Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Golf Course Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board reviews GPS, interactive system planned for Raintree golf carts; council to consider lease
Summary
Board members discussed a proposed GPS and in-cart interactive system for leased carts at Raintree Country Club that would limit cart travel, add two-way communications and services, and add roughly $30,000 in lease costs; Troon/contractor lease payments are expected to cover the expense rather than parks operating funds.
Members of the Parks and Recreation Board discussed a proposal to add GPS-enabled interactive systems to leased golf carts at Raintree Country Club during the Jan. 8 meeting.
Director Wackercard explained how the system would allow the city and course operator to set perimeter limits so carts cannot travel into vulnerable turf areas, provide two-way communication and an in-cart interface where players could order food and drinks, keep scores and use range-finding. "So obviously, when there, there's rain and we don't want people on certain parts of the golf course, we actually can set the golf carts to not go past a certain perimeter," the director said. She added the system has been used by Troon on other courses and can help protect the course and manage pace of play.
A council representative asked whether the equipment would raise rates. Director Wackercard said rates may be adjusted and that the incremental cost to add the GPS equipment is about $30,000 over the lease period, though the carts and equipment are leased and coordinated with the operator. She said the leases for the carts and associated systems are managed through the course operator (Troon) and that operating expenses would be handled by that lease arrangement rather than out of the parks operating budget.
Board members asked operational questions (how many carts would be leased, whether the GPS allows player-count tracking and severe-weather messaging) and discussed lease terms (cart leases and GPS terms end on different schedules; staff said the GPS portion is shorter than the cart lease). The council representative noted the item is scheduled for a third reading next week and invited board feedback before council action.
Next steps: staff will provide updated rate sheets when available and coordinate demonstrations for board members who wish to see the system in operation.
