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by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

All the rage right now on golf courses is the tracking ability of golf balls with GPS technology. And, while it has become easier to keep track of where your ball went, it breaks down one of the all-time favorite pastimes for some golfers: looking for errant golf balls in the high weeds, trees and even water hazards.

There is an even more interesting perspective on how GPS tracking can assist public (and private as well) golf courses in the reducing the cost of managing their courses.

How is this possible? Cost containment efforts are not complete unless consideration is given to preventive maintenance. Keeping mechanical assets in good working order helps prevent breakdowns. And this is an area where GPS tracking can be of service. One feature that fits this nicely is the ability to track online via NavIQ software. This allows you to track not just location, but miles driven and hours used.

Managing maintenance vehicles. Using GPS tracking devices, you can tell if your course has been covered in terms of mowing and/or fertilization is concerned. Making sure that your employees are performing up to standards helps keep your course in top condition. How many rounds have been made over the greens in the last week, month or season? Now you can know for sure. Find that sweet spot of maintenance service levels that gives you the best looking course for the money spent without over-spending.

Managing golf carts. Where are your golf carts? Have they remained on the course like they are supposed to or have they been driven off into very rough and dangerous locations on the outside edges of your course? With GPS tracking devices you can know in an instant. The proper use of your equipment helps insure that it will stay in service a lot longer.

Tracking in case of theft. Make no mistake; golf course maintenance equipment is expensive, which makes it a target of thieves. You can track your most expensive assets with a GPS tracking device and then be able to locate a stolen item the instant that you discover that it has been taken.

Golf course management is not overly difficult, but it does take some creative uses of technology to help you make it the best that it can be. That is where GPS tracking devices can help. These devices help you manage your course with a lot less effort.