about each of the devices, store coordinates, store raw or verified scoring data, store map data, or perform any other typical functions of a database. Furthermore, databases may include a processor and memory or be connected to a processor and memory to perform the various operations associated with the databases. In certain embodiments, databases may be connected to any process, program, device, system, element, network, or any combination thereof of the golf data collection and management system. Databases may comprise multiple or a single database. Databases may be local or remote. The databases may be distributed. The database may be cloud-based.

The golf data collection and management systemmay be configured to communicate scoring and other data described herein over various communication networks, such as a mesh network, a local network, a cloud-computing network, an IMS network, a VoIP network, a security network, a VOLTE network, a wireless network, an Ethernet network, a satellite network, a broadband network, a cellular network, a private network, a cable network, the Internet, an intranet, an internet protocol network, MPLS network, a content distribution network, short range wireless communication network, or any combination thereof. One or more tracking systems, the scoring module, or any component thereof may include networking components configured to communicate directly or indirectly with location elements, such as location servicesvia the various communication networks.

The tracking system, scoring module, or both may utilize map data comprising a map of the course. The course map may be defined within a coordinate system such that locations or points on the course map are associated with coordinates, which may be referred as a coordinate map. Map data may include cloud point data collected from LIDAR and photogrammetry. Map data may also include tournament round data and location data for various zones and boundaries on the course that may be separately mapped before a tournament. Course maps may be generated using ground control markers placed on the course at known locations and recorded. For example, location data for the ground control markers may be used as reference points for generating the course map from point cloud data, which may be collected from techniques such as one or both of LIDAR or photogrammetry. Coordinates of the ground control markers may be used to key the point cloud data to a coordinate system.

As introduced above, the map data may include a zone map comprising a detailed identification of zones of the course. The zone maps may identify zones that may be as specific or as general as needed. Zones may include various grounds designations and/or physical features within the course of play and, in some embodiments, outside the course of play, such as out-of-bounds areas within the vicinity of the course where a player may potentially hit a ball. Thus, in some configurations, zones may correspond to areas within and/or around the course of play, such as physical structures (e.g., natural and/or manmade objects, structures, and features). For example, zones may correspond to parts of a golf course, such as tee box, fairway, green, hazard (bunker or water), rough, drop zone, and the like. Zones may include a tee box zone. A tee box zone may include one or more detailed tee box zones such as a tee left, tee right, or tee center detailed zone. Zones may include one or more zones corresponding to a fairway, such as fairway, fairway bunker, or the like. In a further configuration, zones corresponding to a fairway may include detailed zones such as one or more of left fairway, right fairway, left fairway bunker, right fairway bunker, or the like. Zones may include one or more zones corresponding to a hazard, such as hazard, grass bunker, fairway bunker, waste bunker, water, or the like. In a further configuration, zones corresponding to a hazard may include detailed zones such as one or more of front center greenside bunker, front left greenside bunker, left greenside bunker, left rear greenside bunker, rear greenside bunker, right greenside bunker, right rear greenside bunker, right front greenside bunker, or the like. Zones may include one or more zones corresponding to a rough, such as primary rough, intermediate rough, greenside rough, or the like. In a further configuration, zones corresponding to a rough may include detailed zones such as one or more of left rough, right rough, left intermediate, right intermediate, or the like. Zones may include one or more zones corresponding to a green, such as green, fringe, or the like. Zones may include one or more zones corresponding to landscape and/or nature features, such as bush, tree, step, landscaping, path, rock outline, tree outline, dirt outline, native area, water, or the like. Zones may include physical features such as manmade structures positioned around the course such as one or more of grandstands/seating, camera tower, hospitality tent, building, cart path, pedestrian path, walk strip, wall, bridge, or the like. In some embodiments, one or more zones may be identified as other or unmapped.

illustrates zones designation of a portion of a hole and surrounding areas. As described above and elsewhere herein, each zones may be associated with corresponding coordinates. The example zone map includes fairway, green, rough, tee box, native area, cart path, and greenside bunkerzones. The zones further include detailed zones including left fairway, right fairway, left rough, right rough, left front greenside bunker, right front greenside bunker, and around the green.

With reference again to, scoring data may be collected by one or more tracking systems. A companion scoring systemmay utilize an electronic communication device, as described herein, and, with respect to the companion scoring system, may be referred to as a companion device, carried by personnel, referred to as scorers, that input stroke events and other scoring data. Scorers may include caddies, players, or others that are viewing play. Companion devicesmay include a processor and memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor perform the operations of the companion device. In one example, the program instructions include those of a scoring application that is executed or run on the companion device. The scorer, utilizing the companion device, will typically accompany playerswhose score the scorer is tracking; however, in some embodiments, the scorer may remotely view the playersvia a live or delayed feed. Companion devicesmay be equipped with wireless data communication transceivers configured to wirelessly transmit scoring data to the data management system, scoring module, or both. During play, each player or player group may have an assigned companion devicethat a scorer uses to collect scoring data. Companion devicesmay be configured with various wireless communication technologies, such as those described above, which may include short range and/or long range communications. In some embodiments, companion devicesmay be similar to companion devicesdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/841,660, filed Jun. 15, 2022, titled Golf Event Management System with Scoring and Location Tracking, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Using the companion device, a scorer may record scoring data with respect to play. Recording scoring data, e.g., when a player addresses or hits a ball, may result in generation and recordation of an associated time stamp. As introduced above, the companion scoring system, another scoring system, scoring module, or combination thereof may utilize the time stamp to synchronize with other scoring data, such as location data or stroke data.

In one embodiment, the companion devicemay be configured to receive group location data, e.g., location of a player group, which may include zone location. A scorer may interface with interface elements of a user interfaceof the companion deviceto input group location data by any suitable method, such as input into a provided field, select from a list of displayed options, or the like. In one example, when the playersin a group are on the tee box, the scorer inputs or selects “tee”. In a further or another example, when the first caddie or player of the group arrives at the player's ball in the fairway, the scorer may input or select “fairway”. In a further or another example, when the first caddie or player of the group arrives at player's ball around the green, the scorer may input or select “green”.

To track player hits, the companion devicemay present a selectable list of players from which the scorer may select. When tracking player hits, the companion devicemay be configured to present a selectable list of zone locations the player will be hitting the shot from. Example zone locations may include tee, fairway, green primary rough, bunker, sand, fringe, waste area, or native or natural area. In one configuration, “from location” is to be set at any time for a player and have it be “sticky” for the next shot. In other words, the scorer may set a player's “from location” as soon as that location is known and have that value persist until the scorer either changes the location or indicates the ball has been hit.

In one example, the companion deviceis configured to receive a “player addressing ball” input from the scorer, which may be entered as an event, e.g., upon the occurrence of, when the player first addresses the ball. Additionally or alternatively, the companion devicemay be configured to receive a “shot hit” input from the scorer when the player hits the ball. In some embodiments, “shot hit” may trigger recordation of a stroke for the corresponding player.

The companion devicemay also be configured to score various stroke types, such as drop, penalty, and provisional. For instance, the companion devicemay query the scorer or request entry of a shot type, if applicable. If the scorer selects “drop”, the companion devicemay prompt the scorer to indicate if there was a penalty. If the scorer selects “penalty”, the companion devicemay prompt the scorer to indicate if there was a drop. If the scorer selects “provisional”, the companion device, one the next stroke, may prompt the scorer to indicate if the provisional is being used. If yes, and the shot location was “from the tee”, a penalty stroke may automatically be added to the player's score. If not, and the shot location was “from the tee”, the companion devicemay prompt the scorer to indicate if there was a drop and, if so, automatically add a penalty stroke to the player's score.