Findings of a National Golf Foundation study indicate that four out of five private club members believe an enhanced driving range with technology is far superior to a standard range. One participant stated, “the difference is night and day.”

The future of the driving range at clubs and resorts has arrived sooner than imagined, according to a recent study conducted by the National Golf Foundation (NGF) on behalf of Toptracer. 

Study findings indicate that four out of five private club members believe an enhanced driving range with technology is far superior to a standard range. One participant stated, “the difference is night and day.” 

More than 70% of prospective club members identified enhanced driving ranges as their most sought-after amenity when choosing a club, even pushing the desired amenity ahead of fitness centers and swimming pools. 

In addition, nearly 70% of current club members would trade at least one amenity for an enhanced driving range. Simply put, nearly half of members and prospective members believe a technology-enhanced driving range will be a “must have” amenity in private clubs within the next five years. 

Toptracer technology is leading the way in the “upgraded range experience” and attracting new and younger golfers to the game. Therefore, countless clubs are utilizing Toptracer technology on their ranges and highlighting it in their marketing collateral.  

The impact of improving a facility’s driving range goes way beyond recruitment in a competitive marketplace. When surveying current Toptracer Range clubs and resorts, the results were clear: the technology helped to enhance members’ overall satisfaction, increased non-dues revenue, such as F&B and merchandise sales, and reduced member attrition.  

“Members and prospective members alike want the most up-to-date amenities at their club,” said Ben Sharpe, Toptracer President. “The fact that Toptracer Range increases facilities’ ROI across a variety of revenue streams, including new member recruitment, existing member retention, and F&B sales, won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but now we have the data to prove it. These survey results confirm the demand for and value of this kind of technology, reinforcing our position as the No. 1 range technology in golf.”  

It goes without saying that clubs and resorts around the nation must continuously look at enhancing their facilities to stay competitive. That is why the finest clubs and resorts in the country look to Toptracer technology for an advantage.  

Here are a few recent examples of premiere facilities turning to Toptracer Range for its driving range technological enhancements:

The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe (Calif.) recently installed Toptracer Range technology at its facilities, bringing what was once considered an exclusive training tool for the pros, to its membership. As Stephen Gibson, CEO at the facility stated, “We chose Toptracer Range because it’s the ultimate practice tool that offers all the data our members need to improve their game. More importantly, we wanted to ensure our members had access to the most innovative and state-of-the-art technology available.”   

Led by PGA Tour player and Callaway Ambassador Emiliano Grillo, the launch featured a mini clinic with demo stations to educate members on the technology, and friendly competitions. The event allowed members to enjoy hands-on support and education on how to use Toptracer technology along with resulting data to enhance their game. 

Since installation, there has been a marked uptick in practice, bringing members to the facility more frequently. From the player development perspective, students can work on yardage gapping, randomize practice, and understand their proximity to the hole from all distances.  

Most players want to improve their game on the course. Toptracer Range brings the golf course to the driving range with Toptracer30. This feature highlights strengths and opportunities for improvement, allowing the player to work on improvement in areas that may be holding them back.  

The Bridges members using Toptracer Range cannot stop talking about its unique features and stat tracking capabilities. They have a greater understanding of the areas where improvement is needed and can narrow in on practices sessions to address these areas.

Famed for the Avenue of Oaks, a half-mile canopy of century-old, moss-draped live oaks termed “South Carolina coast’s version of Magnolia Lane,” Belfair in Bluffton, S.C. is among the finest golf facilities in the country. 

Like many other premiere facilities in the U.S., Belfair recently installed Toptracer Range to enhance amenities and further engage their membership. This technology has transformed the driving range into a centerpiece all its own.

Members receive lessons from Assistant Golf Professional Austin Webb, who familiarizes them on the usage and benefits of Toptracer. Its unmatched game modes as an entertainment feature, the huge success of a Closest-to-Pin at St Andrews simulation at the Belfair’s Men’s Invitational, and an approach skills challenge as part of their recent Mixed Couple’s event, has led to 80% of all upcoming events to feature Toptracer.  

At the convergence of Noyack and Little Peconic Bays in Eastern Long Island, N.Y., Noyac Golf Club is a prominent club near famed Sag Harbor, N.Y. A hidden gem for many years, Noyac recently gained notoriety for its extensive renovation, which included upgrading its practice facility to feature Toptracer technology. Pat Gunning, the facility’s Head Golf Professional, wanted to create a similarly high-level experience on the range to what members enjoyed in the performance center. 

“We wanted to give our members an opportunity to practice with a purpose,” Gunning says. “Toptracer technology makes the range experience better and brings added value to our members. Beyond the superior training data and accuracy only Toptracer can provide, we are discovering how Toptracer technology can serve as a platform for competition, too. We can stage games on a weekly basis, and members look forward to that challenge, seeing the practice facility as a destination just as much as the course itself.” 

To learn more about the benefits of Toptracer Range, go to www.toptracer.com/range or contact Shaun Hansen, Regional Sales Director at [email protected] or 949-547-7654.

Matt Kilgariff is a PGA professional who spent much of his career working for Butch Harmon and the Harmon Family. He is currently the Director of Player Development at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Prior to joining The Bridges, Kilgariff was Director of Player Development at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Matt has also been part of TaylorMade’s National Advisory Staff since 2012.