A method is described for playing a golf game, on a working surface of a golf course. The method includes providing (using) a predetermined set of rules. The predetermined set of rules are configured to identify a range of golf clubs, of a set of golf clubs, to be utilized in such a way that the predetermined set of rules, in use, promotes, at least in part, a prolonged life span of at least some of the golf clubs.

Electronic content, including that obtained via software applications executing on client devices, pertaining to golfers' handicap indices and scoring is automatically obtained by golf clubs and other courses. Such player data can be electronically monitored and analyzed in real-time in accordance with expected score qualities and guidelines in the sport. In particular, one or more algorithms may be routinely executed to look for various data point indicators which may mean a player is manipulating his or her handicap index. The systems and methods can objectively generate an overall score for every participating player, based at least in part on deduction of points for data determined abnormal based on expected qualities. Should a player's overall score reach a predetermined flagging level, the systems and methods automatically adjust the player's handicap to promote fair play. Machine learning schema can assist in tasks such as scoring analyses and automated handicap adjustments.

A method of using a computing device to forecast the result of a golf stroke and a portable handheld device for collecting and displaying golf round data are provided. The data collected for each stroke includes the location, time, and club used and the resulting ball position achieved” Before each drive or approach shot player skill level, course layout information, and player location on the course are used together with the club selected by the player to forecast the result of the next stroke. Putt break prediction information is provided before each putt. Information that a stroke has been taken and which dub was used can be entered manually or sensed automatically from telemetry equipped clubs.

In a first aspect, a system for monitoring a swing is provided that includes (1) a swing measurement device adapted to couple to a swinging object and to output a signal indicative of a characteristic of the swinging object; (2) a wireless transmitter coupled to the swing measurement device and adapted to wirelessly transmit the signal output by the swing measurement device; and (3) a wireless device adapted to receive the wirelessly transmitted signal and to provide information regarding the swinging object based on the received signal. The wireless device is a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Numerous other aspects are provided.

A personal golfing assistant system is comprised of software running on a PDA attached directly or remotely to a GPS receiver that enables the user to survey and/or electronically capture geophysical golf data. A handheld device connected to or integrated with a GPS receiver can instead be used. Software allows a golfer to use a handheld PDA/GPS unit during the course of play to mark a ball location automatically and/or determine the distance to golf course targets and/or objects, and to analyze golf related data and generate statistics. The system can send a set of parameters tailored for a specific course to a real time tunable GPS to adjust for optimal performance and can adjust measurements to compensate for environmental condition changes. The system provides an improved graphical method for measuring and displaying distances between a golfer and a golf course object, for displaying multiple measured distances along a line of sight between a golfer and a golf object or target, and for orienting a target or object on a display to coincide with a user's line of sight. There is also provided a method for collecting and uploading golf course geographic information services (GIS) data to an internet accessible server, processing the uploaded data, distributing data upon an authorized user request, and downloading the requested data to an electronic device.

An electronic tracking system for assisting a user in determining distances to landmarks and objects in a sporting environment includes a user tracking system for determining the location of a user, a heads up display for displaying information to the user, and a processor operable to communicate with the user tracking system and the heads up display. The heads up display is designed to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within the user's field of view. The processor is programmed to determine a distance between the user's determined location and an object or a landmark on. This information is displayed via the heads up display as a numeric representation of the determined distance.

A method includes maintaining a plurality of sport-related ability metrics from a plurality of users, each of the plurality of users having a respective ability level or handicap that is within a predetermined tolerance of an ability level or handicap of an individual user; determining a statistical distribution of each of the plurality of ability metrics; receiving data from the individual user corresponding to the user's participation within a sporting activity; determining an ability metric from the data received from the individual user; generating a visual image that illustrates the determined ability metric within the statistical distribution; and displaying the visual image via the electronic user interface.

Distance measuring devices and methods are included which may be used to measure and simultaneously display an accurate range of multiple targets such as the flags of a golf practice driving range.

A swing analysis device for analyzing a swing of a user of a golf club accepts input of acceleration information, angular rate information, and strain information of a shaft of the golf club, detected by a sensor attached to the shaft, calculates attitude information of the golf club in a swing period, based on the acceleration information and the angular rate information, corrects the attitude information of the golf club at impact, based on the strain information of the shaft, and displays the corrected attitude information of the golf club on a display.

A method and a device are for simulating a golf shot for a user. The method includes receiving golf course information and receiving historical golf shot capabilities of the user in combination with generating at least one current golf shot simulation based on a current position of a golf ball on the golf course, the golf course information and the historical golf shot capabilities of the user and determining a strategy for the current golf shot based on the at least one current golf shot simulation.