Having had the good fortune to be in the golf industry for the last 45 years, I have witnessed an incredible evolution of many aspects of the game of golf.

For example, the transition from persimmon to metal woods. Did anything feel better than to hit an old MacGregor Eye-O-Matic off the screws with a balata golf ball. The change from steel to graphite shafts. The transition from metal spikes to Softspikes brand plastic cleats and putting on perfect greens all day while walking in comfort. 

The new era is taking us from having no information while playing or practicing to having virtually every possible piece of data before, during and after each round.

I think this can make the game more enjoyable for millions of players.

I was watching The Open Championship this past week. It’s my favorite event, as I love getting up early and watching Championship golf on the great links venues with the great voices of the game narrating the coverage.

During the practice rounds at Royal Troon, I noticed many players carrying around their Trackman and Flightscope launch monitors with them on the course, to help them evaluate each shot. On a magnificent links course that has stood the test of time for nearly 150 years, it was pretty cool to see the massive transformation from the concept of “digging it out of the dirt” to the world’s best players using modern-day technology to improve at their craft. 

Old Tom Morris must have been in a state of shock as his ghost swam nearby in the sea. But I also think he would wholeheartedly approve of the advancements in the game he helped form.

The fact is that golf launch monitors have rapidly become an essential tool for professional golfers worldwide. These devices use Doppler radar, photometric technology, or a combination of both to measure critical data points such as ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and carry distance. This information is invaluable for understanding and improving a player’s ball flight and overall performance.

Swing analysis software has taken the guesswork out of diagnosing technical flaws in a golfer’s swing. By capturing video from multiple angles and overlaying swing data, these programs allow coaches and players to analyze every aspect of the swing in great detail.

In the modern era of golf, data analysis has become an indispensable tool for players and coaches alike. The ability to dissect performance metrics and statistics has revolutionized the way golfers approach the game, both on and off the course. This deep dive into the numbers allows for a more scientific approach to improving golf skills and strategy. The end result is very impressive, given the skill level of so many players today.

I was intrigued to learn that manufactures of golf launch monitors don’t give the Tour Players their equipment for free — the players purchase their own golf launch monitors  because they understand the value of such a long-term investment. 

Recently while speaking with a few PGA Golf teaching professionals, they informed me that they made an interesting discovery — they noticed that the information gathered on natural turf when using launch monitors was different when they switched surfaces to synthetic carpet. The data wasn’t consistent on the synthetic carpet to that of the natural turf.

However, when they used their golf launch monitors on the TurfHound Performance-based system, the data was the same as the information gathered on natural turf. 

It’s abundantly clear that the synthetic surface being used for practice sessions while using a launch monitor matters. TurfHound systems are performance-driven, and when it comes to investing in your game, they are the best choice. Dive into the features of our Golf Tee Stations by clicking here.