GOLF TECH INNOVATOR MAKES SHOT CLOCK GOLF A REALITY FOR REGULAR COURSES. 

In a positive move towards addressing slow play, the European Tour will take a major step forward in combating this age-old problem when it implements a shot clock during the 2018 Austrian Open.

But will this new format be the actual cause of improvement to the game or is it because of the additional media attention and greater awareness being placed on professional tournaments to manage pace, and, of course, the added accountability being forced onto professional golfers.

The new format also brings significant hurdles to professional tournaments, when one takes into account the exhaustive manpower and resources required to succeed with shot clock play, with the referee having to follow each group to keep time and enforce penalties.

Considering that golf is played by millions of people, on thousands of courses around the world, it is worth understanding the practicality of how this new format will be adopted by regular golf courses? Without expensive management controls, strict penalty rules, and a massive staff requirement, regular courses simply would not be able to consider implementing this format of the game.

But that is not the case as golf tech innovator, Tagmarshal, has the solution for tournaments and courses alike, with their revolutionary pace of play and golf course intelligence solution, which can seamlessly manage the shot clock format.

As a pioneer in golf course intelligence, the easy to use, affordable, Tagmarshal system optimizes field efficiencies and streamlines pace management by automatically checking time played per hole, or per section, against pre-set goal times, effectively making this an intelligent, automated shot clock platform.

The system uses a series of GPS tags or devices and as a playing group progresses, their location and time of play are continuously logged and measured against various parameters. The industry-leading algorithms automatically identify risk groups and empower courses to provide accurate, objective support to untangle bottlenecks before they arise, to monitor anticipated shot or hole times and to significantly reducing round times while improving the player experience.

“The Tagmarshal management system has enabled us to effectively implement our pace of play policy, assisting us in reducing playtime,” says Jim Lombardo, Head Golf Professional at Erin Hills. “This allowed us to add an additional tee time for extra capacity.”

By creating a similar, if not improved, awareness and pace mindfulness with players, Tagmarshal has the same effect that the shot clock format does, without the need for added marshals or referees or even any additional resources.

The functionalities give oversight, through best in class analytics, giving invaluable intelligence to make informed decisions on performance and efficiency improvements and to proactively plan pace management, adding value to all types of courses, including cart, walking, and courses that offer both options.

Successfully implemented and making pace management inroads in some of the World’s most formidable golf courses such as Erin Hills, US Open hosts 2017, Whistling Straits, host of the 2015 PGA Championship, and Carnoustie Golf Links, the venue for The Open Championship since 1931.

“We cannot imagine operating without Tagmarshal next season,” says Colin Sinclair Head Golf Professional at Carnoustie Golf Links. “The system has proved to be invaluable. It has enabled us to make savings, improve service delivery, improve pace of play and enhance the whole golfing experience at Carnoustie. It is very much at the front and center of how we will manage our Golf Operations in the future.”

Partnering with Tagmarshal has allowed courses to become pacesetters with improved operational efficiencies, saving costs and adding prime tee times that routinely realize incremental revenue. Superintendents also use Tagmarshal data to better manage pin placements, wear patterns, hole formats, and operational efficiencies.