PAR GOLF INTERNET GAME

Abstract

An Internet game for recording and transmitting the activity of each group of golfers participating in a golf tournament at a tournament site and permitting contest players to win points in the game by accurately predicting the golfers who will shoot par during the last round of the golf tournament. In preferred embodiments the game is designed to increase public interest in the game of golf and in the best golfers in the world and provide to the entire world a system and method for providing a real time view of every golf shot in the final day of golf tournaments such as the weekly PGA golf tournaments.

Claims

1. A game for recording and transmitting the activity of each group of golfers playing in a golf tournament at a tournament site and permitting participants in the game to win points in the game by accurately predicting the golfers who will shoot par during the last round of the golf tournament, said game comprising: A) a plurality of video cameras operated by monitors assigned to each group of golfers competing in the tournament, wherein the monitors utilize the video cameras to record and transmit in real time the activity, including images and sound, of the golfers in each group of golfers, B) a communication network programmed to: 1) to communicate with potential and actual contest players to permit the contest players to easily make their predictions of par shooters from a list of golfers provided by the operator utilizing a fill-in-the-blanks form, 2) to transmit tournament activity of each group of golfers competing in the tournament to a national or international audience, C) a tournament computer server programmed to receive communications from each of the monitors and further transmitted through the Internet to make all or almost all the golf shots of each tournament golfer available substantially real time and live to any person with access to the communication network, D) a player board in communication with the tournament computer server comprising a plurality of monitors provided at the tournament site of on which monitors provide substantially real time, live images of all the tournament golfers; wherein the participants utilize the communication network to: 1) predict the golfers who will shoot par on the last day of the tournament, 2) comply with the operator's requirements to participate in the game.

2. The game as in claim 1 wherein the contest players are also asked to predict the number of shots under PAR of the winner of the tournament during the last day of the tournament and will contest players will receive additional points for correct predictions.

3. The game as in claim 1 wherein the communication network is the Internet.

4. The game as in claim 1 wherein sponsors purchase a number of the special codes from the contest operator and make them available to their customers, clients and/or web site visitors permitting their customers, clients, or web site visitors to play the contest game for free.

5. The game as in claim 1 wherein contests players choose whether they pay a fee to play the contest but the prize for the winner or winners is greater if they choose to pay the fee.

6. The game as in claim 1 wherein the contest winner is determined based on a point system.

7. The game as in claim 7 wherein contest players are given one point for each correct pick of par shooters minus one point for each incorrect pick of par shooters.

8. The game as in claim 1 wherein the operator's requirements includes the participant utilizing the communication network and one or more credit card systems to pay a fee to play the game.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a proposed fill-in-the-blanks computer form showing the names of the golfers who made the cut for the John Deere Classic held on Jul. 10-13, 2019 to simplify the process of prediction of par shooters by sweepstakes players.

[0020] FIG. 2 lists the names of the par shooters on the last day of the above tournament and the winner of the tournament

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Real Time Recording of Each Golf Shot

[0021] In preferred embodiments a monitor (which could be an unpaid volunteer) follows each of the golfing groups on the last day of the tournament with a video camera device (which could be a cell phone) and the monitors record each golf shot of each of the golfing groups participating in the last round of the tournament and provides conversation to go along with the video. (The golfing groups consists typically of about 35 twosomes, but could include foursomes, threesome or a single golfer.) Preferably the monitors will be cautioned to position himself or herself so that he or she is not visible to the golfer and to not speak during the period from when the golfer addresses the golf ball until after the ball has been hit. A portable tournament server computer is positioned at the site of the tournament that is in communication with each of the approximately 35 monitors. The videos recorded by the monitors are preferably directed by the server to a cloud network which includes one or more computers programmed to collect the video results approximately real time from each group which typically will be a pair of two golfers.

Golfer Comments

[0022] In preferred embodiments the monitors and each golfer in each group will have the option to wear a microphone that may be keep active or turned off. The monitor or an assistant to the monitor for each golfing group may be provided with communication equipment that will permit communication via communication with the tournament server computer. This added feature will potentially allow viewers all over the world to listen in on the conversations among the golfers, their caddies, other golfers, the monitor and others. A time delay of a few seconds to permit the Internet Golf Game Operator (sometime hereinafter referred to as “Operator”) to delete inappropriate information that should not be made available to the audience of the Internet golf game.

Video Player Board

[0023] A video player board is provided at a convenient location at the site of the tournament that includes enough television-type or computer monitors that (to the extent feasible) displays approximately real time each golf shot of the tournament. Persons attending the tournament therefore may stand or sit at the location of the video player board and watch every (or almost every) golf shot of the tournament. Attendees will also be able to use their cell phones to listen serially to the commentary of the monitors of their choice.

Mobile Operating Systems

[0024] Preferred embodiments will include software prepared utilizing a mobile operating system such as the Android Mobile Operating System or the iOS Mobile Operating System.

World Wide, Real Time Video Distribution of Each Golf Shot

[0025] The invention also includes an application that can be downloaded to personal computers (PCs) and cell phones that permits the users of the PCs and cell phones to receive (approximately real time) the live video recording of each golfer group in the tournament. Therefore, every (or almost every) person in the world that is connected to the Internet or a participating television channel can watch as much of the tournament as he or she desires. In many homes there are multiple PCs and cell phones. Each one of these cell phones and computers can be utilized to permit several viewers follow several separate golfer groups simultaneously.

The Par Golf Internet Game

[0026] To increase the interest in tournaments this invention includes a contest, that is similar the one originally patented by the present inventor in 1991 and referred to in the Background section. Par golf Internet game participants may participate via the Internet preferably through a smart phone, a computer or similar device. A par golf Internet Operator will prepare a smart phone application or down-loadable software which will permit the participants to participate according to rules of the par golf Internet game. Persons who down-load the application or other software can use their devices as soon as the cut is determined each week and the names of the approximately 70 golfers making the cut are determined in order to make their selection of the players who they believe will shoot par in the final round of the tournament. In a preferred embodiment the Operator will make available at his web site a fill-in-the-blank or click-on form such as that shown in FIG. 1 which includes the names of the golfers who made the cut so that the participants can easily select the names of the golfers that the participants predicts will shoot par on the last day of the tournament. Persons who want to participate in the game will fill in blanks in an Internet form (not shown) that provides enough information to identify the par golf Internet participants. This could include his name, address and phone number and his birth date and, if a fee is to be charged to the participant, appropriate credit card information permitting payment of a participant fee (which, for example, could be $5.00). This information must be enough to distinguish the player from all other participants. Prior to the final round each participant will be provided with a list of the names of all of the golfers who make the cut. The participant will identify (from a list of golfers that survived the cut) a list of golfers that the participant predicts will shoot par on the last day of the tournament and his prediction of the tournament winner. If the Operator determines that the credit card information and other information complies with the rules of the par golf Internet game, the Operator will transmit to the participant, a notice confirming the identity of the participant and his prediction of the tournament winner and the predicted par shooters. The participant's name, birthdate and selection of par shooters is added to a list of all other participants available at the Operator's web site. (Participants may use a fictitious name and birthdate, but the credit card information [including the name on the credit card] must be accurate.). The operator uses a number (for example, 1 to 70 as shown in FIG. 1) or develop simple acronyms such as a combination of the golfers' initials plus enough other information to distinguish each golfer from all other golfers participating in the tournament.

[0027] In preferred embodiments, for example, participants will receive five points for correctly predicting the tournament winner plus one point for each correct pick of par shooters and minus one point for each incorrect pick of par shooters. The Operator preferably will identify the winner or winners of the par golf Internet game at approximately the same time as the operator identifies the winner of the tournament. The prize will be determined by the operator. A suggested prize could be 80 percent of the total of the total payments of participant fees of all participants. In that case the operator would retain 20 percent of the total of the payments. If there is more than one participant that have the highest score, the prize will be shared equally by the participants with the highest score. Preferably, the winner's or winners' share will be paid by the Operator of directly to the credit card organization that the participant used for the payment. This payment will be for the benefit of the winner or winners if there is a tie.

Alternative Process for Sharing the Prizes

[0028] If the number of participants is very large the Operator may choose to spread the prize money. One technique could be as follows: [0029] A) The Operator retains 24% of the total fees paid for the particular game (Game Fees). [0030] B) Participants with highest scores share 40% of the Game Fees. [0031] C) Participants Players with second highest scores share 20% of the Game Fees. [0032] D) Participants Players with third highest scores share 10% of the Game Fees. [0033] E) Participants Players with fourth highest scores share 5% of the Game Fees. [0034] F) Participants Players with fifth highest scores share 1% of the Game Fees.

Other Variations

[0035] The Operator may limit each Participant to participate only once for each tournament or the Operator could establish some other limit such as no more than ten participations. Alternatively, the Operator may allow participants to participate as many times as the participant desires with a payment of a participant fee for each participation. The proposed $1.00 payment to participate may be increased or decreased by the Operator; but Applicant suggests it be kept low to increase the number of people participating. Various obvious techniques can be utilized to prevent or minimize participants from participating more times than the Operator desires. However, each member of a family with his or her own credit card should be permitted to participate (including children with permission of their parent or guardian) but only to the extent permitted by law. (Alternatively, the Operator may establish a second game whereby under-age people are permitted to participate for free and a special nonmonetary prize or prizes are provided for the under-age participants.)

[0036] The Operator of the par golf Internet game may permit limited advertising and revenue received may be utilized as determined by the operator as described in more detail below. Applicant suggests that a portion of advertising revenue be reserved for charitable purposes. Also, a portion of the advertising revenue could be utilized to benefit the tournament golf course. No portion of the Sweepstake Participant fees should be paid to the tournament golfers directly or indirectly.

[0037] Applicant expects that for a typical PGA golf tournament there may be several million par golf Internet participants, so the central control computer must be able to handle enormous quantities of data. Public or private cloud systems may be utilized to handle the data that will be involved in the process of producing each tournament. In addition to the above referred embodiment, other embodiments could utilize a variety of techniques to establish the criteria for success in the sweepstakes.

Sponsor Persons or Organizations

[0038] The par golf Internet game may have multiple sponsors that could provide advertisement through the Internet to the participants. The Internet web site is in Internet communication with the web sites of all sponsor organizations. Sponsor persons or organizations (Sponsors) may download software from the Operator's website which permits the operator to communicate directly with all sponsor web sites. In this embodiment on Wednesday of each week the operator transmits details of the tournament planned for the weekend of that week to each sponsor web site. These details include the identity of the golfers expected to play in the tournament. These details update the software already available at the sponsor's web site so players visiting the sponsor's web site can make their predictions for the coming weekend tournament.

[0039] On the final day of the tournament as the players who have shot par become identified, the control computer matches the par shooters and the names of the participants who have correctly predicted the names of the par shooters so that when the last group of golfers completes their putting on the 18.sup.th green, the control computer may be able to identify the winner or winners of the par golf Internet game. During the tournament, as each player finishes his round, the Operator may determine the name or each golfer who has a shot par and each golfer who has not shot par and in addition the names of all of the participants who have received a positive or negative score as a result. The Operator may preferably keep a running total of the points accumulated by each participant and may make available the names of the participants who have accumulated the best and maybe also the worst scores (such as the 100 best scores and the 100 worse scores. This should increase interest during the tournament for the participants. Preferably, determinations of the winners can be made within a few seconds or minutes after the tournament is over and as suggested above, the winners could probably be notified while the last group of golfers is walking off the 18th green.

[0040] Preferably, the game will be played on a national and maybe international scale with millions of players and huge prizes. However, this invention can just as well be practiced on a very small scale. For example, a single local sponsor might want to sponsor the game for his local customers numbering in the hundreds or thousands. In this case the prizes would typically be much smaller, but the game can be structured to give the participants a correspondingly better chance of winning.

Other Methods of Determining Par Golf Internet Winners

[0041] There are many ways to determine the winners of the par golf Internet game in addition to the one described above. The game could obviously be changed to require the prediction of six, ten or any other reasonable number of final day par shooters. Prizes could be awarded on many different criteria. For example, in addition to the contest prize, a lessor prize could be awarded to everyone who predicts at least two par shooters.

[0042] If the game becomes very large, players could be required to make more precise predictions to reduce the probability of ties. For example, additional points could be awarded for predicting the golfers who finish first, second, third, fourth and fifth, with 8 points for second place, 6 points for third place, 4 points for fourth place and 2 points for fifth place. Correct predictions of ties for third place, for example would receive 10 points. In case of a tie the prize could be divided among the players who tied. Players could be asked to predict the score of the tournament winner and 5 points could be given for a correct prediction. Also, additional points, such as 4, 3, 2 and 1, could be given for correct predictions of the second, third, fourth and fifth finishers. The same point system could be used consistently for all tournaments or the number of points given and subtracted could be changed for every tournament or from time to time.

Advantages

[0043] Applicant believes this invention will provide huge benefits to every aspect of the golf industry, including: Sponsors, the PGA, tour golf courses, golf equipment manufacturers, the PGA golfers and the players of the Par Golf Internet Game.

[0044] The game of golf is still growing in popularity and new golf tours have been announced with very large cash prizes for the players. The US PGA Tour has also announced a major increase in prize money to stay competitive. However, these monetary increases only benefit the respective tours and their players; there is no benefit to the fans. Par Golf will correct that. Par Golf is unique in corruptible and will only benefit participants and sponsors.

The Sponsors

[0045] The Operator may seek Sponsors to help defray the cost of providing the par golf Internet game. In such case, the sponsors could include golf equipment makers and apparel manufacturers. Also golf courses and driving ranges could be sponsors. Other potential sponsors include automobile manufacturers, insurance companies and other corporations that typically sponsor the golf tournaments. Each participant who visits a sponsor's web site to make a predication can be provided with information from the sponsor about the sponsor and its products or services. The cost to the sponsor will only be a fee paid to the Operator. To give the Par Golf players an incentive to utilize the web site of a particular sponsor, the sponsor may choose to offer additional prizes to players who utilize the sponsor's web site.

The PGA Tour

[0046] This par golf Internet game will make the weekly PGA tournament much more popular. It should greatly increase the number of television or web site viewers and exposure for their advertisers.

The PGA Golfers

[0047] The PGA golfers will become much more popular. The average tournament golfers will become better known, because it will be the average players who are much more likely to shoot par than the golfers who are most likely to win the tournaments. Players of the PGIG will begin to focus as much attention on who is going to shoot par as who is going to win the tournament.

Par Golf Participants

[0048] The Par Golf players who have made predictions will find the weekly tournaments much more interesting in that they will have a chance of winning valuable prizes. Participants will become much more familiar with the names of the professional golfers and the Participants will watch carefully the scores of the golfers on which the players have made predictions

Average Golfers

[0049] Typical average golfers will benefit by watching a wide variety of golfers in a wide variety of situations. These golfers can choose to watch a particular golfer that has a style like one that the average golfer would like to develop. The monitors who are following each twosome will be expected to provide commentary during the tournament in between golf shots regarding features of the professional golfer's game

[0050] It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. So, the scope of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.