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Laser Link Golf Sets Site On Pace Of Play Issue The #1 Rangefinder positions itself for next Golf War Contact Holly Geoghegan MADISON, Wis. - What innovation in golf has made the greatest impact on the way the game is played and the field it's played on? A good answer would be the plastic cleat. It eliminated the spike mark controversy and improved course conditions around the world. One person might disagree. Rob O'Loughlin was the founder and CEO of SoftSpikes(R). If he didn't invent the concept, he certainly made it a mandatory part of every golfer's equipment. Now he's going after the biggest controversy in golf - pace of play and he has an answer - the Laser Link(R) QuickSilver. "This will make SoftSpikes(R) seem like an average idea," says O'Loughlin. "This (Laser Link(R) QuickSilver) is a better idea. I say this as the founder of SoftSpikes(R) and chairman of the board of both." The Laser Link(R) QuickSilver is a handheld, target specific electronic measuring device. Aim the QuickSilver unit at the flagstick, listen for a beep, and the distance is displayed within two seconds. The biggest benefit of this simple point-and-shoot rangefinder is accuracy. "It's one of the best golf products to come along in the last 25 years," says Lynn Janson, head professional at Egypt Valley Country Club in Mt. Ada, MI. "It's had a tremendous effect on the speed of play at our club. Unlike the standard GPS systems, you don't have to be with your cart to get the distance to the hole. I honestly believe that if everyone had a Laser Link(R) it would take a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes off every round of golf. Don Callahan, head professional at Thunderbird Country Club, one of the oldest clubs in California's Palm Desert, agrees. "We found this system really speeds up play. Now, there's no searching for sprinkler heads. We'd sold a couple of Bushnell rangefinders, but they're very touchy. They get the distance to a solid object that it zeros in on and that could be a tree behind the green. The Laser Link(R) gives you the accurate distance to the flagstick only. Not only is it a good product, but the company really stands behind their product." Like the SoftSpikes(R), there's no real gauge to judge the expected rate of growth. Instead, O'Loughlin is using another phenomena that came about in the past 30 years. "I believe the growth of Laser Link(R) will parallel that of the marked sprinkler head," he says. Before 1975 you couldn't find 100 courses in the country that had marked sprinkler heads. Between 1975 and 2000 they reached 75-80% penetration of every golf course in the country. "Right now," explains O'Loughlin, "we're a little ahead of where the marked sprinkler heads were in 1975. In the next 15-20 years, we're looking to have 80% of the players using our product." Distance measuring devices are gaining popularity around the country. Laser Link(R) has sold more than 20,000 QuickSilver rangefinders in the past year - average retail price $229-259 each. The low cost of the system (a set of 18 flagsticks with reflectors costs as little as $900), ease of use, and effectiveness in all types of weather, makes Laser Link(R) a smart investment when compared to GPS systems. Laser Link(R) Quicksilver is allowed by the USGA for use in rounds where scores are to be posted for handicap purposes. Local rules can be created for their use in tournament play. Laser Link(R) Golf is located in Madison, WI. It is the premier handheld electronic measuring device in golf. QuickSilver is a target specific unit with a beam that hones in on a prism. The hand-held rangefinder emits a class one laser beam that does not cause any harm to the eye. For more information, contact Rob O'Loughlin at 1-866-909-4653. |