GB2227417A

GB2227417A - Score card

Info

Publication number: GB2227417A
Application number: GB8928497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guan Thong Ong; Sin Wah Lo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-16
Filing date: 1989-12-18
Publication date: 1990-08-01
Also published as: GB8928497D0; GB8829365D0

Abstract

A score card for golf or other games or sports includes areas (1) removable under the application of pressure or by pulling. Each area corresponds to a predetermined score achievable in the game or sport. The card is pre-printed such that the location of a said area indicates unequivocably the attainment at a certain score. The areas may be in the form of perforated holes or coverings which may be scratched off or torn off. The completed card can be made suitable to be read by the inputting means of a computer. <IMAGE>

Description

SCORE CARD The invention relates to a score card such as could be used to keep score in the game of golf whereby the score is recorded by means other than by a writing implement and the score cards are easily processable at the end of a game.

During a game of golf, the number of strokes taken to complete a round is recorded on a score card, such as that illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. At present, golf scoring cards are preprinted and the scores are recorded using a pen, pencil or other writing instrument. Often, players forget to bring such an implement, or if they do, it is easily lost or rendered inoperative. An additional disadvantage occurs in damp weather when the score card becomes illegible due to ink smudging. Some score cards will be illegible simply due to bad handwriting.

All these factors can lead to disputes between players over scores.

Often golf clubs control, monitor and manage the handicapping system applied to its members. Their members must, therefore, regularly submit their completed score cards for assessment. The task of calculating the handicaps is tedious, time consuming and subject to human error. The information can, alternatively, be keyed into a computer. This is still tedious and time consuming as it has to involve the reproduction of the written scores.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a score card including a plurality of areas removable by the application of pressure or by pulling, these areas being arranged into two zones, in a first of which each area corresponds to a predetermined score achievable in a game or sport, and in the second of which each area corresponds to information other than the score, said first and second zones being pre printed so that the locations of each of the areas of the first zone indicate unequivocally the attainment of specific scores, and the locations of each area in the second zone are identified with respective pieces of said information.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for scoring in golf comprising a card including a zone having areas removable by the application of pressure or by pulling, the areas being in groups corresponding to respective golf holes and in each group corresponding to predetermined scores achievable, said card being preprinted such that the location of said areas indicate unequivocally the hole and the attainment of certain scores at that hole, card reading means, and means for processing the data read by the reading means so as to provide an overall score for the player.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to how the same may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 shows a score card embodying the present invention; Figure 2 shows a printed score card currently in use; and Figure 3 shows a computerized system for processing the score card of Figure 1.

The score card in Figure 1 is in the form of a flat sheet of any suitable material usually, however, card or paste board in which areas (1), of predetermined weakness are made in appropriate places.

To facilitate the keeping of scores, the card is preprinted with useful information such as hole number etc. A number of such areas are arranged in a line for each hole number, each such area representing a particular number of strokes. Thus to record the number of strokes taken to complete a hole, the card is punctured at the appropriate area, for example using a golf tee or a pen point. The predetermined weakness may be constituted by a perforation surrounding an area of card or by a cut extending around the area to a sufficient extent to leave the area of card held to the remainder of the card around only a part of its periphery. The area will be usually be circular. By applying pressure to the area of relevance (1) and/or pulling at, it is broken away from the remainder of the card. Thus the number of strokes can easily be recorded by the player and verified by his opponent.

The score can be kept on a hole to hole basis as well as in an cumulative manner. The card also contains other useful information, i.e. the type of event (column A) e.g. whether the event is part of a tournament or is only for practise and the scoring format (column B) e.g. Stableford, stroke play or match play. Other types of scoring format may also be included if necessary. Rows D & F can be used to indicate the handicap of the club member player and the guest player respectively.

The completed card can then be processed by the computerized system as shown in Figure 3. The score card 2 is fed into a card reader 3 which reads the scores and other relevant information from the holes punched in the card such as what scoring system is being used or the handicap (if any) of each player.

The card reader 3 has a system of photoelectrical cell mechanisms to read the card 2 and the information is then transmitted to a central processing unit (CPU) 4 of the computerized system. This information from the card 2 is stored in an array inside the computer.

The CPU 4 displays the information on a monitor 5 to allow the information to be read. This information can also be printed out on a printer 6. The CPU 4 includes software on disc 7 which calculates the golf scores according to the appropriate scoring format.

For example, the software could calculate the score according to the rules stipulated by the Royal And Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and in dependence upon a format such as Total stroke play, Nett stroke play or Stableford play. The monitor and the printer 6 display the calculated scores. The program additionally uses the calculated data to recalculate club member handicaps and to store these in data files relating to these members.

The new card thus is convenient and time saving and has particular use in golf clubs or tournaments.

Alternative embodiments of the invention are also possible, in particular relating to the means whereby the score is indicated. For example, instead of having predetermined weaknesses, an easily removable coating could be used so that by scratching the coating off with an appropriate instrument for example a coin, the score can be kept. To process such a card, a scanner capable of detecting whether the coating is present or not is connected in place of reader 3.

In an further embodiment the cards may have holes in place of the predetermined weaknesses, these holes being covered by a film easily removable under the pressure of an instrument such as a golf tee as mentioned above.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A score card including areas removable by the application of pressure or by pulling, these areas being arranged into two zones, in a first of which each area corresponds to a predetermined score achievable in a game or sport, and in the second of which each area corresponds to information other than the score, said first and second zones being pre-printed so that the locations of each of the areas of the first zone indicate unequivocally the attainment of specific scores, and the locations of each area in the second zone are identified with respective pieces of said information.

2. A score card as claimed in claim 1 wherein, pre-printing renders it appropriate to use in keeping score in the game of golf.

3. A score card as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information relating to said second zone corresponds to a handicap of a user.

4. A score card as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said information relating to said second zone corresponds to scoring formats.

5. A score card as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the areas are of predetermined weakness.

6. A score card as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined weakness is constituted by means of perforations surrounding the said area.

7. A score card as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined areas of weakness are constituted by a cut extending around the said area to a sufficient extent to leave the area of a score card held to the remainder of the score card around only a part of its periphery.

8. A score card as claimed in the any one of the preceding claims wherein the pre-weakened areas are circular.

9. A score card substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.

10. A system for scoring in golf comprising a card including a zone having areas removable by the application of pressure or by pulling, the areas being in groups corresponding to respective golf holes and in each group corresponding to predetermined scores achievable, said card being pre-printed such that the location of said areas indicate unequivocally the hole and the attainment of certain scores at that hole, card reading means, and means for processing the data read by the reading means so as to provide an overall score for the player.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 and including means for displaying data read by said card reading means and/or data processed by said processing means.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said system includes means for printing data read by said card reading means and/or the data processed by said processing means.

13. A system as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein said means for processing is provided by a CPU.

14. A system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 and using a card according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processing means calculates the score in dependence upon a formula determined by a removed area of the second zone.

16. A system for scoring in golf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 3.