Abstract: The test range is provided with a calibration system for calibrating the exact position of a light curtain formed by a ballistic screen. The calibration system uses a model ball which can be moved through a light screen at high speed in order to simulate the actual passage of a driven golf ball through the light screen. Positioning of the model golf ball at a point at which the golf ball just contacts the light screen serves to determine the exact location of the light screen. A laser ranging device is used to locate the calibration system relative to a launch point. Thus, the precise distance of the curtain of light from the launch point can be readily determined. The calibration system may also be used to determine if a ballistic screen is mounted in a true vertical plane.

Abstract: A handheld golf course distance computer includes a graphics display and keyboard and is preprogrammed, using an external personal computer and optical data link, with alphanumeric and graphical information regarding each hole of a particular golf course. The alphanumeric information includes an identification of the course and a selected hole, information relating to hazards and/or the best method of play of the selected hole, the distance of play from various tees, the number of strokes required to par the hole, and typical playing time for the course. The actual or elapsed playing time from the beginning of play is also displayed. The graphical information, including details of the course terrain, is obtained from an aerial photograph of the course and converted to pixel information using commercially available personal computer software. The alphanumeric and graphical information associated with the selected hole may be selectively displayed.

Abstract: A golf ball locating apparatus and a method of applying a reflective coating to the golf ball. The apparatus involves a handheld apparatus which locates a wayward golf ball and identifies its relative position to the handheld apparatus. The handheld apparatus is structured in two preferred embodiments: the first is a handheld apparatus that fits into a user's pocket; the second is a shaft arrangement which has two extendable wings to form a "T" shape. The pocket sized embodiment has a forward facing window to direct a beam from the apparatus. The beam of radiation reacts with a clear coating on the golf ball and is sensed by the apparatus which then illustrates, via a display, the relative location of the golf ball. The "T" embodiment has antennas embedded into the wings which emit a field which are disturbed by the coating on the golf ball; lights associated with the antennas are illuminated to show the operator which antenna is in the closest proximity to the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball placement device that is adapted to be mounted to a golfer's shoe for allowing the golfer to position a golf ball on a tee without bending over. The device includes a ball retaining member that has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end and a rear end. Art elongated opening extends inwardly from the front end of the ball retaining member toward the rear end thereof. The ball placement device includes mating hook and loop type fasteners secured to the rear end of the device and the golfer's shoe in order to secure the golf ball placement device to the golf shoe.

Abstract: A wrap for protecting a portion of a golf club shaft from abrasion within a golf bag. The inventive device includes a pad strip for circumferentially extending about a shaft of a golf club. A securing strip extends from the pad strip for securing the pad strip in an annular configuration about the shaft to protect the shaft from abrasion against an upper interior surface of a receiving tube of a golf bag.

Abstract: A method of putting features the golfer's dominant hand so that the golfer can improve control over putting speed and direction. The golfer's non-dominant hand stabilizes the dominant hand and the orientation of the putter blade, but does not otherwise substantially interfere with the putting stroke. In particular, a right-handed golfer grips the putter grip with their right hand in a conventional manner so that the thumb on the right hand is placed straight down the top surface of the putter grip. The golfer addresses the ball as if to stroke the putter using only the right hand. Then, the golfer takes the left hand and uses it to stabilize the right hand and the putter. To do this, the golfer places their left hand over the interior wrist portion of the right hand behind the thumb of the right hand with the middle finger of the left hand resting on the styloid process of the right hand. The golfer presses the ring finger and the little finger of their left hand against the back of the right hand.

Abstract: Proper golf swing characteristics for a particular shot are provided from an electronic device by successive overlaying of solution overlays associated with a hierarchy of decision parameters describing the shot.

Abstract: A range-finding system for measuring a target distance from a point of measurement to a target object, comprising a slave unit for calculating and indicating the target distance based on a waiting time from transmission of an interrogation signal to reception of a response signal and a master unit placed at a certain correction distance from the target object for transmitting the response signal when a delay time corresponding to the correction distance has elapsed from reception of the interrogation signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the flying velocity of a spherical object, including ray projecting devices for emitting a plurality of parallel rays of light, ray receiving devices for detecting the incidences of said rays of light on them and the interceptions of said rays of light, an instrumentation device for measuring the time for which said rays of light are blocked off by a spherical object in flight, upon detecting signals given by said ray receiving devices, and an arithmetic operation device, such as a computer. The parallel rays of light emitted by using the ray projecting devices are arranged within a plane, and their respective positions are known quantities. The distance between every two rays of light is set such as to be less than the radius of the spherical object.

Abstract: A computerized golf handicap system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a touch-screen monitor, an electronic card and a card reader/writer module having proximity recognition means for transceiving data from the electronic card is disclosed. The electronic card has an antenna and a ferroelectric memory chip that is capable of storing a golfer's pertinent data and together with the card reader/writer module functions as the primary means for automatically entering such data into the CPU without making physical contact by waving the electronic card in proximity to the card reader. Any additional data not stored in the electronic card is entered manually via the touch-screen monitor. A golfer's handicap index and index month are automatically updated by the golf handicap system of the present invention.

Abstract: The system uses a microcomputer (81) to provide a practical and useable graphic representation of the fairways (12) and greens (11) for any golf course in order to record shot locations (14) and measure playing performance during an actual round of golf as contrasted to a simulation of a golf game. A player will interact with the diagrams produced by the system's software and illustrated on a display or monitor (80). The design of the system enables the player to accurately determine the locations of all shots and calculates and displays:(a) shot or club distances (FIG. 6 );(b) shot or club accuracy (within 1-2 yards) to the center of the green from ball locations (14) ranging up to 200 yards from the center of the green;(c) shot or club accuracy (within 1-2 feet) to the pin (cup location) from ball locations (14) ranging up to 200 yards from the center of the green even though the pin location may be different each time the course is played;(d) statistical data, i.e.

Abstract: A ball dispenser is formed by a cylindrical housing or tube with a piston slidable therein and biased to a dispensing end of the tube. A cap is connected by a bridging member the tube and projects over the axial center line of the cylinder and is formed with a concave spherical shape to receive the end of a ball contained within the dispenser. The dispenser is symmetrical on opposite sides of a central plane and an assess opening of mouth is provided adjacent to the cap through the side of the tube opposite the bridging section. The mouth is symmetrical on opposite sides of the plane and has its maximum opening at the central plane. The periphery of the mouth is defined by substantially V-shaped sides on each side of the plane with the bottom of the V shapes adjacent to the bridging section. The front edge or lip of the cap i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking golf balls in an aesthetically pleasing manner includes the use of a invertible form having a cavity therein. By placing golf balls within the cavity, the form may be inverted and the balls therein allowed to assume a stacked configuration atop a supporting base, which can be maintained after the form is lifted upwardly and away from the stack/base combination.

Abstract: An electronic golf scorecard has a casing which can be opened to expose a keypad and a display. The keypad can be used to enter players' initials, handicap data and each player's score on individual holes during a game of golf. Circuitry within the scorecard, processes and stores the entered data and displays appropriate information so that each player's score can be visually determined. The scorecard keeps a cumulative total of the players' scores after each score entry. When the game of golf has been completed, the net scores for all players are automatically calculated and are displayed by selecting the appropriate key on the keypad. Unused memory locations can be used to keep track of other golfing data such as for example, the number of putts per hole, the holes won or lost during the match or the stroke holes in the match, to name but a few. This other golfing data can be displayed by selecting appropriate keys on the keypad.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding a party of people around a facility having a plurality of consecutively designated events to be visited by the party, each event having a front area port and an exit area port associated therewith, includes a system control center for transmitting information to and receiving information from the front area ports and exit area ports, a system for designating an event to be visited by the party and for subsequently designating a next event to be visited by the party, the next event bearing a designation other than the next consecutive designation compared with the designation of the event visited. The front area ports and the exit area ports are able to transmit information to and receive information from the system control center. The order in which the events are visited is determined by the system control center in response to information identifying the party and at least one of the events may be visited out of the consecutively designated order of the events.

Abstract: A golf club for impelling a golf ball without swinging. The club uses expanding gas generated by an exploding charge to move a piston having an attached strike plate against a golf ball, impelling the ball down the fairway toward the green. The club is prepared for use by inserting an explosive charge and cocking the firing mechanism. The club is fired by placing the head of the club a short distance behind the ball, aiming the ball by aligning the striking plate with the ball, releasing a safety, and triggering the firing mechanism.