Is it about time Machine Learning is used to analyze slow play?

[nevets88]

For example, see this project done by someone in their spare time using resources that are not costly - how much time cars spend in bike and bus lanes. I would guess the toughest part of the problem is camera placement and coverage. Going to guess there are no outlets out on most courses, a way to power the cameras needs to be figured out. Once you have the cameras, you can track movements and see specific to the course, what is causing slow play. Once someone writes the basic functionality of the ML algorithm, others can custom for specific courses.

 

 

[Patch]

Power to run cameras is not a problem. Solar generated power can run the cameras. A new expense for the course to pass along to their customers. 

The computer stuff I will leave to those in that field. Another expense added to green fees

Having a person watching the monitors, and dispatching course marshals to the problem area(s) would be another new expense to pass on to the customers. 

All these could be done. The one one problem I see?  Explaining the "big brother is watching" scenario to customers.. 

Myself, if given the choice of a course watching my movements, and one not watching my movements, I am going to the one with more privacy.  I am funny that way. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

For example, see this project done by someone in their spare time using resources that are not costly - how much time cars spend in bike and bus lanes. I would guess the toughest part of the problem is camera placement and coverage. Going to guess there are no outlets out on most courses, a way to power the cameras needs to be figured out. Once you have the cameras, you can track movements and see specific to the course, what is causing slow play. Once someone writes the basic functionality of the ML algorithm, others can custom for specific courses.

You don't need cameras. GPS trackers can do it. Put 'em on the carts.

These kinds of studies have already been done and are being done. There's also a guy that has spent a lot of time learning about what causes courses to slow down, and he can be hired and advise specific courses on things like this.

This is, basically, a solved problem. Courses aren't just all availing themselves of the solution(s) or the consulting, etc.

[nevets88]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

You don't need cameras. GPS trackers can do it. Put 'em on the carts.

These kinds of studies have already been done and are being done. There's also a guy that has spent a lot of time learning about what causes courses to slow down, and he can be hired and advise specific courses on things like this.

This is, basically, a solved problem. Courses aren't just all availing themselves of the solution(s) or the consulting, etc.

Sigh

[iacas]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

Sigh

What?

I think the guy I referred to above is Bill Yates.

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/bill-yates-pace-play/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323740804578601882312192680

[nevets88]

22 minutes ago, iacas said:

What?

I think the guy I referred to above is Bill Yates.

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/bill-yates-pace-play/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323740804578601882312192680

Sorry, I meant sigh to 

Quote

 Courses aren't just all availing themselves of the solution(s) or the consulting, etc.

Saved those links for reading later though, didn't know about Bill Yates. Thanks.

[iacas]

Just now, nevets88 said:

Sorry, I meant sigh to 

Yeah, I wish they would.

The solutions are often spacing out tee times a little, mowing down rough, pushing back tough hazards or areas where you can lose a ball, eliminating blind shots, etc. etc.

Plus of course golfers who know how to play at a good pace - not leaving their carts on the wrong side, not driving to each player's ball, waving up a group if they're waiting on a par five or a drivable par four, etc.

[Buckeyebowman]

8 hours ago, iacas said:

You don't need cameras. GPS trackers can do it. Put 'em on the carts.

These kinds of studies have already been done and are being done. There's also a guy that has spent a lot of time learning about what causes courses to slow down, and he can be hired and advise specific courses on things like this.

This is, basically, a solved problem. Courses aren't just all availing themselves of the solution(s) or the consulting, etc.

Exactly. There's a local course where the carts feature GPS. One day was "cart path only". On one particular hole we had hit into the rough on the side of the hole away from the path, The turf was firm enough so we drove over there. When we returned to the cart I looked at the screen and said, "Uh oh! We've been made!" There was a message on the screen that said, "Please return to cart path." They knew exactly where we were at all times!

I'll tell you one way that course design can jam things up. Put a long, hard par 3 right behind a short, easy par 5!

[Patch]

The only sure fire way to prevent slow play is to get all golfers to play at the same speed. This would amount to faster golfers slowing down, and slower golfers speeding up. The mid speed golfers could stay the same.  Obviously this will never happen. We humans operate at different speeds in everything we do. 

[iacas]

7 hours ago, Patch said:

The only sure fire way to prevent slow play is to get all golfers to play at the same speed. This would amount to faster golfers slowing down, and slower golfers speeding up. The mid speed golfers could stay the same.  Obviously this will never happen. We humans operate at different speeds in everything we do. 

That’s not really true. Faster players are already slowed down. So only slower players speeding up would work.

Course setup, tee time spacing, etc. can have a large effect.

[NEhomer]

Some of the things that slow players do make you realize that the core of their problem is that they're simply unaware and aren't applying any intuition to their situation. Sometimes it's just ridiculous stuff.

 

[nevets88]

18 hours ago, iacas said:

Yeah, I wish they would.

The solutions are often spacing out tee times a little, mowing down rough, pushing back tough hazards or areas where you can lose a ball, eliminating blind shots, etc. etc.

Plus of course golfers who know how to play at a good pace - not leaving their carts on the wrong side, not driving to each player's ball, waving up a group if they're waiting on a par five or a drivable par four, etc.

I'm guessing bottom line they think it'll cut into green fees collected? If Yates' and other studies prove they can reduce slow play without impacting the bottom line or improving it, it just sounds like laziness and status quo.

Here is what Yates' site says about revenues:

http://www.pacemanager.com/services/pace-manager-systems.html