How Golf Cart GPS Systems Empower your Team

Running a successful golf operation requires leadership from management and a team empowered with the tools needed to excel in their roles.

Through the use of golf cart GPS systems, a course operator can ensure that their team comes to work each day knowing that they are harnessing the full power of technology to deliver the best player experiences possible.

When this is the case, staff feel inspired to deliver their best and management can use the data gathered to improve the quality of decision-making, ultimately leading to a course that is running optimally.

In addition, a well-run course creates a better work environment and, ultimately, better job satisfaction. As comments from guests and members trend more positively, the morale of your team will improve, creating a real sense of pride.

Below, we will outline how you can use golf cart GPS systems to effectively manage pace and flow of play at your course, as well as increase efficiency through automation and generate additional revenue.

Enhanced player experiences through golf cart GPS systems

Golf cart GPS systems are proven to help with proactive pace and flow of play management because clubs can take appropriate action before groups that are falling out of position adversary affect the rest of the field.

For example, Tagmarshal’s Live Map gives operators real-time, full line of sight of the course with a glance at a screen, identifying groups that are out of position and causing delays, meaning interventions can be timely and targeted.

When players walk off the course having played a quicker round with an improved flow, they will be happier and more pleasant for your team to interact with.

“Having Tagmarshal just makes life so much easier when it comes to pace of play because you can go straight to the problem and deal with it. Our pace has improved and the concrete data is fantastic.”

Matthew Bova, PGA
Director of Golf, Country Club of Charleston

The nature of the on-course interventions that player assistants have also shift as the discussion can now be framed as neutral and fact-based, with pace of play data readily accessible.

Whereas these interactions previously had the potential to derail the entire golfing experience, player assistants can approach them with confidence thanks to the information they have at their disposal.

“Staff knowing they have these tools in place to approach golfers and show them exactly what is going on with facts has made them more relaxed on the job. The system is great, the people at Tagmarshal are great, and that makes it easy to implement.”

Kris Dennis
General Manager, Tierra Rejada Golf Course

Tagmarshal’s 2Way 8inch devices, which can be used for cart or walking groups, also open up the possibility of 2Way messaging for better communication between staff and players. Before an on-course intervention is needed, a message can be sent to a group that is falling out of position, gently nudging them to pick up their pace. This further frees up player assistants and team members to focus their efforts on providing the best service possible.

As player names are tied to rounds, profiles are built out and tailored, personalized ‘white glove’ service becomes possible. If you know that a certain player likes to have a drink delivered on the 13th hole, for example, golf cart GPS systems make it easy for a cart to do exactly that.

With Tagmarshal, once a player completes a round, your team has a full record of their pace, interactions, geofence breaches and other information via the Track Map feature. This makes post-round conversations that much more informed, holds players accountable and helps build a culture where pace of play is seen as a collaborative effort by staff and players.

“The system has helped transform our flow of the golf course beyond expectation while also improving the working environment of our golf operations team. Tagmarshal has also proved to be a valuable tool when providing feedback to guests post-round.”

Brad Gould
Golf Manager, The Grove

Using golf cart GPS systems to increase efficiency through automation

The increased use of golf cart GPS systems means that many once time-consuming tasks can be automated, freeing up valuable labor hours. This is especially pertinent given the rising cost of wages and the difficulties many courses have had finding qualified staff.

Monitoring pace and measuring starter accuracy have traditionally been very labor-intensive tasks, and we’ve covered how technology has opened up proactive management possibilities for the former. Groups starting late have a cumulative knock-on effect that will affect course flow throughout the day, which makes measuring starter accuracy an important component of managing pace of play.

Rather than having a starter manually record each group’s actual tee time against their tee sheet booking, Tagmarshal automatically records when the group enters the first tee box. This information is gathered and presented as actionable data in the Analytics Hub, so that it can be tracked and measured on a weekly and monthly basis, and made part of your team’s KPIs.

“I love the reporting – to be able to say, this is the group that’s delaying and this group’s slow because they’re being delayed, at a glance. I’m able to share a lot more information with the owners about the business.”

Troy Newport, PGA
General Manager, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club

Protecting sensitive areas of your course is a priority, but having multiple members of your team spend hours patrolling the field to ensure this happens is a drain on resources.

Tagmarshal’s system allows for preset geofences to be drawn and toggled on and off as needed, with GPS tracking triggering an alert for staff and players as soon as a breach occurs. Your team can then focus their efforts elsewhere on more high-impact player experience factors like service and pace of play management.

There’s also a huge labor-saving and efficiency component to how superintendents and maintenance teams can operate. Along with identifying gaps in the field to carry out work during the day without impacting the player experience, rather than after hours, Tagmarshal’s Heatmap Visualization tool means that efforts can be focused on areas with a high traffic volume.

By overlaying the tracking data from a certain day or week, golf cart GPS systems create heatmaps revealing areas of the course that have the most wear and tear, and that may require additional attention. Your team no longer has to guess and there’s the added job satisfaction of operating in a more sustainable manner, which is increasingly important in today’s agronomic environment.

“Tagmarshal makes people’s jobs more effective and more enjoyable and it’s definitely saving us money, which makes managers happy and owners happy.”

Leo Lynne
Owner, Scenic Hills

Golf’s surge in popularity is coinciding with a rise in inflationary pressures and a difficult labor market, meaning that courses are often being asked to do more with fewer resources. This can adversely affect your team’s morale, with staff stretched thin.

However, by utilizing the power of technology and automation, one person can fulfill multiple roles and operate while on the go. In this way, your team won’t feel under-resourced and can set and work towards realistic goals.

Having these rich data sets also means that your team’s performance can be measured across key metrics. Exceptional performances can be recognized and rewarded, as part of individual or team KPIs, creating a culture where everyone strives for continuous improvement.

Generating additional revenue with golf cart GPS systems

Leading courses like Erin Hills and Fieldstone Golf Club have used golf cart GPS systems very effectively to generate additional revenue.

Creating additional tee sheet capacity can be done by tightening gap intervals between groups, but you can run the risk of adversely impacting pace and flow of play and thus affecting the quality of the player experience.

There’s a clear difference between a full course, which optimizes capacity without jeopardizing the player experience, and an oversaturated course. With the latter, matter what steps your player assistants take, there is very little room to improve field flow and they will be dealing with unhappy golfers throughout the day. Tagmarshal’s Analytics Hub makes it easy to identify specific times of the day or days of the week when your course plays quicker and an opportunity exists to tighten gap intervals while maintaining the desired pace and flow of play.

Many courses also implement dynamic pricing to capitalize on increased demand for certain times of the day, as well as ensuring that players are incentivized to play during periods where there may be a high number of open slots.

“This technology will make you money and we’re a perfect example of that. We have the data now and revenue is up.”

Mike Fosnick
Director of Operations, Premier Golf

Happier golfers are far more likely to spend more at the pro shop and clubhouse. They will also have more time to spend at your facility, along with an increased chance of repeat play, and positive word of mouth is by far the most effective form of advertising.

Tagmarshal also allows courses to advertise on the 2Way 8inch screens. You can choose to find your own advertisers or join the Tagmarshal Media network, where the entire process is handled for you and an annual sum is paid your way at the end of each season. You’re still able to keep inventory for several holes so that you can advertise your own clubhouse and pro shop specials, club events and so on.

“I would strongly encourage people to use Tagmarshal to advertise because it’s a great revenue source and the advertising is less in-your-face and classy.”

Allison George
General Manager, Toad Valley

Conclusion

Golf is in a particularly strong position at present thanks to the continued growth of the sport, with technology increasingly being part and parcel of the experience.

As new golfers take to the course, technology’s role will continue to develop. A course operator that uses golf cart GPS systems to empower their team not only makes that employment experience better, but also increases the likelihood of a first-time golfer returning.

“It’s not only the staff hours saved, but this is a tool in their hands to make their employment experience better. Do they have the tools to be successful at their jobs? Now the answer is yes.”

Mike O’Reilly, PGA
Director of Golf Operations, Whistling Straits