TAGMARSHAL SOLUTION

Aproduct that markets itself on ‘aiming to curb the slow pace of play’ should make golf clubs sit up and take notice as the game competes with other less time-consuming leisure activities. Two South Africans might have found a (GPS) solution to the slow play scourge. Conceived by Capetonians Craig Kleu ( aboveright) and John Wilmore ( aboveleft), Tagmarshal uses a small GPS device that accompanies each fourball and communicates with the clubhouse or pro shop staff, enabling them to identify bottlenecks on the course or groups not keeping pace.

“We partnered with two software developers – Bodo Sieber ( abovecentre) and Tom Davies – and initially trialled the system at Westlake, Mowbray and Wanderers golf clubs in 2013,” said Kleu. “Our big break came when Erin Hills in Wisconsin, which is hosting the 2017 US Open, signed up with us last year. They loved the product and used the system throughout their summer.”

The Tagmarshal team is now in talks with sales, marketing and distribution companies to grow the brand, and made their debut at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in January 2015.