SKYTEK uses drones
like these to collect
vast amounts of data on
course conditions.
Mark Jackson is like a lot of golf course
managers. He wants to use new technology
products that can help his business. But he
doesn’t want to be on the bleeding edge.
;e division manager for Davey Golf
is a long-time superintendent who now
oversees operations for several facilities.
His company is beta-testing a cloud-based
so;ware called OnLink for labor tracking
and other key uses.
“We think the [workers] will like see-
ing their name on the screen,” he said. “We
think it will be awesome.”
But Jackson is still cautious, using it at
only one course this year. ;at’s the case for
many operators who are looking for value.
;e good news is that technology compa-
nies are making their products more user-
friendly and a;ordable, so course managers
managers with a six-month look at actual
expenses versus budget, which can then be
compared to weather.
OnLink costs between $2,799 and $5,499
annually, depending on options.
;e labor tracker has also been upgraded.
Workers in the ;eld can now use an app to
record their start and stop times for various
tasks. It is just one of several labor tracking
so;ware options.
Turf Assistant, another product which
launched at the Golf Industry Show, also
provides a digital whiteboard that tracks
labor tasks, and at a lower price point.
“We are excited about the product, but
a lot of superintendents don’t understand
how much it can help them, “ said Ron
Wilson, founder of Turf Assistant.
As with other labor management so;ware options, a superintendent can set a
detailed plan that includes all tasks. ;e
so;ware then visually shows him or her
when and where sta; is needed. It displays
work assignments on a digital whiteboard
and on individual job boards that also
allow workers to track their time per task.
;e so;ware is designed to make a team
more e;cient in both work hours and the
application of chemicals and fertilizers.
It also o;ers ;eet management and budget and expense management. ;e cost is
$1,788 a year.
Another new service, Productivityplus,
is limited to labor tracking, but costs only
$29.99 a month. It is o;ered by Cub Cadet.
Toro also introduced a web-based asset
management system this year. Similar to
OnGolf, its my Turf Pro so;ware tracks and
manages all assets, and not just Toro equipment. It automatically noti;es users when
service is due, tracks and orders parts, and
provides a full cost of ownership analysis
for equipment.
Toro has also brought together its
irrigation monitoring, Turf Guard soil
monitoring, and other tracking functions, including weather radar and frost
warnings, into its Lynx dashboard, to give
superintendents a quick view of the most
important data.
;e idea with these products and others
is to help superintendents be more e;-
cient in their use of water, pesticides and
other products. But to be more precise, the
With turf technology becoming more user-friendly
and affordable, some are predicting widespread use
by courses is just around the corner.
BY JACK CRITTENDEN
Turf tech time
can tip their toes into these still-uncharted
waters.
OnGolf, in partnership with John Deere
Golf, introduced a new version of OnLink
at this year’s Golf Industry Show.
Walt Norley, who founded OnGolf two
years ago, said OnLink is the 2.0 version,
with an added equipment-tracking feature.
;e ;eet management program, which will
be available this summer, will track equipment maintenance, usage with labor operator quali;cations and scheduling, and parts
look-up and ordering for all equipment
brands.
Norley said he rebuilt the so;ware
from the bottom up to make it more user-friendly and to have more robust tracking features, such as economic reports.
;ese reports provide superintendents and
