Equipment
Tagmarshal: A GPS system that can curb slow play
Pace of play has become one of the biggest issues in the golf industry today. Many golfers just don’t have an extra four to six hours in their schedule to spend on the course, which not only hurts participation but course revenues as well.
One emerging solution is Tagmarshal, a computer-based GPS system that tracks the pace of any group on the course. Developed in South Africa, the field management system will be made available to courses in the United States by the end of September.
It is currently being used at many of South Africa’s top courses including Westlake, Mowbray and The Wanderers, and works one of two ways:
- A matchbox-sized tracking device is clipped on to one of the carts/bags in each foursome. The device signals back to the managing computer or tablet in the golf shop, starters desk or on-course ranger the position and pace of each foursome.
- One or more members of the foursome downloads the free Tagmarshal app for iPhone or Android. The app then taps into the location services of the device and signals to the managing computer or tablet the position of the group.
In addition to the pace-of-play alert system, the Tagmarshal app also includes a rangefinder, live scoring and leaderboard, as well as the ability to communicate with the halfway house and pro shop. Future versions of the app will include innovative ways to make tracking and improving pace of play more social for participating clubs and golfers.
Similar versions of GPS tracking of groups have existed for many years on golf carts, but they have always been limited to just groups with carts. Tagmarshal is the first system that can help management track all groups on the course, including those that are walking.
The system also learns the unique pace of each course where it is implemented. It will send alerts to the golf shop, starter or ranger if a group is behind pace, allowing management to quickly and effectively diffuse any situations that arise. It gives management concrete data to show the offending group, preventing any disputes about pace from the group.
If your course is looking for a way to attract more members and corporate events, a faster pace of play can be a great attraction for many golfers. The rumor of a fast pace of play will spread around the area very quickly, and give your course a great reputation and a greater number of rounds.
Want to create more successful events? Imagine a scramble where each group uses the live scoring feature, and can see their current standing hole-by-hole!
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- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
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Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)
Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)...
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Trevor
Nov 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm
I see the word “social” in the article and that scares the crap out of me. Please dear god leave golf OUT OF ANYTHING ‘social’ media related. Just what we don’t need is people having the ability to do anything that distracts them from the immediate game at hand.
J W
Sep 17, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Devices like this have much potential in reducing the slow play that affects every course. Marshalls seldom have the backing they need to enforce the pace of play rule, at my home course when a marshall speaks to a group because theyre playing from the back tees and holding everyone up, they complain at the pro shop and whammo, the marshall gets fired…… Whats up with that BS?
mike
Sep 11, 2013 at 6:38 pm
love the idea but not holding my breath. wish I knew the solution. 5 hour rounds are bad and 6 hour rounds just can’t be tolerated yet they happen. we all love the game so we complain but just keep playing @ places where this is allowed. wake up!
toby
Sep 1, 2013 at 7:44 am
if this system gives me a quick round without the usual frustration I am 100% in favor! Bring it on!
bigdaddy
Sep 1, 2013 at 2:11 am
Not carrying it on my bag and not on my phone, this is already being done at some courses i play and its already on the cart with a big screen tellin you your distances pace of play a d scorecard. Little late to the party…
Miro
Sep 1, 2013 at 7:57 am
I play at three courses that are not cart based. Very keen to see it there!
STFU
Aug 31, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Who says pace of play is an issue? It ain’t for me. I look forward to my time on the course, out in the nature, with the friends and family. Now big brother wants to invade my space? How about I smash this little plastic piece of $hit and call it an errant golf ball? Are u kidding me? Look , here’s the facts kids. The golf industry ain’t never gonna produce the returns that it used to. Period. Accept it and move on. As someone said, you want to pack the courses with players…..its gonna slow things down. You wanna speed things up, space out times, have the Marshall make his presence known but not so much that he’ll be annoying.
Deaus7
Aug 31, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Why not just implant RFID chips? Waste of time and money. I wouldnt wear that crap so a marshal can track my progress on the course.
Jim
Aug 31, 2013 at 4:12 am
pace of play is a serious issue, but… If a course gives me one of these and they just let out a fivesome 8 minutes before my twosome, with a scheduled tee time, I’m going to put that thing on a tee instead of a ball.
Is it that hard for courses to put some sort of a censor working as a sort of checkpoint for golfers and if someone is lagging behind a marshal will specifically know who and by how much and go resolve the problem, professionally of course.
kevin
Sep 1, 2013 at 12:34 am
Don’t think a twosome have any rights unless it’s a slow day for the course. Twosome should always be paired up with one other or two before starting unless the course is not packed. Its very unfair when a foursome is playing and having their rounds interrupted by letting twosomes pass through all day.
Melville
Sep 1, 2013 at 3:45 pm
at least you will be able to find the tracker once you hit it off the tee!
sounds to me like this is what the system does though. notify marshals who is off the pace. No place to hide for slow players! Sounds good to me
Po
Aug 31, 2013 at 3:17 am
What a useless and pointless piece of equipment this is.
Jeff
Aug 31, 2013 at 2:32 am
So what if my playing partners and I do not bring our cellphones to the course? I know for one that I’m not letting my phone battery die to use this app (tracking device) and in all honesty I leave my phone in my car because the whole point of golf is to get away from that nuisance for a little while. I figure the answer would be, “I’m sorry sir, you are not allowed to play at our esteemed course without it.” Which would be absolute garbage and possibly drive people away. Just my 2 cents.
Craig (Tagmarshal)
Sep 1, 2013 at 1:35 am
Jeff, good observation. If you don’t have a cellphone or hate the distraction of carrying it, you (or one of the members in your playing group) would be issued a small tag to clip to your bag. A win win for both parties. You are free to enjoy the great outdoors whilst course management maintain a healthy pace as painlessly as possible.
Mark
Aug 30, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Too bad it’s not always the golfer. The greedy golf courses that pack too many tee time and allow 5-somes. You’re not gonna play in 3 hours if you step in the tee and there is a group on every tee box, fairway, and green from 1 to 18 already.
Steve (Tagmarshal)
Aug 30, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Good point Mark. Improving golfers’ experience is also a big goal of ours and so we could notify clubs if the system detected that they were overloading their field.
We could also look into sharing info with interested golfers on their course’s stats: making it a two way process might be an interesting way to encourage both golfers and courses to curb slow play.
yo!
Aug 30, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I don’t go back to those golf courses.
AJ Jensen
Aug 30, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Just combine this thing with a shock collar and you’ll have an invention that would benefit mankind for generations
Julian
Aug 30, 2013 at 1:24 pm
And a way to count strokes… so it would shock you when you are lining up a 3 footer for a 12.
Steve (Tagmarshal)
Aug 30, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I’ll propose it to the team for v2.0. We could make the 3rd shock deadly – 3 strikes and you’re out – a great way to thin out the field.
These comments are my own, and do not necessarily represent the official position of Tagmarshal.