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USGA Pace System
ON-COURSE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
WILLIAM YATES & ASSOCIATES
William Yates & Associates consults with golf course managers and staff, helping them build and implement a Pace Manager Program designed specifically for their course. Through a formal training workshop, the firm teaches how to recognize and improve conditions on your course that are slowing the pace of play. The firm has developed a software program, Pace Manager Computer Program, that simulates pace of play conditions on a computer. The program can demonstrate the starting of groups at any time interval desired, so that the course manager can see where and how long backups will occur for each group throughout the day. It can also illustrate the varying effects on pace of play of starter's times, handicaps, hole lengths, obstacles, cart policy, cart path location, and distance from green to tee. The firm's Pace Manager Program gives managers the information needed to adopt policies that will maximize use of the course without overcrowding it, and a trained staff with the experience and ability to maintain the desired pace of play. For information, call (310) 791-7348. Or write to William Yates & Associates, 4804 Elmdale Dr., Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274.
LINKSTIME
Linkstime, designed by Jaime Coleman, is a battery-operated timer that can be programmed with each hole's time par and attached to a golf cart or bag. The "par timer" is 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 3/4" and successively displays each hole number and its custom time par. The time par display counts down so players always knows how much time is left on a hole.
The par timer enables golfers to be self-policing and even rate themselves against the pace of play the course has set. The timer can be pre-set to begin at any hole, enabling its use for shotgun starts or for restarts after a weather delay. A player pushes a start button to activate the timer when the group tees off on its starting hole. The timer also carries more than one program, allowing the starter to change any time par in case of bad weather or adverse course conditions.
When attached to a cart, the timer is placed on a bracket mounted to the back of the roof, in plain view of players as they withdraw clubs from their bags. The units are available for purchase or for seasonal leasing. For information, call Jaime Coleman at (603) 672-9337. Or write to him at Linkstime, Inc., 113 Ponemah Rd., Amherst, NH 03031.
A TIME AWARENESS PROGRAM (ATAP) FOR GOLF
ATAP For Golf, developed and owned by Joe E. Elliott, supplies materials and training for on-course monitoring of slow play by your course's greeter, starter, and marshal or ranger. The basic program includes:
Manual for marshal/ranger: "How To Accurately Monitor Golf Play;"
Computer-generated grid that lets a marshal track the progress of each group on the course. Highlighted is the group's scheduled departure time from every green;
Play observation worksheets and slow play reporting forms;
Tee time card for golf cart. It shows the course's pace of play for 18 holes, the group's starting time, and the times at which it should finish 9 and 18 holes;
Pace of play signs, to be posted in the pro shop or club house, first tee and tenth tee, displaying the course's pace of play for 18 holes.
In addition to the basic materials, ATAP For Golf offers custom, on-site training in the use of the materials for your course's greeter, starter, and marshal. For
information, call (214) 233-2827; fax (214) 233-8846. Or write to ATAP for Golf Company, P.O. Box 835851, Richardson, TX 75083.
TARGET TEE TIMER
Target Tee Timer, by Rogerson Designs, is a two part, cardboard or plastic calculator wheel that can be given to each group. The outside wheel shows clock time, with 12 o'clock at the top. The inside wheel shows a start arrow alongside 18 hole numbers. The group lines up the start arrow on its starting tee time. This automatically aligns each hole number with its finishing time. For example, if the USGA Pace Rating is 4 hours and the start arrow points to 10 a.m., then hole 18 will be pointing at 2 p.m. A standardized version of the wheel is based on finishing each hole in 13.33 minutes or 15 minutes (two scales). A custom wheel is based on actual time pars, giving each golf hole its own starting time. Both the front and back of the Tee Timer could be used for advertising. For more information, call 1-800-854-5518; in Virginia, call (703) 476-8087. Or write to Zeb Rogerson,Rogerson Designs, 11490 Commerce Park Dr., Suite 220, Reston, VA 22091.
AUTOMATIC MARSHAL
Automatic Marshal, by Matthews Communication Systems, Inc., is a remote tracking system. A portable, low power transmitter is attached to a golf cart or bag. The transmitter broadcasts its identification number every 10 seconds to a receiving computer in the pro shop. Additional transmitting units on each tee detect the approach of a cart or walker within 100 feet. If a group falls behind its programmed pace, an alarm sounds on the pro shop computer, whose display screen shows the group's hole location. A marshal can be sent to investigate. For more information, call (512) 328-1516; fax (512) 328-1581. Or write to Gordon Matthews, Matthews Communication Systems, Inc., 100 Westlake Dr., Austin, TX 78746.
BENCHMARK CARDS
Benchmark Cards, by William C. Bitting, is a time reminder for players. On one side of the card is the time goal for reaching each tee: "5 in 45," meaning fifth tee in 45 minutes, and "9 in 90," meaning ninth tee in 90 minutes. The reverse side of the card can be customized with a message or advertising. Bitting devised the cards using a software spreadsheet program. The times described are customized for St. Louis Country Club, where he is a member. Bitting said he would be pleased to share his methodology with other courses. For information, call him at (314) 569-3941. Or write to him at 1021 Darwick Ct., St. Louis, MO 63132.
CART WATCH, INC.
Cart Watch electronically monitors the movement and location of golf carts, and sends messages or warnings to players on a display screen attached to the cowling of the cart. Regular features of the display are the time of day and the hole number. The microprocessor controlling the display can be customized to display such information as time par, elapsed time, or time remaining on the hole. As a cart's elapsed time on a hole approaches or reaches time par for the hole, a customized message can appear on the display, and an audio signal, such as a beep or steady chirp can be emitted to warn the golfer that time has elapsed on that hole.
The Cart Watch system uses loops of wiring installed in the vicinity of cart paths, greens, or tees, that are connected to above-ground, solar-powered transmitters. As a cart drives into a wired area, the transmitter sends a signal to the receiving microprocessor in the cart, which can then begin to display the programmable
information about time par, elapsed time, etc. The receiving microprocessor works off the electrical system of the cart, whether it is primarily a gasoline or electric cart.
In addition to monitoring pace of play, the Cart Watch system protects restricted areas of the course from cart traffic. When a cart drives too close to a restricted area, such as a green or tee box, a warning message appears on the in-cart display, and other, customizable warning signals, such as beeps or sirens sound. Small halogen strobe lights on the front of the receiver can also be activated, alerting the course marshal to the violation.
At the end of the round, the information in the cart's microprocessor can be quickly downloaded to the course's personal computer, allowing management to analyze such data as the total time of the round and the number of times the cart entered restricted areas. For more information, call (203) 763-3581. Or write to Cart Watch, Inc., 157 Moody Rd., Enfield, CT 06083.
HOEL CLOCKS AND PACE PRO
Hoel Clocks. A set of Hoel Clocks consists of 18 timing devices <197> one for each tee. A Hoel Clock is divided into 6, 7, or 8 numbered brackets. As a group tees off, it takes note of the numbered bracket to which the clock hand on the first tee is pointing. At the second tee, if the clock's hand is pointing to the same-numbered bracket, the group is on pace. If the hand is pointing to a higher-numbered bracket, the pace is too slow; or, if pointing to a lower-numbered bracket, faster than expected. For example, a group tees off with the hand pointing to the number 3 bracket. When the group reaches the second tee, the hand on that clock is still pointing to the number 3 bracket. The group's pace is correct. When the group reaches the fifth tee, the hand on that clock is pointing to the number 4 bracket. The group has fallen behind and needs to catch up. Your course decides, based on the number of groups that ordinarily tee off each hour, whether to purchase clocks with 6, 7, or 8 brackets. The time spent in a bracket is synchronized with the time pars for the course. You control the settings for your clocks.
Pace Pro is a timing device that attaches to the steering post of a golf cart. A pointer is set to the first tee as a group starts its round. The holes for the course are diagrammed along the circumference of the timer. As play progresses, the pointer moves along the diagram of each hole, at a pace equal to the time par for the hole. A quick glance reminds the players where they should be at all times. For example, if a group arrives at the 16th tee when the pointer is at the 16th green, the group knows it is behind and by how much. The face of each Pace Pro is custom-designed specifically for your course. The holes are properly timed and proportioned to fit your pace and layout. The face can be customized to identify your course or organization.
For more information call 1-800-949-1109 or (in Arizona) (602) 863-1233; fax (602) 993-4635. Or write to Complete Golf Services Co., 2410 W. Evans Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85023.
FAST PLAY SYSTEM
Fast Play System, by Play Time, allows your course to reward golfers for finishing a round in the recommended time <197> at no cost to the course. Fast Play System places national/regional/local promotional advertising, plus a digital clock, on an acrylic sleeve attached to the golf cart. Inside the sleeve, your course places a pace awareness card which has been custom-prepared by Fast Play System. Printed on the card is the starting time for the group, as well as the time at which the group should finish holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18. As the round proceeds, the players will check the time of day on the digital clock, then check their pace against the time targets shown on the card for every third hole.
The card may contain tear-off redemptions or other discount offers for pro shop or other merchandise. A group which finishes its round in the recommended pace would receive the card itself or its tear-off portion for use in receiving the redemptions and discounts.
The pace information shown on the card is completely custom for your course. Supplies of cards are sent to the course quarterly. The cards are packaged in one-day sets. That is, a set of cards contains a card for each tee time during the day, according to the start time intervals at your course. As a group checks in, its card is placed into the cart sleeve. The sleeve is 7" x 9". The digital clock is 3-1/2" in diameter.
Fast Play System provides training to course personnel on how to use the pace awareness cards. Fast Play System costs your course nothing when the sleeves and cards contain promotional advertising. Fees apply if your course prefers no ads.
For more information, call (404) 435-9904; fax (404) 435-9922. Or write to Fast Play System, Play Time, 2738 South Cobb. Ind. Blvd., Smyrna, GA 30082.
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