Let’s face it, there are golfers for whom green grass, blue skies, and an occasional birdie just aren’t enough to keep them engaged with the game. If you’re one of those golfers looking for a little more entertainment, check out the Shark Experience at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, NY. It takes riding in a golf cart in directions your grandfather never imagined.
It all came from the fertile entrepreneurial mind of Greg Norman, a.k.a. the “White Shark,” who happened to win 90 times on tour before retiring to build a business empire around the game. Norman teamed up with Verizon, Club Car, and GPSI, a producer of golf GPS technology, to produce golf carts outfitted with a touchscreen that streams music, live sports and highlights, and other audio and video programming. If you can tear yourself away from the entertainment long enough to take a swing at a golf ball, it will also give you above-average GPS information for the hole you’re playing.
The Shark Experience carts are equipped with specially designed BOSE speakers that let you enjoy your music, news, and sports without intruding on other golfers who may be in the vicinity. The speakers are angled to direct the sound at the driver and passenger in the cart.
“This solution enhances the golfer experience and is customizable to each individual’s preference,” Norman says. “Whether you are a Baby Boomer, Millennial, or Gen Z, Shark Experience has something to keep you entertained, connected and having fun.”
A side benefit is improving pace of play, according to Mansion Ridge general manager Patrick Wynn. “The technology allows us to monitor the position of every golf cart on the course in real time,” he says, “so we can spot bottlenecks as they occur and hopefully clear them up before play gets bogged down for everyone.”
The golf course at Mansion Ridge is pretty entertaining by itself. The daily fee gem about thirty minutes from Westchester boasts a sporty 72.7 rating/140 slope from the 6,662-yard championship tees. There are a great variety of short and long, straight and dog-legged, uphill and downhill holes with spectacular views and well-placed hazards to keep your mind in the game with or without the Shark Experience.
