North Texas golfers riding in high-tech, GPS-enabled golf carts can now tee up on the world’s only Major League Baseball-branded golf course: the Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington.
Arlington Golf and the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball Club partnered to build the course in North Arlington, which opened to the public on Monday. It’s a collaboration between a baseball team known for singles, doubles, and home runs, and a game famous for birdies, eagles, and bogies.
The course is a $24 million complete renovation of the former Charles Ditto Golf Club, which first opened in 1982 and was closed in late 2016 to start building the Texas Rangers Golf Club. The final round on Ditto was played Dec. 5, 2016.
Golf carts are high tech and player friendly
No matter if you hook the ball or slice it, at least you’ll know where you are on the new course.
GPS in the golf carts is available via the Visage system, course spokesman Philip Rogers told Dallas Innovates. The Visage system screens are mounted in front of the golfers on the golf cart’s canopy, and Rogers says they offer more than just letting the golfers know where they are. In addition to aerial and flyover views of the golf holes, the carts have tech features that enable ease of play, like calling the beverage cart.
For safety, the Visage system warns golfers if they are approaching a hazardous boundary on the course. The system first gives the players a warning on the screen to reverse their path, and if they don’t, and instead pass a second boundary sensor, the system shuts the cart off.
The Visage system also allows course officials to monitor speed of play, which is often an issue if some golfers travel throughout the course too slowly.
“It makes sure everyone is having a good time on the course,” Rogers says.
The Texas Rangers course includes improved turf grasses, cart paths, bunkering, and additional water features. Rogers says the turf grass requires less water and the irrigation system can be controlled via a smartphone app, with a feature to turn the sprinkler off should a storm enter the area.
Clubhouse is scheduled to open in 2020
Scheduled to open in 2020, the new 33,871-square-foot clubhouse will have a full-service restaurant and bar, covered patio overlooking the golf course, pro shop, locker rooms, and rental and event spaces. The club’s expanded 23-acre practice area includes a double-ended range, a practice hole, and two short game areas.
Until the clubhouse opens, the golf club will operate out of a temporary clubhouse that includes a fully-stocked golf shop, food and beverage operations, and restrooms.
John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design are overseeing the renovations.
Under the agreement, the city of Arlington will maintain ownership and daily operations of the course and won’t be charged for usage of the Rangers trademarks. For their part, the Rangers will promote the course via pre- and in-game marketing and advertising opportunities throughout the baseball season.
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