Arming Your Golf Members

By Matt Kilgariff • PGA Director of Player Development The

WANT TO PLAY LIKE THE pros? Then you need to arm yourself with the right tools. Tour players use yardage books and greens guides. StrackaLine offers state-ofthe-art technology for yardage and greens for everyday players. Their USGA-compliant greens guides are the most accurate for precise green reading and they have an extensive library of 35,000 courses and are continuing to grow.

I sat down with Ian Crick, Director of Golf for StrackaLine, to learn more about the company.

Matt: How did you become involved with StrackaLine and what is your current role in the company?

Ian: I was first exposed to StrackaLine while working as the First Assistant at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe. We used their Facility Hole Location Software to create our daily hole location sheets. While at The Bridges, I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Stracka, CEO of StrackaLine. We became fast friends. One night we were out to dinner, and I mentioned that I was thinking about leaving the green grass side of the business to pursue a role as a sales representative. He asked that I entertain the idea of coming to work for StrackaLine. The very next day, I visited his office, met the team, and the rest is history.

I am currently the Director of Golf at StrackaLine and I love it! My background is in customer service. My role with StrackaLine combines sales and service. Having the opportunity to educate everyday golfers and PGA Members who share my passion for the game all over the nation is invigorating. I feel extremely fortunate that I have been able to stay in the golf industry and sell products that I believe in.

It is the best of both worlds.

Matt: How does your background with the PGA of America help in your role at StrackaLine?

Ian: My background as a PGA Member is unbelievably valuable. I have firsthand knowledge of what golf professionals experience on a day-to-day basis. With my understanding of the pitfalls of our industry, and hearing from others, it affords me a unique perspective and an insight as to how our software and books can elevate the overall level of play for all golfers and make courses run more efficiently.

Matt: How do StrackaLine products positively impact facilities?

Ian: Our Facility Hole Location software completely automates the hole location process. It helps superintendents by ensuring them that their staff is placing hole locations in correct areas of the green. It rotates hole locations which promote turf health and assists in maintaining a good pace of play. Both items are time and money savers. This software also creates a detailed hole location sheet for distribution to players making for a more robust experience. Our green mapping technology allows us to create a Tour-level book for a fraction of the price. The books make perfect tee prizes and retail items. Players of all levels can improve their putting and lower their scores by having this detailed information at their fingertips.

Matt: What are the set-up costs associated with getting your technology at a club?

Ian: There are no set-up fees for our software and yardage books and greens guides provided the opening order reaches the $3,000 total spend mark. The annual subscription for our Facility Hole Location Software is $2,000.

Matt: Are there any specialty products for tee prizes, etc.?

Ian: We can create extremely detailed and customizable yardage books and greens guides for tee prizes. For example, books may include custom covers, logos, tournament information such as rules, schedule of events, past champions, etc.

Matt: How does every player benefit from using StrackaLine?

Ian: Players of all skill levels benefit from using our greens guides and yardage books. My wife, who is a beginner, uses the elevation view in our books to know if a putt is up or down hill. It has totally changed her speed control while putting. It can also help the mid-handicap player understand how slopes affect the break of a putt and improve their chipping by keeping the ball below the hole. Tournament players love our books because they help level the playing field on a course that they may have little experience on. It may even affirm their reads, making them much more confident.

Matt: How can clubs start the process of implementing StrackaLine technology at their club?

Ian: Please reach out to me directly at: Ian@strackaline.com. They may also purchase books from strackaline.com.

Mention this article or use code Thrivegolf for a 20% discount on your next wholesale book order or purchase of hole location software.