Golf Course Golf Course Distance AnalysisDistance AnalysisBrad HerriedBrad Herried

Jordan GonneringJordan Gonnering

IntroductionIntroduction

““Golf is not, on the whole, a game for Golf is not, on the whole, a game for realists. By its exactitudes of realists. By its exactitudes of measurement it invites the attention of measurement it invites the attention of perfectionists” perfectionists”

-Heywood Hale Broun,-Heywood Hale Broun,American SportswriterAmerican Sportswriter

ObjectivesObjectives

Repeatedly measure (for accuracy) Repeatedly measure (for accuracy) location of tee, middle of fairway, and location of tee, middle of fairway, and greengreen

Calculate distances of holes using Calculate distances of holes using latitude and longitude of measurementslatitude and longitude of measurements

Compare measured distances to those Compare measured distances to those posted at courseposted at course

Site SelectionSite Selection

Odana Hills Golf Course, Madison, WIOdana Hills Golf Course, Madison, WI

Par 72, 6572 yards from Blue TeesPar 72, 6572 yards from Blue Tees

One of four City of Madison owned golf One of four City of Madison owned golf coursescourses

Data Sources/SoftwareData Sources/Software

GPS data: GPS data: collected with Garmin receiverscollected with Garmin receivers

Satellite Image: Satellite Image: WisconsinView download portalWisconsinView download portal

Road Layers: Road Layers: USGS Tiger filesUSGS Tiger files

Data acquired into ArcMap using Data acquired into ArcMap using Minnesota DNR’s shapefile creatorMinnesota DNR’s shapefile creator

MethodsMethods

Using two GPS handheld receivers, Using two GPS handheld receivers, measurements were taken in 1 minute measurements were taken in 1 minute intervals at each holeintervals at each hole 15 measurements at tee15 measurements at tee 40 measurements at fairway 40 measurements at fairway (200 yd marker)(200 yd marker)

15 measurements at green15 measurements at green

Data was collected at holes 1, 2, and 7 Data was collected at holes 1, 2, and 7 (par 4, par 5, par 3)(par 4, par 5, par 3)

ExampleExample

A A

B B

15 readings 20 readings 15 readings

Data Analysis - OverviewData Analysis - Overview

After these positions were recorded into the After these positions were recorded into the GPS as waypoints, they needed to be GPS as waypoints, they needed to be averaged to find the most accurate pointaveraged to find the most accurate point

Data was downloaded into ArcMap and Data was downloaded into ArcMap and statistical analysis was completed to find statistical analysis was completed to find standard deviation and average for (x,y,z)standard deviation and average for (x,y,z)

Data Analysis - OverviewData Analysis - Overview

With these averages computed, an With these averages computed, an (x,y,z) coordinate is available to compute (x,y,z) coordinate is available to compute distances for each of our tee, fairway, distances for each of our tee, fairway, and green locationsand green locations

Using the distance formula, calculated Using the distance formula, calculated distances for each holedistances for each hole (tee to fairway) + (fairway to green) = hole distance(tee to fairway) + (fairway to green) = hole distance

Compared these distances to what the golf Compared these distances to what the golf course providescourse provides

Data comparisonData comparison

After finding the mean easting and After finding the mean easting and northing coordinates, standard deviation northing coordinates, standard deviation and variance were calculated to best and variance were calculated to best describe accuracydescribe accuracy

Data comparisonData comparison

HoleHole TapeTape GPSGPS Std DevStd Dev DifferenceDifferenceOne (par 4)One (par 4) 354.00 yds354.00 yds 349.7 yds349.7 yds 25.6 yds25.6 yds -4.3 yds-4.3 yds

Two (par 5)Two (par 5) 505.00 yds505.00 yds 497.1 yds497.1 yds 53.3 yds53.3 yds -7.9 yds-7.9 yds

Seven (par 3)Seven (par 3) 213.00 yds213.00 yds 207.6 yds207.6 yds 12.7 yds12.7 yds -5.4 yds-5.4 yds

Spatial RepresentationSpatial Representation

To best accompany our results and To best accompany our results and comparisons, maps show our spatial comparisons, maps show our spatial accuracyaccuracy

Maps display holes 1, 2, 7 and zoom into Maps display holes 1, 2, 7 and zoom into areas for best viewing of dataareas for best viewing of data

Notice scale bar and accuracy standardsNotice scale bar and accuracy standards

DiscussionDiscussion

Accuracy was maximized by using Accuracy was maximized by using multiple readings and multiple receiversmultiple readings and multiple receivers

Distances were within ten yards, but Distances were within ten yards, but when considering standard deviation, when considering standard deviation, results were not as accurate as hopedresults were not as accurate as hoped

By comparing this to ground truth By comparing this to ground truth (yardage measurements by course), we (yardage measurements by course), we found a fairly accurate hole measurefound a fairly accurate hole measure

Points to considerPoints to consider

Possibility to measure more holesPossibility to measure more holes Time constraint? Golf course availability?Time constraint? Golf course availability?

Taking more measurements leads to better Taking more measurements leads to better accuracy (over time)accuracy (over time)

Distances measured on ground or through the Distances measured on ground or through the air? Which is more vital to golfers?air? Which is more vital to golfers?

New advances in golf cart GPS makes this sort New advances in golf cart GPS makes this sort of testing obsoleteof testing obsolete

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