The Boston-area startup uses the tags to give courses an overhead view of what’s going on across hundreds of acres in real-time, while also collecting historical data to help identify areas of improvement. Operators can use the information to notify golfers that they are playing too slowly, for example, and identify gaps between groups and help marshals facilitate a better pace.
David Vanslette is CEO and co-founder of FairwayIQ, a Boston-area startup that wants to help golf course operators and maintenance staff be more efficient, GeekWire reported.
The 2-year-old company has developed “smart tags” that connect golfers, caddies, carts, flagsticks, maintenance equipment, and staff together on a private network. The idea is to give courses an air traffic control-like overhead view of what’s going on across hundreds of acres in real-time, while also collecting historical data to help identify areas of improvement, GeekWire reported.
The tags on golfers, caddies, and carts can help operators see exactly where they are on the course, surfacing pace of play data for each group. Operators can use the information to notify golfers that they are playing too slow, for example. FairwayIQ can also identify gaps between groups and help marshals facilitate a better pace, GeekWire reported.
The golfers themselves can also use the tags to see distance to the pin and estimated time of round completion. Using the same tag technology, there are also applications for course maintenance like being able to track mower location and paths, GeekWire reported.
“The tags send location data based upon movement of everything on the golf course,” Vanslette said. “We take that data and predict problems before they occur.”
There are more advanced data points FairwayIQ plans to track and collect, like the speed of individual greens or incorporating weather into its analytics. The company has also developed an app both for golfers themselves and the course operators, who can be notified about certain issues based on the data coming in, GeekWire reported.
On the player side, Vanslette said private clubs can use the app to engage members by sending them relevant, personalized information. “We are really all about improving the experience for the players, ultimately,” Vanslette said.
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