Information
Technology is making a significant presence in an industry I previously wouldn’t
have expected. IT has found its way into the world of golf and the Professional
Golf Association (PGA Tour) is taking full advantage of its benefits to improve
the game so many people love to be a part of.
The typical golf player might not recognize how IT could be impacting
the way they play, but behind the scenes IT allows for an overall enhanced
experience in multiple ways. The use of
Wi-Fi, GPS, and LED screens are making this all possible.
Ever wonder how golf courses manage
the large areas of land they occupy?
Between cutting and watering grass for maintenance alone, there is a lot
of work to be done. One golf resort in
Miami decided to connect “a new irrigation system to the resort’s IP network,
allowing the grounds staff to centrally manage the watering schedule”
(BizTech). By having an automated type
of system, it makes management a whole lot easier. The only negative here is if everything is
hooked up to a single network system and it crashes, it isn’t easy to recover
and get things up and running quickly. The
resort’s director of IT discussed how it is even possible to change these
settings from wherever you are, whether you are at home or on the road. This is crucial for golf’s biggest enemy: the
weather. Weather can kill or make your
day out on the course, so IT can be a huge factor in allowing people to make
management decisions. Keep in mind, you
need properly working Wi-Fi or a cellular connection to do so.
GPS systems and LED screens are
also being used to improve the golf experience.
Resort’s are able to keep track of where every cart out on the course is
since they can be connected to Wi-Fi and cellular networks. This can be a huge help in terms of keeping groups
separated from each other so that the course runs smoothly and players don’t
get backed up. The LED screens installed
on carts are used to communicate between players and the resort. From being able to notify players about
incoming weather, to ordering food, or to display a map of the upcoming hole,
an LED screen utilizes text-message alerts and graphics to make your golf
experience more satisfying. Again, this
technology is dependent upon the the connectivity of the Wi-Fi and cellular
networks
The PGA tour has also taken the
Wi-Fi application a step further for its big, sponsored events. Essentially, by setting up several Wi-Fi
access points for all the fans in attendance everyone there can be connected to
basically everything going on at the tournament. This includes scores, pictures, and
events/food/drinks provided at the venues.
In conclusion, the business aspect
of golf is drastically changing because of IT.
Technology such as Wi-Fi, GPS systems, and LED screens are making things
more efficient and user friendly for both the business and personal user.
Sources-
Multi-Media of IT in Action-- GPS system on Golf Cart:
CityPortStLucie.
"New GPS Equipped Golf Carts at The Saints." YouTube. Web. 05
Oct. 2015.
Smith,
Brian. "Golf Courses Use Wi-Fi, GPS and Mobile Devices to Enhance
Operations." BizTech. BizTechMag. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
Although IT is very useful in almost everything, I don’t think that it will have a significant enough effect in the game of Golf to the point where it will be implicated in golf courses around the U.S. Sure it seems it would help people find holes much easier and provide solid services for technology usage, but most people enjoy the casual cruising around and running into an interesting course. Usually when people go golfing its to relax and get away from the use of their technology now with this it will only bring them back into the life they needed a break from. Also communication between carts has been easy and successful over time so why change now? it would just be a minor improvement at a major cost. The only upside I see for the IT in carts would be Cart tracking in which It would involve a reduction in expenses because it would allow the golf course employer to rid of employers whom patrol the courses and end up saving money in the long run.
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