Golf handicap calculator

A golf handicap calculator is provided including a housing and a display mounted on the housing and adapted to depict numerical characters. Also included is a numeric keypad mounted on the housing for entering numeric data along with a plurality of function keys. Positioned within the housing is a controller that is connected between the display, the keypad, and the function keys. The controller serves to display and store a handicap index upon the depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad, to display and store a slope upon the depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad, and to calculate and display a handicap from the handicap index and the slope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to calculators and more particularly pertains 
to a new golf handicap calculator for tracking scores of a plurality of 
rounds of golf and further calculating and tracking a golfer's handicap 
and index. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of calculators is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
calculators heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically 
of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, 
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art 
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and 
requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,526; U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,214; 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,494; U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,803; U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,677; 
and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 329,451 which are each incorporated herein by 
reference. 
In these respects, the golf handicap calculator according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of tracking scores of a plurality of rounds of 
golf and further calculating and tracking a golfer's handicap and index. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
calculators now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a 
new golf handicap calculator construction wherein the same can be utilized 
for tracking scores of a plurality of rounds of golf and further 
calculating and tracking a golfer's handicap and index. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in treater detail, is to provide a new golf handicap 
calculator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the 
calculators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a 
new golf handicap calculator which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art calculators, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing with a 
substantially rectangular configuration including a front face, a rear 
face, and a thin periphery formed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, a 
liquid crystal display is mounted on the front face of the housing 
adjacent to a top edge thereof. In use, the display serves to depict two 
rows of numerical characters. Also included is a numeric keypad mounted on 
the front face of the housing in a matrix below toe top display. The 
numeric keypad includes a plurality of numeric keys each representative of 
a unique number between 0-9 for entering numeric data. Associated 
therewith is a plurality of function keys lining a top edge and a side 
edge of the matrix of the numeric keypad. As shown in FIG. 1, the function 
keys include a round number key, a score key, a course rating key, a par 
key, a handicap index key, a slope key, an increase key and a decrease 
key. An unillustrated controller is positioned within the housing and 
connected between the display, the keypad, and the function keys. In use, 
the controller is adapted to display and store a handicap index upon the 
depression of the handicap index key with the subsequent entry of a number 
via the keypad. Similarly, the controller is adapted to display and store 
a slope upon the depression of the slope key with the subsequent entry of 
a number via the keypad. Once the slope and the handicap index is entered, 
the controller serves to calculate and display a handicap from the 
handicap index and the slope. If the handicap index data is not available 
for entry, the controller is adapted to allow the entry of additional 
information for calculating the same. Such additional information 
preferably takes the form of data associated with previous rounds of golf. 
For entry of such information, the controller is adapted to display a 
current round and further allow the changing of the current round via the 
depression of the round key and the subsequent depression of the increase 
key. The number assigned to the current round data to be entered is then 
displayed. Thereafter, the controller serves to display and store a score 
associated with the current round upon the depression of the score key 
with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad. Next, the controller 
displays and stores a par associated with the current round upon the 
depression of the par key with the subsequent entry of a number via the 
keypad. Similarly, the controller displays and stores a course rating 
associated with a golf course upon the depression of the course rating key 
with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad. Further, the 
controller displays and stores a slope associated with a golf course upon 
the depression of the slope key with the subsequent entry of a number via 
the keypad. Upon at least the entry of the score, the course rating, and 
the slope, the controller is adapted to automatically calculate and 
display a handicap index and difference that is a calculated quantity of 
adjusted score minus course rating. Thereafter, the handicap index is 
calculated and the handicap is calculated from the handicap index and the 
slope and subsequently displayed. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages 
of the calculators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that 
result in a new golf handicap calculator which is not anticipated, 
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 
calculators, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with 
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such golf handicap calculator economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator for tracking scores of a plurality of rounds of golf 
and further calculating and tracking a golfer's handicap and index. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new golf 
handicap calculator that includes a housing, and a display mounted on the 
housing and adapted to depict numerical characters. Also included is a 
numeric keypad mounted on the housing for entering numeric data along with 
a plurality of function keys. Positioned within the housing is a 
controller that is connected between the display, the keypad, and the 
function keys. The controller serves to display and store a handicap index 
upon the depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry 
of a number via the keypad, to display and store a slope upon the 
depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry of a 
number via the keypad, and to calculate and display a handicap from the 
handicap index and the slope. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 
thereof, a new golf handicap calculator embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The present invention, designated as numeral 10, includes a housing 12 with 
a substantially rectangular configuration including a front face, a rear 
face, and a thin periphery formed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, a 
liquid crystal display 14 is mounted on the front face of the housing 
adjacent to a top edge thereof. In use, the display serves to depict two 
rows of numerical characters. Also included is a numeric keypad 16 mounted 
on the front face of the housing in a matrix below the top display. The 
numeric keypad includes a plurality of numeric keys each representative of 
a unique number between 0-9. for entering numeric data. 
Associated therewith is a plurality of function keys 18 lining a top edge 
and a side edge of the matrix of the numeric keypad. As shown in FIG. 1, 
the function keys include a round number key 20, a score key 22, a course 
rating key 24, a par key 26, a handicap index key 28, a slope key 30, an 
increase key 32 and a decrease key 34. 
An unillustrated controller is positioned within the housing and connected 
between the display, the keypad, and the function keys. In order to 
accomplish the functions set forth hereinafter, the controller, which may 
take the form of a microprocessor, is preferably further connected to 
memory for storage of data and instructions for governing the various 
operations of the present invention. An ALU may also be provided for 
carrying out the calculations associated with the present invention. 
In use, the controller is adapted to display and store a handicap index 
upon the depression of the handicap index key with the subsequent entry of 
a number via the keypad. Similarly, the controller is adapted to display 
and store a slope upon the depression of the slope key with the subsequent 
entry of a number via the keypad. It should be understood that the slope 
rating is a difficulty rating of a golf course. Once the slope and the 
handicap index is entered, the controller serves to calculate and display 
a handicap from the handicap index and the slope. 
If the handicap index is not available for entry, the controller is adapted 
to allow the entry of additional information for calculating the same. 
Such additional information preferably takes the form of data associated 
with previous rounds of golf. For entry of such information, the 
controller is adapted to display a current round and further allow the 
changing of the current round via the depression of the round key and/or 
the subsequent depression of the decrease and increase keys. When the 
round is selected, the number assigned to the current round data to be 
entered is then displayed. It should be noted that at start up of the 
present invention, the round indicated is always "0" after which the user 
may select a current round. To enter data relating to a new round, a new 
number must be selected which is preferably 1 unit greater than a current 
highest round. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the controller serves to display and store a score of a 
user associated with the current round upon the depression of the score 
key with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad. Next, the 
controller displays and stores a par associated with the current round 
upon the depression of the par key with the subsequent entry of a number 
via the keypad. Similarly, the controller displays and stores a course 
rating associated with a golf course upon the depression of the course 
rating key with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad. It should 
be understood that the course rating is a typical score of a professional 
golfer at a golf course. Further, the controller displays and stores a 
slope associated with a golf course upon the depression of the slope key 
with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad. Upon at least the 
entry of the score, the course rating, and the slope, the controller is 
adapted to automatically calculate and display a handicap index and 
difference that is a calculated quantity of adjusted gross score minus 
course rating. Thereafter, the handicap index is calculated and the 
handicap is calculated from the handicap index and the slope and 
subsequently displayed. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the display has two rows of identification indicia for 
indicating the nature of the number situated thereabove. Such indicia 
includes "round number", "score", "rating" and "difference" on the top row 
and "par", "handicap index", "slope" and "handicap" on the bottom row. 
Ideally, the numbers are configured exactly as shown in FIG. 1 for 
facilitating entry and convenient browsing, that will soon be set forth. 
When entering data in the manner set forth hereinabove, the number above 
the identification indicia is adapted to blink intermittently upon the 
associated function being depressed. Such blinking number continues until 
the number is entered and/or the depression of an unillustrated "enter" 
button. 
It should be noted that controller further allows the browsing of past 
round data by displaying round number, and the score, the course rating, 
the difference, the par, the handicap index, the slope and the handicap 
index associated therewith. It should be noted that the current round 
which is to be viewed may be selected via the keypad after the depression 
of the round key, via the increase and the decrease key, or via a 
combination thereof, as shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, & 4c. When browsing, 
various data may be edited in the manner set forth hereinabove after which 
the controller is adapted to automatically recalculate the handicap index 
of all subsequent rounds and the current handicap. 
Additional information regarding the background use of the present 
invention will now be set forth. The present invention is an electronic 
golf calculator adapted to automatically calculate a golfer's handicap 
index and translate this number into a handicap for a given course. More 
generally, the same device can provide the correct handicap for any given 
golf handicap index for any golf course. 
The calculation of a golfer's handicap is a function of the handicap index 
of the player and the slope rating (difficulty) of the golf course, the 
player must first calculate his or her own handicap index. The first step 
in calculating handicap index is to determine the converted differential 
for each round (18 holes) of play. The converted differential is 
determined by subtracting the golfer's adjusted gross score from the 
course rating. For example, suppose a golfer shoots an 88 (adjusted gross 
score) on a course with a rating of 70.6. The differential is determined 
as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Adjusted Gross Score 
88.0 
Golf Course Rating 
- 70.6 
Actual Differential 
17.4 
______________________________________ 
The second step in calculating handicap requires that the actual 
differential be "converted" into the converted differential, which 
involves using the golf course slope rating. Each set of tees on each golf 
course has a difficulty rating ranging from 67 (easiest) to 155 (most 
difficult). The actual differential is "converted" by multiplying by a 
fixed value multiplier, 113, and then dividing by the slope of the set of 
tees being played. 
In this example, suppose the player is golfing on a course with a slope 
rating of 125. The converted differential would be calculated as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Actual Differential 17.4 
Multiplier .times. 113.0 
Multiplier Product 1966.2 
Divided by Slope of Tees Played 
125.0 
Converted Differential 
15.7 
______________________________________ 
Note that the multiplier, 113, is fixed and does not change with the golf 
course nor the golfer. Also note that differentials are rounded to the 
nearest tenth. 
The golf handicap index is based on the lowest 10 of these differentials 
(representing the best 10 rounds played) from the most recent 20 rounds 
played. The golf handicap index is calculated by adding up the lowest 10 
converted differentials and multiplying by 0.96, and dividing the total by 
10. 
As each round is played, there is a new "previous 20 rounds"from which to 
recalculate the handicap index. Hence, the golfer's index can always rise 
or fall. The present invention affords an easy way to automatically 
recalculate and update the handicap index after each round of play. 
If a golfer is just beginning to calculate his or her handicap index, but 
has fewer than 20 rounds, but has at least five rounds golfed, the 
handicap index is computed differently. Rather than basing the handicap 
index on the lowest 10 of the previous 20 rounds played the following 
scores are used: 
______________________________________ 
Rounds Played Scores to be Used 
______________________________________ 
19 Lowest 9 
18 Lowest 8 
17 Lowest 7 
15 or 16 Lowest 6 
13 or 14 Lowest 5 
11 or 12 Lowest 4 
9 or 10 Lowest 3 
7 or 8 Lowest 2 
5 or 6 Lowest 1 
______________________________________ 
For example, if a golfer had played 10 rounds of golf with the lowest three 
converted differentials being 22.2, 20.6, and 18.0, the player's handicap 
index would be calculated as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Total of three Converted Differentials: 
______________________________________ 
22.2 + 20.6 + 18.0 = 60.8 
Divided by Number of Scores 
3.0 
Player's Handicap Index 
20.2 
______________________________________ 
Note that the player's handicap index actually calculates out to be 20.27, 
but the number is rounded down to the nearest tenth when computing 
handicap index for players with fewer than 20 rounds played. 
Note that in the above golf handicap index calculations the golfers are 
required to input their adjusted gross score rather than simply use their 
score for the round. Adjusted gross score is the golfer's score based on 
local regulations in which the player is limited in the scoring of each 
hole played so as not to create overly high scores on single or multiple 
holes which would unfairly inflate the golfer's handicap index. The 
scoring(i.e., how many strokes over par a golfer is allowed to score on a 
hole is limited by the golfer's handicap index. 
For example, the golfer may not be able to take a score of higher than 8 
for a par five hole. If he or she were to duff a few shots on a par five 
hole and wind up with a score for the hole of 10, then a score of "8" 
would be entered for the purpose of adding up the adjusted gross score. 
The rule applies to the entire round played, and thus a player's adjusted 
gross score might not necessarily be identical with his or her actual 
score. 
A player's golf handicap for a given course depends on his or her handicap 
index and the golf course's slope rating (difficulty). Once the player has 
established a handicap index, the player's handicap is obtained form a 
handicap verses slope rating table. (These tables are very large.) This 
information is conveniently tabulated by the present invention. Generally, 
the handicap decreases for easy course and increases for difficult 
courses. Handicap will be calculated using the formula: (Handicap 
Index.times.Slope).div.113=Handicap. The calculation is rounded to the 
nearest whole number. 
For example, a golfer with a handicap rating of 12.6 will have a handicap 
of 10 playing at an open, easy golf course, where the slope rating is 90. 
However, the same golfer would have a handicap of 13 at a fairly difficult 
municipal course, with a slope rating of 115. If this player went to 
Pebble Beach, where the slope rating is 144, his or her handicap would be 
16. The present invention would indicate the golfer's proper handicap for 
any course in the world. It would also provide the handicap for any other 
golfer's handicap index. 
With the present invention, the golfer could also scroll through previous 
rounds played to view past scores and to discern trends in his or her 
handicap index. This handy device would keep track of the last 999 rounds 
played, so there would be plenty of time for the golfer to keep track of 
the proficiency trend. 
Access to this sort of information is currently only available in printed 
form. The present invention would be a small device, similar to a 
calculator, with an LCD display on the top of the front face and keys 
underneath. Keys 0 through 9, a decimal point, and ON/OFF would cover a 3 
by 4 array in the lower right-hand corner. 
On the top row and left column of the keypad would be the following 
function keys, each key followed by a description of its function. ROUND 
NO.--when the person starts inputting golf scores, he is in Round No. 1 
and counting. One could use this key to go to a previous round for review 
or to go to the next number to begin to input the latest score. 
SCORE--score, which is actually the adjusted gross score, is for the round 
just played. The person's new handicap index would be calculated according 
to his or her score. COURSE RATING--golf course rating is the theoretical 
typical score of a professional golfer at the course. It is used in the 
handicap index calculation and is obtained from the scorecard. --inputs 
par for the course played. This is for the golfer's reference, but it does 
not affect the calculations. HCAP INDEX--handicap index is calculated and 
displayed. In combination with the slope rating, the handicap is 
calculated. SLOPE--slope rating is the golf course's difficulty rating and 
is used in calculating the handicap. It is obtained form the scorecard. 
INCREASE and DECREASE--these keys scroll the display to the next higher or 
lower (chronological) round of golf played. 
The present invention affords convenience, accuracy, portability, 
versatility, ease of use, and economy for golfers. The calculation of golf 
handicaps is a complex process combining two different variables: the 
skill of the golfer and the difficulty of the course. Each golfer's skill 
level is represented in this equation by his or her handicap index. The 
calculation of the handicap index involves consideration of the scores of 
20 different golf games. In addition, each golfer's handicap index can 
potentially change every time he or she plays a game. 
Each course's difficulty is represented by the slope rating. The slope 
rating and handicap index are combined to give a golfer's handicap on a 
given day on a given course, and a given set of tees played. While 
golfing, golfers cannot carry around the tables, calculators, pencils, and 
paper that they would need to calculate their changing handicaps as they 
change golf course or as their performance fluctuates. Yet, such 
information would be useful. The current handicap of the golfer would be 
easy to calculate using the present invention. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.