Abstract: Systems and apparatus for receiving golf balls include an apparatus including: a body having an ingress and an egress for golf balls passing through the body, wherein each of the golf balls includes a radio frequency identification tag; at least one antenna of a radio frequency identification reader, the at least one antenna arranged with respect to the body to receive information from the golf balls for identification of the golf balls; and multiple protrusions located within the body, the multiple protrusions being positioned with respect to each other in a Galton configuration that both (i) impedes the golf balls from passing through the body without being read by the radio frequency identification reader, and (ii) allows the golf balls to pass through the body without jamming therein.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for receiving golf balls include an apparatus including: a body having an ingress and an egress for golf balls passing through the body, wherein each of the golf balls includes a radio frequency identification tag; at least one antenna of a radio frequency identification reader, the at least one antenna arranged with respect to the body to receive information from the golf balls for identification of the golf balls; and multiple protrusions located within the body, the multiple protrusions being positioned with respect to each other in a Galton configuration that both (i) impedes the golf balls from passing through the body without being read by the radio frequency identification reader, and (ii) allows the golf balls to pass through the body without jamming therein.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser includes: a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls; a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf dispenser with the receptacle; a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle to restrict a passage of the multiple golf balls into the passageway, the gateway being selectively moveable to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway for delivery to a tee area; and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser to present at least information regarding the golf ball in flight after the golf ball is hit from the tee area. Further, methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for use with such golf ball dispensers, can control holding and dispensing of golf balls at a golf facility, e.g., a driving range.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) golf ball testing include, in at least one aspect, an apparatus including: one or more RFID readers having associated read zones; a star wheel unit defining cavities to receive golf balls; golf ball sensors including at least one sensor for each respective path through the read zones; kickers including at least one kicker positioned after each respective path through the read zones and arranged to change a golf ball's direction of travel when the at least one kicker is activated; and a controller coupled with the kickers, the golf ball sensors, and the one or more RFID readers, wherein the controller is configured to activate any of the kickers responsive to the one or more RFID readers inadequately reading an RFID tag in a golf ball detected by the at least one sensor for that kicker's associated path through a read zone.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) golf ball testing include, in at least one aspect, an apparatus including: one or more RFID readers having associated read zones; a star wheel unit defining cavities to receive golf balls; golf ball sensors including at least one sensor for each respective path through the read zones; kickers including at least one kicker positioned after each respective path through the read zones and arranged to change a golf ball's direction of travel when the at least one kicker is activated; and a controller coupled with the kickers, the golf ball sensors, and the one or more RFID readers, wherein the controller is configured to activate any of the kickers responsive to the one or more RFID readers inadequately reading an RFID tag in a golf ball detected by the at least one sensor for that kicker's associated path through a read zone.