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Bonanza Photo - Emma Garrard Chris Barley drives a golf cart with a newly installed GPS system at the Championship Golf Course Thursday afternoon.
The decision by the Incline General Improvement District board of trustees last spring to install a Global Positioning System (GPS) on its Championship Course carts has resulted in a mostly positive response by those who have used it since the system became operational at the beginning of the month.
The system, which cost the district about $250,000, features everything from distance to the pin, to club suggestion to preferred angle and wind velocity - and helps regulate pace of play.
Canada-based GPS Industries installed the system and have been working to "tweak" it during its first few months of operation officials said.
The system, which cost the district about $250,000, features everything from distance to the pin, to club suggestion to preferred angle and wind velocity - and helps regulate pace of play.
Canada-based GPS Industries installed the system and have been working to "tweak" it during its first few months of operation officials said.
Incline resident Chuck Otto said that he has used the system three times and thinks it's "terrific."
"It's really quickened the pace of play, which is what was intended," Otto said. "The screen tells you if you're on schedule or if you're legging. It's quite phenomenal."
Otto added that there is one "glitch" he's become aware of.
"The distances to the pin can read inaccurately," Otto said. "But it seems that can be ironed out. They're still a great management tool for the course."
"It's really quickened the pace of play, which is what was intended," Otto said. "The screen tells you if you're on schedule or if you're legging. It's quite phenomenal."
Otto added that there is one "glitch" he's become aware of.
"The distances to the pin can read inaccurately," Otto said. "But it seems that can be ironed out. They're still a great management tool for the course."
IVGID trustee Gene Brockman said he hasn't had a chance to play with the new system yet, but has heard a lot of positives.
"I saw it demonstrated and at the beginning, I know there were doubters," Brockman said. "Now even the doubters seem convinced that it was a great investment."
One golfer who remains skeptical is Bob Sendall who plays using his own laser range finder.
"I think (the new GPS) is pretty inaccurate and I wonder when that's going to be fixed." Sendall said. "I've used this system at other courses without this problem... that's why I used my own range finder (at the Championship Course) It seems more accurate.
"I saw it demonstrated and at the beginning, I know there were doubters," Brockman said. "Now even the doubters seem convinced that it was a great investment."
One golfer who remains skeptical is Bob Sendall who plays using his own laser range finder.
"I think (the new GPS) is pretty inaccurate and I wonder when that's going to be fixed." Sendall said. "I've used this system at other courses without this problem... that's why I used my own range finder (at the Championship Course) It seems more accurate.
Director of golf Cathy Jo Johnson is quick to point out that there's no "glitch" in the system and that all the inaccuracies will eventually be worked out.
"We only put this system into operation not even two weeks ago," Johnson said. "We are still on a learning curve and like any new technology, it takes a while to customize it to our needs."
Johnson said that most all the reactions to the new system has been positive.
"We've haven't even begun to tap the potential and I know in time, as staff learn and become more familiar with it, everyone will just love it," Johnson said. "We just need to tweak it a bit to our particular needs."
"We only put this system into operation not even two weeks ago," Johnson said. "We are still on a learning curve and like any new technology, it takes a while to customize it to our needs."
Johnson said that most all the reactions to the new system has been positive.
"We've haven't even begun to tap the potential and I know in time, as staff learn and become more familiar with it, everyone will just love it," Johnson said. "We just need to tweak it a bit to our particular needs."
