R&A launches free web-based service to pool course information

The R&A has launched a free web-based service that provides a way to collect, analyze and report data that will enable golf courses to maintain a record of all their relevant information on playing quality, turf quality and course expenditure.

From this pool of information courses will be able to track their own progress from year-to-year and monitor trends and changes that occur. Each course will also be able to reference its own information against other similar golf courses using comparative statistics.

Robert Webb, chairman of the R&A golf course committee, stated: "This is benchmarking in its truest form and the service will provide complete anonymity. We encourage use of this service because of the many benefits it will bring in coming years to those managing golf facilities and to the game itself which is under increasing pressure to provide evidence to support its credentials in terms of its performance as a sustainable user of land and its environmental footprint."