Technological innovations continue to evolve and are rapidly changing the way golf clubs are run, with forward-thinking operators often utilizing multiple systems.

As PGA Magazine’s Senior Editor Don Jozwiak recently pointed out, “technologies that were once experimental or aspirational are now proven performers” and there is more risk in shying away from technology than in embracing it.

Due to the increased use of technology across multiple facets of a golf operation, interoperability between systems is increasingly important. Tagmarshal seamlessly integrates with many other technology solutions to stand out as the preferred central hub, bringing exponential value to course partners by combining powerful data insights from multiple sources in ways that help unlock new opportunities.

Tagmarshal’s integration with Golf Genius, the worldwide leader in tournament management solutions, gives courses that utilize both Tagmarshal and Golf Genius direct access to Golf Genius live scoring and leaderboards via Tagmarshal’s intuitive 2Way cart screens, as well as via the course’s tee sheet.

Players will see their names pre-loaded into the ‘Live Scoring’ feature on their Tagmarshal 2Way screens. The system’s GPS location tracking prompts players to enter their scores after the completion of each hole, ensuring leaderboards are always up to date and bringing the excitement and fun of the majors to courses.

Tagmarshal has a long list of tee sheet integration partners, including the likes of ForeTees, Lightspeed, foreUP, Jonas Club Software and ClubProphet. Feeding this information into the Tagmarshal software platform means that clubs can build out extensive data sets for particular players and create profiles , which opens up a number of possibilities.

Knowing who is part of each playing group and where they are on the course gives staff the chance to offer “white glove” service opportunities for VIPs, members and guests , such as catering to their food and beverage preferences.

It also means that clubs can identify which players tend to play quicker and slower based on the data gathered. Pace profiles are accessible to course managers at tee time reservation and at check-in, and tee times can be allocated accordingly to avoid any potential issues. Players who consistently breach geofences can also be identified and spoken to in order to drive cart path compliance.

By partnering and integrating with CaddieNow, the industry leader in comprehensive caddie management, Tagmarshal gives clubs the tools needed to manage pace and flow of play effectively, using the caddie tracking service to monitor playing groups.

The integration means caddies can use the service on their personal mobile devices during rounds, reducing the need for clubs to purchase devices and utilizing GPS technology to identify flow issues as they arise on the course.

The benefits extend far beyond this, though, as course operators will be able to utilize the service to access Tagmarshal’s powerful data insights, helping courses to enhance the player experience, increase efficiency and generate additional revenue through capacity gains.

Tagmarshal remains committed to integrating with technology solutions that benefit clubs and players, using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to automatically exchange data and perform actions with the relevant platforms.

Operating as a centralized hub through which clubs have access to and derive benefits from multiple systems, Tagmarshal ensures that the power of technology can be fully harnessed.

Watch our latest educational webinar, featuring Tierra Rejada Golf Course, on demand and in your own time!

Titled “How Tierra Rejada uses technology to ace the player experience, optimizing pace and revenue!” and featuring expert guest Kris Dennis, General Manager, Tierra Rejada, you’ll learn how the course is using tech to enhance the player experience through pace and flow of play management, while also generating additional revenue.

The webinar was hosted in partnership with the Southern California PGA Section.

ABOUT THE WEBINAR

Webinar Topic: How Tierra Rejada uses technology to ace the player experience, optimizing pace and revenue!

Expert Guest: Kris Dennis, General Manager, Tierra Rejada

It’s here that the increased use of technology really earns the plaudits. By combining GPS tracking with the power of extensive data and analysis, astute clubs can minimize the impact that slower-playing groups have on the rest of the field – making sure that rounds flow and are enjoyable.

Tagmarshal, an industry-trusted pace of play management and on-course optimization system, tracks playing groups using the most precise GPS technology available. Powered by advanced algorithms that have learned from more than 30 million rounds’ worth of data, its technology proactively identifies pace and flow issues before they arise, making it a powerful tool to optimize pace of play.

John Fields, the Director of Golf at Belmont Country Club, has long understood that pace of play must be an industry priority.

“We wanted to give our team accurate data to ensure rounds are played in the most efficient manner possible. For us, the biggest benefit of having Tagmarshal’s system in place,” says Fields, who has been in his current role for 25 years, “is that we are able to approach slower groups armed with objective information we need to help them get back into position, in a manner that is polite and respected by our membership.”

There’s nothing worse than repeated conversations with rangers asking you to speed up when those in front of you are really at fault, and these interactions remain one of the biggest negatives impacting post-round sentiment. If clubs can have objective, fact-based discussions with players who understand that technology is in place to help make their round more enjoyable, that completely changes the dynamic.

While a decrease in average round times shows that pace is front of mind, rounds during periods of the day that play quicker skew the overall statistics, balancing out rounds when you are stuck behind slow groups and finish 40 minutes later than you’d like. Courses using Tagmarshal have seen a significant improvement in the volume of rounds finishing on or below the goal time, indicating that course flow for the majority of players is being well-managed.

Established in 2014, Tagmarshal has grown to partner with more than 35 of the Top 100 US courses. Co-founder and CEO Bodo Sieber has been recognized as “One of the Most Innovative People in Golf” by Golf Inc, and he leads the company’s commitment and drive for continuous improvement.

“Implementing steps to improve a course’s pace and flow of play will show immediate results and players will thank you through their loyalty. By providing clubs like Belmont with the data they need to give their players the best experience possible, we’re doing our bit to help grow the game we love,” Sieber said.

New England clubs that continue to successfully utilize Tagmarshal’s technology, in addition to Belmont Country Club, include Renaissance Golf Club, New Haven Country Club, Wee Burn Country Club and Woodway Country Club, among others.

With players benefiting from an improved on-course experience, impressive advancements in technology bode well for golf’s continued growth across the New England region.

Source: New England Golf Weekly, August 2023