Future Of Computerized Tee Times Near

Computerized tee times are coming soon to a course near you.

But before Spokane-area golfers get their keyboards in an uproar, city and county officials want to stress that the personal touch offered by local golf professionals and their staffs will not become a victim of the technological revolution.

Spokane County golf manager Mike Kingsley said he hopes to have a computerized tee-time reservations program up and running at the three county-owned courses - Liberty Lake, MeadowWood and Hangman Valley - within four to six weeks.

And city golf manager Mike Stone said the city has also checked into the possibility of initiating automated reservation systems at Indian Canyon, Downriver, The Creek at Qualchan and Esmeralda.

Kingsley said the county looked at several such automated programs that have been developed and marketed worldwide.

“But we decided to develop our own, because we don’t need all the bells and whistles and services that some of those provide,” he explained.

Under the system the county will implement, golfers can still call the pro shop at the course they wish to play and talk to the same person with whom they normally deal.

If a desired tee time is not available, however, the head pro or one of his or her staff members will be able to check the computer and give callers immediate information on the availability of alternative tee times at any of the three county courses.

Alternative times, Kingsley explained, can then be reserved right then without having to hang up, call the other course and wait for an open phone line.

Kingsley said some reservations programs currently in operation in golf-rich areas like Denver and Monterey, Calif., are computerized to the point where golfers must deal with an automated voice-messaging system rather than a person.

“Some of our golf professionals were concerned about losing the personal touch they offer their customers,” Kingsley explained, “so we decided we still wanted our pro shops to be making most of the tee times and arrangements.”

The county’s reservations program is being developed by its own information systems department, Kingsley said, adding the program will be shown to Stone and other city officials next week.

According to Stone, the city is not as far along in implementing computerized tee times as the county.

“At the present time, we’ve just tried to do a little bit of homework and see what’s out there as far as the latest in technology is concerned,” he explained.

Stone said the city has had a couple of on-site demonstrations from companies that design and sell the fully automated systems. But he said city golf pros also are concerned about losing the human touch with their customers.

Stone pointed out computerized tee times are becoming popular throughout the country and that in the no-so-distant future, golfers will be able reserve tee times over the Internet from their personal computers at home.

“Golf is headed toward some kind of system like that,” Stone said, “but we’re not totally sure we’re at the point where the city is ready for one. We’d just like to be knowledgeable about what’s out there when that time comes, so we’re just kind of checking things out right now.”

Stone said several members of the golfing public have been informed about the city’s inquiries into computerized tee times and added that, before any decision is made to move in that direction, there will be opportunity for citizen input.

“The primary questions that citizens are asking are ‘What’s it going to cost me?’ and ‘How is it going to affect my ability to get a tee time?”’ Stone said. “And if we can’t intelligently answer those things, then it’s probably not worth us venturing into.

“Let’s just say we’re going to be very cautious.”

Rohde in with top touring pros

Local teaching professional Mark Rohde is among an impressive field - including PGA touring pros John Daly, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson and host Fred Couples - scheduled to compete July 8-9 in the Ernst Championship at Inglewood Country Club in Kenmore.

Rohde played his way into the two-day charity event last month by winning the Lynx Pro-Am Qualifier at Indian Summer Country Club in Olympia.

He is guaranteed $15,000 just for qualifying for the tournament.

Spokane qualifiers

Spokane golfers Brenda Hall and Patricia Aunan will compete in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links championship, which will be held June 19-23 at Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course in Alton, Ill.

Hall earned a spot by winning last month’s qualifying tournament at MeadowWood Golf Course with an 81. Aunan shot an 83 to earn the third and final sectional qualifying spot.

, DataTimes