Arabian Ranches buys 90 GPS systems

The GPS systems have been installed on the fleet of Club Cars, the golf carts at Arabian Ranches.

UK based GolfPlus manufactures a GPS system designed as a golfing distance measuring aid. "Have you ever wondered how people estimate the distance between the ball and the hole on a golf course?" asked Mr. Geoff Gladstone, Club Car General Manager at Hydroturf International. "The Golf Plus system informs golfers of the exact distance of their ball to the green." He went on to say, "Golfers want all the help they can get to improve their play and reduce their scores - GolfPlus helps fulfil these aims."

"GolfPlus is a small screen mounted on the Club Car's canopy in view of the driver and passenger. It is like a virtual caddy it provides precise, constantly updated information displayed on the full colour screen, profiling the hole you are playing, the distance remaining to the centre of the green and the key hazards. The system is extremely user friendly and totally automatic. Each golfer can obtain all of the distance information that they require, without touching the unit. It is accurate to +/- 3 metres." Additional playing tips and messages are displayed to help players and enhance their enjoyment.

How do golfers without GolfPlus estimate this distance? "Traditionally, water sprinkler heads have been identified with fixed yardages to the green. The golfers use this distance to estimate the distance of the green from their own ball" Gladstone explained. "The driver of the Club Car had to locate the nearest sprinkler head for his own ball, as well as his playing partner's ball. This slows overall play and places more wear and tear on both the golf course turf and Club Car."

The GolfPlus system is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and North America. Arabian Ranches is the first golf club in the Middle East region to adopt this innovation. The Golf Course also benefits from advertising income from corporate ads appearing between the time the golfer finishes on the green, to when he starts at the next tee.

"We wanted to enhance the game for the golfers by installing the GolfPlus system on all our Club Cars. There will be no fee to the golfer to use this system," said Mr. Peter Yeo from Arabian Ranches. "Being the first course in the Middle East to install GolfPlus systems gives Arabian Ranches the edge in this highly competitive market in the UAE and surrounding region."