Imagine hitting a hole-in-one on your favorite golf course. Now imagine that the once-in-a-lifetime experience occurred during an afternoon of solo play, while nobody was around to verify it. Ouch!
For courses equipped with the VeriShot monitoring system, that dream shot would be recorded for all to see. Concocted by a law student who worked part time as a golf course cashier, the system uses high-tech digital cameras to record memorable golf shots at select holes.
During tournaments and group outings, the holes that feature closest-to-the-pin and hole-in-one competitions generate the most buzz. But those scenarios require manpower to run them. The VeriShot system essentially turns every hole into a potential contest hole.
Golfers who choose to participate pony up a small fee at the pro shop before teeing off. Those who sink a hole-in-one can win as much as $10,000 and have video of their shot posted on VeriShot's Winning Golf Shots website. The system can also be used to record swings and other contest scenarios.
Founded in 2004 and based in Independence, Ohio, Verishot is marketed to golf courses as a way to increase revenue by generating heightened golfer excitement. The main system utilizes a solar-powered camera pole mounted by the featured hole, while a portable version can be rolled out for special events and tournaments.
"Since the program started at Falcon Ridge, the Verishot system has created quite the buzz among our customers," explains Dean Lytton of Kansas City's Falcon Ridge Golf Club. "After only one month we were able to reward one of our golfers with $10,000 for a hole-in-one."
Sources: Verishot, (http://www.verishot.com/); Dean Lytton, Falcon Ridge Golf Club
Writer: Douglas Trattner