Westchester Country Club has taken another step to increase pace of play through a new golf course intelligence system. The new feature at the Rye club is Tagmarshal, which uses sophisticated geo-tagging and algorithms to consistently speed rounds by 15 to 17 minutes.
“Tagmarshal is an easy-to-implement ‘game-changer’ for us, shaping next-level member experiences,” says Ben Hoffhine, Director of Golf at WCC. “Averting player bottlenecks and improving performance with actionable data are testaments to the effectiveness of Tagmarshal technology.” Superintendents also use Tagmarshal data to better manage pin placements, wear patterns, and hole set-ups.
The system isn’t something players will usually be aware of — unless they fall behind! A caddie in each foursome will carry a small tracking device that will send location data to servers that will let club management know where each group is on the course, how fast they’re playing, and whether they’re being held up by a group ahead, among other information. A similar device will be on carts.
A recent USGA survey shows 74% of players believe appropriate speed is critical to enjoyment of their rounds. Championship courses that have installed the system include Carnoustie, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, East Lake, and Valhalla.
“Tagmarshal’s success at Westchester Country Club, one of the nation’s most renowned layouts, further shows it is invaluable for private clubs looking to provide exceptional golf experiences,” says Bodo Sieber, CEO of Tagmarshal. “Our platform is affordable for courses of all types and the data it provides turns pace into a revenue-generator.”
