Golf instruction system and method

This application claims is a continuation of and claims priority to Ser. No. 11/566,163 filed Dec. 1, 2006 by Martha Sue Yeary entitled GOLF INSTRUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present invention relates to golf, specifically golf instruction systems and methods.

In the general area of sport performance there is a variety of information directed to improving one\'s performance while participating in a sport. In particular, instruction to golf players often focuses on improving the physical and mental skills of the player. Physical skills involve some kind of controlled effort, such as those performed with the arms, hands, and legs. In addition, the mental skills of a golf player are generally recognized as important to the player\'s achievements on the golf course. Mental skills of a golf player often include confidence, focus, and knowledge of one\'s own capabilities. Consequently, a golf player often improves his or her physical and mental skills by researching and performing controlled effort tasks, such as swinging a golf club, and receiving feedback on those tasks.

Accordingly, golf instruction is often provided in materials such as books, pamphlets, magazines, as well as on Web sites. Further, many attempts have been made to develop systems and methods which permit the teaching or training of physical and mental skills for golf. The teaching of golf is representative of the type of physical skill in which it is extremely difficult for students to learn even from one having an exceptionally good skill set. More specifically, learning to perfect a golf swing is a challenge for most golfers, even under the training of the most experienced golf professionals. As a result, most methods of golf instruction utilize some kind of feedback mechanism so that the golfer can visualize how to make changes in his or her swing to more closely approximate a desired golf swing.

However, while golf instruction information may provide insight into a technique used in golf, it is not directed to specific individuals having specific needs or specific physical limitations. Also, it may be difficult to find a location and/or equipment to apply the techniques described in instruction materials. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2005/0026124, by Havaleschka, discloses a system for training the mental golfing skills of a golf player. A method of training mental golfing skills is disclosed, by which the player in a structured manner plays a golf course following a set of instructions containing directions of a mental exercise, i.e. an exercise to train mental golfing skills, to be performed when playing most of or all holes. The player attempts to follow the instructions and perform the mental exercise, evaluates his or hers degree of success in following the instructions and assigns a score for that hole accordingly. When the player has finished playing the holes of the golf course, a total score may be calculated and compared to the previous and future scores. Thus, a systematic method of training a player\'s mental golfing skills and providing a systematically obtained grade or total score for the outcome of the training effort is provided. Furthermore is disclosed a golf scorecard for assisting golf players in training their mental golfing skills while playing a round on a golf course, a method of providing such golf scorecard, and a method as well as an automatic system for estimating the mental golfing skills of a golf player.

U.S. Pat. No.: 6,905,339, issued to Di Mare et al., discloses a sport performance evaluation method and system. The method includes storing a user-defined physical profile, displaying a set of images where each image in the set depicts a different variation of an element of imperfect sport performance, and selecting at least one image in the set most closely depicting an element of imperfect sport performance exhibited by a user who is associated with the user-defined physical profile. The method also includes diagnosing at least one cause for the imperfect sport performance based upon the stored at least one selected image ant the stored user-defined physical profile. The system can include a user-defined physical profile and at least one set of images depicting an element of imperfect sport performance where each image in the set depicts a different variation of the element. The system can also include at least one data repository and at least one computing device.

U.S. Pat. No.: 5,984,684, issued to Brostedt et al., discloses a system and method for the teaching of physical skill such as golf by the use of video reproduction utilizes a reverse image video on a pair of video glasses. The student does not have to perform a mental right-left translation when viewing the instructor.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2003/0036042, by Hill, discloses a method of teaching an individual to program their mind to follow a voluntary personal behavior plan that helps to achieve a predetermined goal. Provides a set of rules and techniques that the individual use to select and follow a personal behavior plan. Instructs the individual to make a promise to follow the selected behavior plan. A means of incentive is provided for the individual to keep the promise that helps them withstand considerable temptations to do otherwise. Whereby, when the individual makes the promise to follow the behavior plan, they can reach and maintain a state of mind in which they fully intend to follow the plan, which programs or alters activities of their mind and body to help succeed in following the plan and reach the predetermined goal.

U.S. Pat. No.: 4,717,343, issued to Densky, discloses a method of conditioning a person\'s unconscious mind in order to effect a desired change in the person\'s behavior which does not require the services of a trained therapist. Instead, the person to be treated views a program of video pictures appearing on a screen. The program as viewed by the person\'s unconscious mind acts to condition the person\'s though patterns in a manner which alters that person\'s behavior in a positive way.

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages, which include: having ineffective instruction; having ineffective results; having incomplete instruction; not having universality; not being adaptable; being inadequate; not providing a practice location; and/or being difficult to apply to different persons.

What is needed is a golf instruction system and method that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available sport instruction systems and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a sport instruction system and method for golf.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a golf instruction campus for providing golf instruction, including: a first field, which may be disposed on the campus, having a first length; a second field, which may be disposed on the campus, having a second length; a third field, which may be disposed on the campus, having a third length; a fourth field, which may be disposed on the campus, having a fourth length; and/or a fifth field, which may be disposed on the campus, having a fifth length. A ratio of the of the first length over the second length may be no greater than about 0.4 to about 0.6; a ratio of the second length over the third length may be no greater than about 0.2 to about 0.4; a ratio of the third length over the fourth length may be no greater than about 0.4 to about 0.6; and/or a ratio of the fourth length over the fifth length may be no greater than about 0.65 to about 0.85. In addition, each of the third field, the fourth field, and/or the fifth field include a plurality of distance markers, configured to mark distance.

In another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a field barrier, which may be disposed on the campus, configured to prevent objects from crossing from one field to an adjacent field. In still another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes an audio data provider module, which may be disposed on the campus, configured to provide audio data of golf instruction. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a video data provider module, which may be disposed on the campus, configured to provide video data of an example golf swing. In still yet another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a video data recorder module, which may be disposed on the campus, in communication with the video data provider module, configured to record video data of a golf swing.

In even another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a control module, which may be disposed on the campus, in communication with the video data provider module, configured to control the video data provider module. In even still another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a portable media player module, in communication with the video data provider module, configured to play audio and/or video data. In even yet another embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a payment acceptance module, in communication with the video data provider module, configured to accept payment.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a sixth field, which may be disposed on the campus; and/or a seventh field, which may be disposed on the campus. The sixth field may include sand and/or the seventh field may include a putting green. In still an additional embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction campus includes a wellness facility, which may be disposed on the campus, configured to provide a facility for the provision of wellness.