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5 questions with Drew Dunn – East Lake GC

5 questions with Drew Dunn – East Lake GC

Has golf always been your first love? What other sports / team are you a fan of? 

I was a late comer to the game of golf and did not start playing until after high school.  Basketball and Baseball were my first loves growing up and I played them competitively through high school.  Being a very competitive person I was left with a void in my life.  I had spent 5 days a week my entire life playing some kind of sport and all of a sudden I had nothing to compete in until I found golf.  Golf quickly became my new passion because it filled that competitive void whether it was against another individual or just myself against the golf course.

Who was your golf hero growing up? 

Tiger Woods was so instrumental to bringing so many new players to the game and I am one of those people.  His rise to fame in the late 90’s was right around when I began playing and it was because he made golf cool.  I probably would not be in the position I am in now if it was not for Tiger.

Who’s the Slowest / Fastest player on tour? 

Ironically, I am going to have to say the same player for both, Kevin Na.  He is known for being a deliberate and slow player but at the 2016 Tour Championship in the final round he was paired by himself as we only had 29 players in the field.  Kevin and his caddie literally ran through their round and ended up finishing in just under two hours.  He also birdied the last few holes to shoot an even par 70 which makes the feat that much more impressive.

Where does Pace of Play rank as an industry priority? 

Pace of Play definitely ranks in the top 3 of industry priorities.  People’s time has never been more valuable to them than it is these days.  The amount of time it takes to play a round of golf is one of the main reasons people give for either not playing golf at all or playing more than they do.  Anytime we can give our members and their guests more of their time back we want to do so as it is beneficial to everyone.

Why has your course decided to invest in Pace of Play?

East Lake Golf Club is a walking only facility and every player is required to use the services of a caddie.  GPS technology has been available for many years in golf carts but there has never been a reliable product we could use because our players don’t use carts.  Now, with Tagmarshal, we have the same opportunity to efficiently increase our member and guest satisfaction as well as our bottom line that other facilities have had for years.

What are the top benefits about having technology to manage the field, efficiencies and the pace of play? 

We have found that all golfers understand pace of play is a priority and there is an expectation they should play in a certain amount of time.  Tagmarshal allows us to efficiently monitor groups from anywhere we have access to an internet connection, including our cell phones.  This alleviates the need for us to have an actual person physically on the golf course driving around and monitoring pace.  When we see a group has fallen behind we can ride out and inform them exactly how far behind pace they are and politely ask them to speed up their play.  Often golfers are unaware they were behind pace and are thankful we informed them because nobody wants to be the slow group on the golf course.

ABOUT TAGMARSHAL

Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.

Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.

Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.

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Technology Aiding Pace of Play to Stop Slow Play

Technology Aiding Pace of Play to Stop Slow Play

Slow Play is a subject that graces many an after round discussion usually in the clubhouse bar.  My club and society have all adopted the Ready Play guidelines and things have improved slightly from last season.

I was drawn back to an excellent article written by Josh Carr on Golfshake. He analysed the Golfshake survey in particular in relation to the issue of Slow Play.

A recent USGA survey replicated the results of Golfshake’s own and it is clear that a failure to police slow play has a detrimental effect on a golfer’s experience.  These factors include:

  • A Reduction in player enjoyment and satisfaction ratings.
  • Frustrated customers
  • Reduction in the time the golfer has to visit linked facilities such as the 19th hole etc.
  • Less likely to become repeat customers
  • More likely to leave membership if frustrated with course management.

There are some great point’s made by the author and other subscribers who added to the conversation.

For me the most important factor identified was the number of golfers who played less golf as a result of the time issue involved in playing golf.

He also flagged the inconsiderate or unknowing golfer who considers it a crime to allow a faster group through. Challenges and interventions by Marshalls of slower groups are difficult for both parties involved.

Innovative methods involving shorter versions of the game are interesting but as something of a traditionalist I prefer the full fat, full sugar, version of 18 holes of medal play to test my current golfing prowess.

On a recent review trip to Mallorca I was very pleased to see technological advances being introducedto deal with the problem at its source. Slow play is caused by slow golfers.

Golf Alcanada is a great facility with many innovative approaches to the customer experience but I was really impressed by the real time monitoring of slow play using a system called Tag Marshal.

Speaking to the Course Marshalls they loved the system as it allowed them to make informed and appropriate interventions to keep the pace of play up to the benefit of everyone on the course.

Technology Helping Pace of Play

The heat maps showed who was regularly slow as opposed to a group struggling on one particular hole. This meant that any intervention was supported by incontrovertible evidence and advice and education could be given to specific groups and individual golfers.

From a course operators perspective they are also able to get much better use of the facility by increasing the number of tee times without diminishing the customer experience by play being very slow. In my view this is  a win /win for all concerned.

I began my research and realised I had hit onto the early days of a very effective product that was being introduced at some very high profile venues across the world.

If it is good enough for Carnoustie, Erin Hills and Whistling Straights it has definitely got some merit. With this in mind I asked the company to provide an explanation of the system and its benefits.

Tagmarshal Optimizing Pace at Europe’s Most Prestigious Courses

Pace-of-play has long been a key factor determining player experience. According to a recent USGA survey, 74% of golfers believe pace is “critical” to their enjoyment of a round. Slow play can hinder rhythms, deter repeat customers and lead to golfer dissatisfaction. With an abundance of European links courses covered in fescue, this becomes even more vital.

Here to save the day is Tagmarshal – a pace-of-play and revenue-optimizing system used globally by golf courses, country clubs and resorts. Tagmarshal empowers courses to optimize their pace, routinely enhancing average round times by 14-17 minutes. This leads not only to an improved golf experience, but increased revenue, both by adding capacity on busy days, and by expediting those rounds, ensuring golfers have more time to visit the pro shop or 19th hole after a stellar round.

High-profile courses across Europe have adopted its technology, including Carnoustie (2018 Open Championship) and Ballybunion (Irish Open). Also proven in the U.S. at Whistling Straits (2020 Ryder Cup), Erin Hills (2017 U.S. Open), Valhalla (2014 PGA Championship) and Kiawah Island (2012 PGA Championship), the platform is trusted at many golf destinations around the world.

So how does the software work?

The system, which uses discreet data-transmitting tags clipped to golfers’ bags or installed into carts, measures all player movement and preemptively offers solutions to alleviate bottlenecks and other pace obstacles via its proprietary algorithms.

With a wealth of intuitive and dynamic information, courses provide positive, non-confrontational player assistance and improve their per-hole and overall goal times, while streamlining field management accuracies and processes.

At private facilities, data on individual golfers’ pace also allows courses to incentivize faster players or offer personalized support for those who can improve.

“As links courses, it is especially vital for us to accurately manage round times,” says Vari McGreevy, General Manager of Ballybunion. “Tagmarshal’s innovative technology enables informed decisions, ultimately accelerating field flow for even better on-course experiences.”

Paving the way for increased participation and growth of the game, the benefits are countless. Not only are clubs able to retain members, but they also expand through a strong pace-of-play reputation.

After deploying its platform, courses seize pace as an asset to their operation and golf experience.

Is this the answer to issues with slow play?

I am not sure that this is the overall solution to the problem of slow play but it is definitely a real move forward to ensuring that all players get the chance to enjoy the game at a pace that all enjoy.

Better education has its place and this equipment allows the course managers to identify those who need that education. That has got to be to the benefit of all players and the game as a whole.

Let me throw this challenge out to the golfing authorities.

Why not trial the use of this equipment at a high profile event during a professional tournament?

Professional golfers set the standard for golfing etiquette at all levels. The referees could use the heat maps to establish without doubt who was causing a hold up or delay and then they could take appropriate action in accordance with the existing rules.

I recently played in the European Tour Seniors Italian Open Pro am event presented by Villaverde Resort golf club, Udine, Italy. Did I play slower do to increased pressure?  Possibly.  I do know one thing though, my pace of play will always take into account my playing partners and other groups on the course as that is a crucial part of the game and its etiquette.

View original article here

ABOUT TAGMARSHAL

Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.

Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.

Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.

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5 questions with Colin Sinclair – Carnoustie Golf Links

5 questions with Colin Sinclair – Carnoustie Golf Links

Learn more about Colin Sinclair, PGA Head Professional at the world renowned Carnoustie Golf Links, the hosts of the 2018 Open Championship.

If you could be a caddie on Tour, whose caddie would you like to be and why?

Jason Day! To see one of the best in the world inside the ropes would be great.

Has golf always been your first love and who was your golf hero growing up? What other sports / team are you a fan of?

Yes golf first closely followed by American football and Rugby (Bengals fan, enough said!). My golf hero growing up was Tom Watson.

What was your favourite Major to watch this year and why? 

The Open Championship – to me it was the best tournament on an awesome course (Royal Birkdale) and Jordan’s finish was inspirational.

Where does Pace of Play rank as an industry priority?
No 1 priority as it will determine who wishes to play the game…………. too slow puts prospective golfers off.

Why has your course decided to invest in Pace of Play? What are the top benefits about having technology to manage the field, efficiencies and the pace of play?

We have invested in Pace technology because player experience and improved efficiencies are a top priority, and achieving these objectives creates revenue opportunities. The top benefits of using Tagmarshal technology are improved results, accountability and measurable success. It’s great for our rangers too as the system allows them to provide non-confrontational support.

ABOUT TAGMARSHAL

Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.

Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.

Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.

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Tagmarshal Sets a New Pace at Golf Courses

Tagmarshal Sets a New Pace at Golf Courses

The idea behind Tagmarshal, an innovative system that helps leading golf courses like Erin Hills and Kiawah manage their course pace, started with a friend’s complaint about an exceedingly slow round of golf.

The grievance was aired to Bodo Sieber, a South African technology specialist whose expertise is business intelligence and data science. Sieber’s friend was annoyed by golfer traffic jams caused by slow groups or improper tee time management.

Soon Sieber was investigating whether existing technology had been employed to address pace of play. His research come up short. But he discovered 74 percent of golfers believe pace of play is essential to enjoy their round.

Enter Tagmarshal, tracking software that allows course employees to monitor and address potential delays in real-time. For instance, Tagmarshal can notify course employees immediately when a golfer has teed off and where a playing group is located.

“It allows the course to provide non-confrontational support,” Sieber says. “That’s the beauty of it. If a course adopts the system well, it can really be preemptive and have hardly any issues.”

Tagmarshal is being utilized by courses in locations as far flung as China, Scotland and Spain. But the company’s marketing push was designed to find early adopters in the United States. The first American club to incorporate the system was Erin Hills in Wisconsin—host of the 2017 U.S. Open.

Data Pays Off

Because Erin Hills is a walking course, head golf pro Jim Lombardo had struggled to track groups and streamline the experience. In just seven months, golfers were seeing more efficient rounds at Erin Hills. The course has netted an extra $115,000 because Tagmarshal allows for an extra tee time on the course’s busiest days.

Other top courses—notably Valhalla in Kentucky, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and Kiawah Island in South Carolina—have also ordered Tagmarshal. Each club has praised the system.

“The good thing for us is that our early adopters really want to be progressive, they want to be innovative, and they want to grow and change their guest experience for the better,” Sieber says.

Because Tagmarshal is data-driven, pros like Lombardo have discovered a host of uses for the information. These include identifying traffic hot spots for more effective course maintenance or to customize golfers’ experiences.

“Players and caddies are now accountable for their pace of play, and they understand better how it affects others,” says Lombardo.  “You have hard facts that you can use to educate people and help them improve, and the guess work is taken out of the equation. You can answer so many questions that you probably would not have been able to answer in the past.”

View original article here

ABOUT TAGMARSHAL

Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.

Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.

Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.

SOLUTIONS

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5 questions with Louis Destroo – Stellenbosch GC

5 questions with Louis Destroo – Stellenbosch GC

Get to know Louis Destroo who is the Director of Golf at Stellenbosch Golf Club which has hosted some of South Africa’s most prestigious golf tournaments, including the South African Open and South African Masters tournaments.

 If you could be a caddie on Tour, whose caddie would you like to be and why?

Jordan Spieth – the way he plays, presents himself, talks and lives…..

Has golf always been your first love and who was your hero growing up? What other sports / team are you a fan of?

Golf has been a part of me for a long time, but I played rugby and swam a bit also. My hero growing up was Norman and Nicklaus.

What was your favourite Major to watch this year and why? Slowest / Fastest player on tour?

Masters – the winner is so unpredictable! Ben Crane would be the slowest and Bill Haas is definitely the fastest.

Where does Pace of Play rank as an industry priority? Why has your course decided to invest in Pace of Play?

Top 3 yes! People can play fast with this system we can just help them….. golfers like information so there is nothing stronger than “proving” to them they are not where they should be in their round! Support them with information and stats….

What are the top benefits about having Tagmarshal technology to manage the field, efficiencies and the pace of play? How would your Marshals / Player Assistants answer this question?

Cost saving on staff and higher income because of rounds being managed better! They love it – job made easy!

ABOUT TAGMARSHAL

Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.

Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.

Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.

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