by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
There’s no doubting technology has made an impression on golf as much as anything. High-tech golf balls and clubs have allowed even the most average of golfer to hit it like Tiger Woods – every now and then.
Watching golf has become high-tech, too. For years, golf analysts and even reporters on the course had to make educated guesses as to yardages and clubs the pros used to hit shots. Through an advancement called “Shot Link” announcers now know to the yard how far a golfer hit it or how far they have to the pin.
Attending golf was tough, too. Unless you got a premium seat or camped out for a while, a tournament was more frustration than enjoyment. Fans standing six or eight deep held up little sticks with scopes in an effort to see play.
The Stadium Course began to change how America watched golf. Opened in 1980 and built by golf course architect Pete Dye, the Stadium Course was the first to use “stadium seating,” which were natural mounds scattered behind tee boxes and greens all over the course.
When The Players tees it up May 10, it will be the first to bring a version of Shot Link to the fans.
“It’s a hand-held device that fans will be able to rent,” said Brian Goin, executive director of The Players. “It will fit in your palm and it will be tied to Shot Link. It will have information and scores and you’ll be able to ask it questions.”
The Players draws about 25,000 fans a day. Goin said there won’t be 25,000 of the devices available, but there will be several thousands that will go for $20 a day.
“It will be interesting to see what happens,” he said, adding there will also be 22 boards all over the course with the same information available to fans. Several kiosks will also be set up where fans can access everything from how far Tiger hit his tee shot on No. 16 to where Phil Mickelson is on the course that very second.
“The technology available this year is awesome,” said Goin, adding the devices will also be available to fans during the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds.
While this may seem as high-tech as watching golf can get, Goin said he expects things to get even better in the future.
“We will keep trying to take steps, but this is a big step,” he said. “We want to stay on the leading edge of technology.”
In addition to the new technology, fans attending this year’s tournament will see a renovated course, new parking and, of course, a brand new $32 million, 770,000 square-foot clubhouse.
“Most importantly, we want the fans to be able to find the players they want to find,” said Goin. “We want them to be able to know who’s on the range hitting balls.”
The 2006 Players winner Stephen Ames was in town Monday to meet with the local media and to hold a conference call with several Canadian media outlets. Ames is from Trinidad, but lives in Calgary. Ames shot -14 last year to win by six strokes over Retief Goosen. He called The Players the “fifth major” and said he liked the changes made to the course. Several holes have been lengthened and subtle changes have been made to many of the greens.
“They are good changes,” he said. “If we played this time of year, when it’s wetter, the course would be too long. In May, the ball will run out because it will be drier. Overall, they are fair changes.”
Ames said winning last year’s tournament in convincing fashion has given him the confidence to know he can compete with the best golfers in the world. What about successfully defending, something that hasn’t been done since the tournament moved to the Stadium Course?
“I will prepare well, but I can’t predict if I’ll win,” he said. “If I could do that, I could stay home and play the lottery.”