It is widely recognized that reinforcing awareness of pace among those groups inclined to drift off the pace-of-play standard others expect of them is the single most important factor in improving playing times. But an often overlooked fact is that even faster players want/need to know what the pace is. On the course, I would often get asked by these groups, “How are we doing?” Because we had a system (albeit a manual one in those days), I already knew how they were doing, but usually I started off by saying, “If you’re asking – you’re probably doing just fine.” And they always were. Because by merely asking, they had displayed Pace Awareness.

However, even fast players – once lost in the golf “zone”, and not sure of their exact starting time, and probably not wearing a watch, and frankly not really caring about doing arithmetic on every hole, when they have more urgent needs to attend to (like getting a little white ball into a tiny hole) – can get confused about pace. Often we have had a phone call from, say, the 14th green with a complaint about terribly slow play, and just as often we find that they are actually right on time or maybe just a few minutes over. Very few players (even the faster ones) know exactly what the pace is. After 3-4 hours all they see is the group in front of them struggling along and – depending on how things are going in their own group – all sorts of false perceptions may be created (“How come the marshal isn’t moving that group up there” or “We’re on our way to a 5-1/2 hour round for sure”, etc).

If, on the other hand, the exact pace is always known, then these players have the information necessary to come to more reasonable conclusions like, “Well, we’re not getting around as fast as yesterday, but we’re only 5 minutes over” or “That group in front is sure having their problems, but at least they’re keeping it moving”. Having reliable pace information can change the entire way a round of golf is perceived and enjoyed. Unfortunately, many otherwise fine golf operations, but without a real-time pace-of-play system, inevitably allow many good players to slam their car trunks and leave the property with a bad taste in their mouth because they are convinced the pace was much slower than it actually was.

As you know, the golf “product” is an experience, not a tangible gizmo you take away with you, complete with a one-year warranty. As such, it is surprisingly easy to diminish it or spoil it entirely. The On-Pace GPS system can guarantee that the efforts you are making in all aspects of your operation are not needlessly compromised. Intelligent and unobtrusive real-time pace-of-play management improves pace-of-play and clearly demonstrates to your guests that you care, and that your intention is to provide only the best golf experience.