A golf course management tool receives location information from devices associated with golfers as they play golf. The location information includes ball-striking locations and periodically determined locations of the golfer. The location information is stored in a database and is linked to the appropriate golf course. A user is presented with a graphical user interface which presents the location information overlaid on an overhead image of the golf course. The location information is presented in various ways under the control of the user. Statistics are also calculated for the holes and rounds played and presented to the user. The location information can also be filtered in a variety of ways under control of the user to alter the graphical presentation and statistical calculations.

Representative methods include providing a plurality of golf areas each consisting of a chipping zone, a putting zone, and a cup within the putting zone. A first play includes a second play and a third play. The second play includes a chip shot between the chipping zone and the putting zone. The third play includes a putt within the putting zone toward the cup. The first play includes the golfer striking the golf ball with a goal of disposing the golf ball within the cup. The second play utilizes: one or more wedges; one or more short irons; or one or more wedges and one or more short irons. The third play utilizes a putter. The plurality of golf areas comprises a short-game golf course.

A golf system includes a striking area; a target area including a plurality of physical targets positioned at different locations relative to the striking area; and at least one sensing device for sensing one or more parameters regarding the travel of a physical golf ball. A processor is configured to: access a database including golf hole data, the golf hole data defining relative positions of a tee-off location and a pin location for a virtual golf hole; based on the one or more parameters regarding the travel of the physical golf ball struck from the striking area, update a virtual location of a virtual golf ball on the virtual golf hole; and generate signals to provide an indication of which of the plurality of physical targets represents a direction of the pin location based on the virtual location of the virtual golf ball and the locations of the physical targets.

A golf putting game includes at least one putting green defining a putting surface and a plurality of putting cups disposed within the putting surface at a different location on the putting green. Each putting cup has an exterior housing and an interior core disposed within and removably attached to the exterior housing. The interior core is removable from the exterior housing with the putting cup disposed within the putting surface of the putting green. Each putting cup is illuminated by a different predetermined color and assigned a different predetermined number of base points corresponding to the predetermined color. A player score is determined from a number of putting strokes made by a player to putt a putting ball into the putting cup and the predetermined number of base points assigned to the putting cup.

A golf system comprising a reconfigurable golf green having a hole for receiving a golf ball, wherein the reconfigurable golf green includes a plurality of movable golf green sections (e.g. wherein the movable golf green sections are provided in a reconfigurable array).

A golf practice apparatus includes a first frame member that defines a first catch area, and a second frame member connected to the first frame member, the second frame member defining a second catch area. A canopy includes a support member connected to the first and second frame members. The canopy defines a third catch area. A membrane extends over the first, second, and third catch areas. The membrane stops projectiles hit by a golf club in the first, second, and third catch areas.

A trajectory assistance system and method includes an image capturing device and an interface system coupled to at least one processor and a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to capture, with the image capture device, image data comprising a surface, an object, and a designated location spaced from the object on the surface. Spatial data and surface data relating to the surface, the object and the designated location is determined. An overall trajectory, a starting direction, and an initial velocity of the object to reach the designated location is computed. The computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the object are provided.

A golf putting game includes at least one putting green defining a putting surface and a plurality of putting cups disposed within the putting surface at a different location on the putting green. Each putting cup has an exterior housing and an interior core disposed within and removably attached to the exterior housing. The interior core is removable from the exterior housing with the putting cup disposed within the putting surface of the putting green. The interior core of each putting cup may be illuminated by a visible light having a predetermined color and each putting cup may be assigned a predetermined number of base points corresponding to the predetermined color. A player score may be determined from a number of putting strokes made by a player to putt a putting ball into the putting cup and the predetermined number of base points assigned to the putting cup.

The present teachings generally relate to accommodations (e.g., a hotel or other lodgings) providing access to a golf driving range from a guest's private room. Methods of entertainment for guests of a hotel comprising multiple guest units is also provided.

An exemplary embodiment has been made in an effort to provide a distance measuring apparatus, including: an output unit configured to output information; a memory configured to store map information of golf courses; a location acquiring sensor configured to acquire a current location; a distance measuring sensor configured to measure a distance to a target; a slope sensor configured to measure a tilt angle; and a control unit configured to read map information of the golf course corresponding to the current location from the memory, to calculate a first distance from the current location to a first point on the golf course by using the map information, to calculate a horizontal distance to the target by using the distance to the target and the tilt angle, and to output the horizontal distance to the output unit when the horizontal distance is within the first distance.