Abstract:
An integrated system of golf handicapping and advertising uses a computer to calculate a new golf handicap from entered scores and stored scores. In addition, advertising material is presented, by computer, to be perused in the same location. A printer connected to the computer can print out promotional material or coupons for redemption at sale.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention is related to the field of golf, particularly golf handicap scoring and club house equipment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    At almost every golf course there is a golf shop or pro shop. This facility is usually operated by a golf professional who is a member of the USGA (United States Golf Association) or the PGA (Professional Golf Association). One of the functions of the golf shop and the golf pro is to control the play on the golf course. Also, the golf pro is responsible for setting handicaps for the players or members at the golf course.  
           [0003]    Because golf is a universal game with players of all abilities, a system of handicapping golfers has been established by the USGA. This standard handicap is recognized at almost every golf course and golf club. A golfer&#39;s handicap allows him to compete with other golfers on a relatively equal basis. Therefore, most golfers want to establish and continually update a recognized handicap. To do this every score should be entered in the handicapping system at the close of play. The golf shop or pro shop has the ability to provide this service. So most golfers return to the pro shop or the golf shop following completion of a round of golf to enter their scores in the handicap system.  
           [0004]    The golf shop or the pro shop also merchandise essential equipment and accessories for the game of golf. This boutique shop may account for a substantial part of the income of the golf course or golf club. Further, there is intense sales competition among manufacturers of these accouterments and services.  
           [0005]    What is needed in the field is to direct golfers&#39; attention to the competitors wares, while they are completing a necessary step of playing golf.  
           [0006]    This is particularly important at courses and clubs where the handicapping equipment is located in a locker room or other space separated from said golf shop. At those courses and clubs, the golfers may never pass by or be attracted to the merchandise.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,312 issued Jun. 13, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf handicapping system and a terminal or local processing unit to enter the individual scores of a participating golfer and dispense a handicap. The LPU may have programming with other applications including medical information, credit cards etc. The preferred product is a “smart card” application wherein the card is inserted in a slot in the LPU. The LPU is also capable of displaying videos.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,920 issued Apr. 1, 1980 discloses a display screen which is used in a virtual golf game. The device has a screen saving application which includes an advertising scene.  
           [0009]    Neither of these patents teach a golf system having a golf handicapping application in combination with an advertising application including issuing written handicaps and information or discount coupons about certain advertised products or services.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    A golf handicap and interactive advertising kiosk for entering scores and disseminating selected information by a user. The kiosk is a free standing cabinet housing at least one computer with a I/O port, RAM, ROM, a display and a printer. The cabinet has an entry panel for gaining access to said computer, a window with a display including a screen fixed in the cabinet to be viewed through the window. The cabinet has an opening supporting a data input device, the data input device connected to the I/O port, the screen including touch data input connected to the I/O port. The computer has a golf handicap application which averages scores entered by the data input device with RAM scores to produce a golf handicap. The scores and golf handicaps are viewable on the display, the computer has an advertising application for producing visual images on the screen. The visual images being touch sensitive for touch data input whereby touching an image brings up more information concerning the image.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide an integrated system for recording golf scores and advertising goods and services.  
           [0012]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an enclosure housing the integrated system.  
           [0013]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an interactive system whereby a scorer may enter scores and, upon demand, receive a printed golf handicap and, additionally, can select certain products or services, among those presented, for which printed information or promotional material is issued.  
           [0014]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a kiosk of this invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side perspective of the kiosk of this invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a flow sheet of the advertising application of this invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    The golf handicap and advertising system is preferably located at a kiosk  10  to assure that the advertising application is readily available and noticeable to the user of the handicapping application. The kiosk  10  has a cabinet  11  which is a free standing enclosure capable of housing and supporting one or two computers with the attendant peripherals connected by an input-output port (I/O Port), such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse and modem.  
         [0019]    The cabinet  11  may be made of wood, metal, plastic or other material with the requisite strength and appearance characteristics having a front, opposite side walls and a back. The front of the cabinet has a window or opening  12  for viewing the monitor screen  13  of a computer. The monitor may be mounted on or supported by a shelf or brackets (not shown) integral with the cabinet  11 . As shown in FIG. 1, the front of the cabinet has another window  14  for viewing the monitor screen  15  of a second computer. The second monitor may also be mounted or supported by another shelf or brackets in the cabinet. As shown, the windows are in vertical relationship with one another. However, the cabinet could be shaped to provide windows horizontally related to each other or at some other angular relationship. The screens  13  and  15  are touch sensitive for data input by user&#39;s touch or by mouse or by both.  
         [0020]    At least one speaker is connected with one or both computers  17  and  18 , shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the speaker is located behind the grill  16 . Of course, the speaker or speakers may be otherwise associated with the cabinet.  
         [0021]    Also shown in FIG. 2 is the side wall  21  of the cabinet with hinged panels  19  and  20  serving as security doors for accessing the computers  17  and  18  which are supported inside the cabinet  11 . The access panel may be located on any wall of the cabinet and may be one large panel or the back of the cabinet (not shown) could be entirely open.  
         [0022]    Across the bottom of the cabinet  11  is an opening  22  for gaining access to the data input device  23  which may be a keyboard  24  and/or a mouse  25 . The keyboard and mouse are supported by a planar shelf  26  that is slidable into and out of the cabinet. The keyboard and/or mouse may be connected to one or both computers  18  and  19  for entering data in the selected computer.  
         [0023]    The front of the cabinet  11  has a slot  27  for delivery of a golf handicap print-out. This may be in the form of a card or a label which may be applied to a pre-existing card or other format. The slot  27  is connected to the output of a printer (not shown) located in the cabinet. The kiosk  10  may have one printer connected to both computers  18  and  19  or a separate printer for each computer.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a second slot  28  for delivery of printed material concerning the advertised goods and services. The second slot  28  may connect to a second printer or it may connect with one printer but delivers material in a substantially different format. The slots  27  and  28  are shown as being approximately the same size but may be significantly different.  
         [0025]    The kiosk  10  provides a convenience for integrating a near mandatary function of playing golf with the opportunity to inform the golfer about various golf equipment, wares and promotions currently available to him.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 shows the steps of the advertising application which is part of the programming of a computer within the system. The preferred embodiment of the advertising application presents visual images of an advertisement on a monitor screen, as a default screen. These images could be static or scrolled in a continuous loop across the screen. With the static ads, the user will select one ad by touch sensitive screen capability. With the continuous scrolling ads, the ad on the screen is the active ad. The default screen also contains a sound command area and a coupon area.  
         [0027]    If the user touches or otherwise activates the sound command which may be a particular area of the touch screen. The sound for the selected ad is then produced by the speaker. Once the sound track for the ad is broadcast, the speaker is silent until the command is selected again. This is to prevent the sound tracks from being continuously broadcast. This noise interrupter may be dispensed with, if desired.  
         [0028]    If a selected ad or a scrolled ad on the screen is touched, the touched ad replaces the default screen with a full screen display of the ware. The sound command may be included with this screen. Also, the coupon area may be included with the full screen display. By touching the coupon area, a print command activates the printer to produce written promotional material, such as discount coupons or more specific information.  
         [0029]    If the coupon area on the default screen is activated, a screen having the ads with associated coupons will replace the default screen. Touching any one of those selected ads will produce the coupon for that ad.  
         [0030]    The golfer may initially, subsequently or simultaneously activate the golf handicapping application. This programming includes an algorithm that is approved and/or licensed by the USGA to produce a standardized handicap usable at most golf courses and clubs. The application may also contain one or more algorithms for calculating other handicap systems used in match play or tournament play.  
         [0031]    The application will ask the golfer or user for identification to locate the correct set of stored data. The screen will require input of specific information about the current entry, such as number of strokes, the course played, the set of tees played from or the length of the course, the slope of the course, the date of the score, etc. Once the entry is complete, the new handicap is calculated. A print out of the new handicap may be commanded. The print out may be in the form of a label to be attached to a handicap card or a new card or some other format. Of course, audits of all or some of the entries may be printed on command.  
         [0032]    By use of a modem, both applications can transmit and receive information and programming to update the applications. Such capability may or may not include the Internet. For example, ads changed, deleted or added and course characteristics changed, courses added or deleted.  
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment, the kiosk has two computers with one computer running the golf handicap application and the other running the advertising application. The default page of the advertising application has scrolled ads on the screen with a sound button. By touching the screen sound button, the sound for an ad that is currently on the screen is heard. A coupon button is also on the screen. By touching the coupon button, another page comes on the screen with several images of ads that have associated printed material or discount coupons. By touching one of these ads, the printed material is produced by the printer.  
         [0034]    The first computer runs the golf handicapping application with drop-down windows asking for particular information about the golfer and the course, scores, etc. When these windows are filled in, the new handicap is calculated and printed, if commanded.  
         [0035]    Either or both, computers may have a modem by which the applications may be accessed.  
         [0036]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.