RelayGolf has enjoyed a significant uptick during the pandemic to the tune of about 500 million rounds played.
Everyone is golfing right now
As the ultimate socially distanced outdoor sport, golf allowed people to exercise and socialize in a way not possible with most other sports. And along with playing, comes spending on accessories. Golf Datatech reported that U.S. Retail golf equipment sales for August 2020 were up nearly 32% over the previous year. And in case you’re wondering why golf’s current popularity (and spending) is significant, the last time golf was this popular was back in 1997 when Tiger Woods first became popular.
A short history of golf
Compared with flashier sports, golf has something of an old-fashioned reputation, and it makes sense. The game of golf is centuries old and originated in Scotland in the 1400s, where the goal was to hit a small ball with a stick. As the game evolved, so did the rules, though some things stayed as old-school as possible.
The parts of golf that were outdated
For many years there was the mistaken belief that the word golf was an acronym for Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden. And it seems like some posh golf clubs took this really to heart. In early May of this year, Golf Digest reported that Pine Valley, a 108-year-old men’s only club located in New Jersey voted to allow female members for the first time in its history along with unrestricted women’s play. Until now, female golfers were only welcome on Sundays and as guests of members. It’s a welcome change in a sport that continues to evolve.
Tracking the heat map on a golf course
Like most sports enthusiasts, golfers have embraced technology as a way to enhance their experience and game. One example the past few years, many in the golf industry used sophisticated technologies to build better courses. Part of that involved using heat maps of activity to know which parts of the course were not used and which should be built up or enhanced.
By spending to understand golfers’ habits, designers of golf courses were able to streamline their current approach. They also found a way to better design future courses to work with the approach and game style of modern golfers.
Other technologies embraced by golfers
To keep up with their most loyal players, golf clubs and golf courses will have to pay close attention to the newest technologies being used. More than that, savvy golf clubs will also make certain tech products or apps part of their offerings or sell them in the pro shop.
Augmented reality golf experiences
Putt View merges old school and new tech by offering augmented reality technologies to create an indoor golfing experience that helps players improve their game drastically. They create everything from home and professional series to custom greens. Imagine how golfers might be further engaged if this was a service readily available to them on rainy days or even in hotel rooms or public areas. It’s a great way of combining their passion with the latest technologies. They also create both indoor maps of over 30,000 yardage and green maps in golf. A smart golf course could offer touchpoints available where players can view and print out challenging spots as needed.
Readily available GPS
There’s extensive use of GPS in the golf industry on a personal level. Now imagine if this became standard in a golf resort that created free GPS options for any member or their guests. It could also act as a tool to literally map out the most popular elements of the green and allow for a more seamless experience.
An interconnected walkie-talkie and safety network
Golf course operators make every effort to create not only visually stunning and challenging courses but also safe ones. But sometimes having acres of green also means that staffers and golfers are sometimes far apart from each other. Having a dedicated walkie-talkie system for employees means they can seamlessly communicate if an area of the course needs tending to or even if a guest becomes unruly. And in case of an emergency, having a panic button system in place means that if a guest becomes injured in some way or a worker is threatened or harassed by a guest, with the push of a button help can be rapidly notified.
