Golf Course Distance Analysis

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Golf Course Distance Analysis

• Brad Herried
• Jordan Gonnering

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Introduction

• Golf is not, on the whole, a game for realists.
  By its exactitudes of measurement it invites the
  attention of perfectionists
  
• -Heywood Hale Broun,
• American Sportswriter

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Objectives

• Repeatedly measure (for accuracy) location of
  tee, middle of fairway, and green
  
• Calculate distances of holes using latitude and
  longitude of measurements
  
• Compare measured distances to those posted at
  course
  

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Site Selection

• Odana Hills Golf Course, Madison, WI
• Par 72, 6572 yards from Blue Tees
• One of four City of Madison owned golf courses

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Data Sources/Software

• GPS data collected with Garmin receivers
• Satellite Image WisconsinView download portal
• Road Layers USGS Tiger files
• Data acquired into ArcMap using Minnesota DNRs
  shapefile creator

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Methods

• Using two GPS handheld receivers, measurements
  were taken in 1 minute intervals at each hole
  
• 15 measurements at tee
• 40 measurements at fairway (200 yd marker)
• 15 measurements at green
• Data was collected at holes 1, 2, and 7
• 
  (par 4, par
  5, par 3)

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Example
A
A
B
B
15 readings
20 readings
15 readings
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Data Analysis - Overview

• After these positions were recorded into the GPS
  as waypoints, they needed to be averaged to find
  the most accurate point
  
• Data was downloaded into ArcMap and statistical
  analysis was completed to find standard deviation
  and average for (x,y,z)
  

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Data Analysis - Overview

• With these averages computed, an (x,y,z)
  coordinate is available to compute distances for
  each of our tee, fairway, and green locations
  
• Using the distance formula, calculated distances
  for each hole
  
• (tee to fairway) (fairway to green) hole
  distance
  
• Compared these distances to what the golf course
  provides

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Data comparison

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

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Data comparison
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Spatial Representation

• To best accompany our results and comparisons,
  maps show our spatial accuracy
  
• Maps display holes 1, 2, 7 and zoom into areas
  for best viewing of data
  
• Notice scale bar and accuracy standards

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Discussion

• Accuracy was maximized by using multiple readings
  and multiple receivers
  
• Distances were within ten yards, but when
  considering standard deviation, results were not
  as accurate as hoped
  
• By comparing this to ground truth (yardage
  measurements by course), we found a fairly
  accurate hole measure

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Points to consider

• Possibility to measure more holes
• Time constraint? Golf course availability?
• Taking more measurements leads to better accuracy
  (over time)
  
• Distances measured on ground or through the air?
  Which is more vital to golfers?
  
• New advances in golf cart GPS makes this sort of
  testing obsolete

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Thanks!