Sacramento Magazine: Driving With Radar
By Frank LaRosa
March, 2004
Los Altos. You're standing on the tee of an imposingly
long par 4. Forgetting everything you've learned about golf,
you swing as hard as you can and turn your power fade into
a horrific slice, sailing your ball deep into the rough.
Your partner says your ball landed near the little pine
tree, but you think it's by the out-of-bounds stake. In
either case, you're faced with a five-minute hunt for your
ball.
RadarGolf, a Los Altos, Calif.-based company, has developed
a technology that will enable you to find your golf ball
quickly. The system is comprised of an electronically "tagged"
golf ball and a handheld unit. When you hit a shot that's
difficult to locate, simply pull out the handheld unit,
turn it on, and point it in the direction of the ball and
begin walking. The unit's pulsed audio tone provides information
on direction and distance. You'll find your ball in a few
seconds, avoiding a delay in the game and the not-so-subtle
digs from your foursome about how they can't find a rhythm.
If two balls are lost in the same area, the unit will find
both.
Steve Harari, chief executive officer of RadarGolf, explains
that the company's research indicates that almost half of
all golfers would be interested in trying a findable version
of their favorite ball to improve the pace of play, avoid
2-stroke "lost ball" penalties and reduce the
frustration of tramping around in the weeds.
Harari reports that the USGA has approved the golf ball
and added it to the conforming ball list; all that remains
is business arrangements with ball manufacturers. The company
that manufactures your current model ball must first purchase
a license from RadarGolf to include the "radar"
technology in its golf balls. "Our technology can be
incorporated within any standard-construction commercially
available golf ball," says Harari. "We hope to
have this technology in the market by summer of 2004."
While there are no issues with use of the handheld device
for handicap or everyday play, using it in tournaments might
be up to the discretion of the tournament director.
The balls will retail for 20 to 40 percent more than balls
without the "tagging," and the handheld units
will retail around $150.
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