Page 13 - GBC winter issue ENG 2019

weather climates across Canada that’s a pretty cool initiative.
“You hear the same question in this industry all the time: how do we grow golf?” said Toptracer Range president Ben Sharpe at the 2019 PGA Show. “Toptracer is a solution for the masses. It’s fun, social; it can put a club into someone’s hands for the rst time in a relaxed environment and it has multiple games applications that appeal to different consumers, especially millennials.”
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY
Mobile devices have become standard equipment for the game now. Not only are they an instant source of information but their capability through downloadable apps is allowing golfers to consume golf anywhere at any time; lm ourselves on the range and send the footage to an instructor for analysis on the spot; offer detailed shot tracking that at one time was the domain of ShotLink alone and it can instantly tell us on 40,000 courses around the world exactly how far we are from the hole with incredible accuracy while accounting for slope and atmospheric conditions.
Technology, in fact, has spawned its own standalone product and service category. Traditionalists may scoff, but as
someone who closely monitors the business aspects of the game, golf leads the sports world by a wide margin in my opinion as it relates to technology-based research and development.
You don’t have to look far for examples. Callaway Golf’s new Flash Face technology in its Epic Flash driver was designed using Arti cial Intelligence (A.I) through advanced machine learning. Computers cycled through 15,000 face architecture iterations to come up with the nished design. Not that long ago, manufacturers had beenusingnomorethanadozen iterations.
Arccos sensor technology is producing data that is bene ting consumersaswellastheindustry.By capturing thousands of data points during a round of golf, the company’s smart sensors are helping end golf users with course management decisions while providing GPS range nder capability and tour generated analytics.
Now available in Canada is the next generation in Connected Fleet technology. Tempo Connect with Bluetooth by Club Car offers Canadian golfers the very best in available in-car entertainment with intuitive Bluetooth pairing to any mobile device while the golf coursecancontrolthe eetvolume, protecting the enhanced experience
for all! We are experiencing an increase in music in all market segments in golf and this provides the best way to offer that service for every owner and operator.
Combine with the suite of Fleet Technology Modules available and the result is one that offers operators new ways to increase margins, reduce risk, and create competitive differences that can attract play.
COOL TO HAVE MORE WOMEN AND MOMS
Statistics indicate that women today are the primary decision makers in a household when it comes to family activities. The industry continues to better promote speci cally to the women’s demographic by emphasizing golf’s fun, health bene ts, and the game’s expansive social engagement and networking opportunities.
It’s working. Participation numbers are up across the board in Canada with further positive growth waiting in prospect.
Watching this trend while experiencing it rst hand is Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk. The 8-time Canadian Long Drive champion has been teaching women’s golf clinics for Golf Town from British Columbia to New Brunswick the past three years with steady growth year over year.
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