Golf
What’s in the shed? John Deere 8700 fairway mower John Deere 3535B fairway mower John Deere 4320 tractor John Deere 4520 tractor John Deere 1500 Aercore Allen Hover Trim 446 x 2 Flymo L47 hover mower x 2 Ford 2120 tractor Ransomes G-Plex II tees mowers x 2 John Deere 2500E tees mowers x 3 John Deere 2500E greens mowers x 2
John Deere 220B pedestrian greens mowers x 3
The clubhouse seen from above
Having concluded that an aerial video of the course could well be used as an innovative new marketing tool on the club’s website, it was Stuart who suggested that it was not only useful for marketing, but would also enable him, as Course Manager, to gain a more holistic view of the course using the aerial perspective to track its progress over time and to help the development of future short and long term improvement projects. With all these ideas growing, Peter contacted Ali and the drone was brought back to Lancashire for Christmas and a “draft” hole was videoed. Working with Daniel and Stuart, a plan was put together to film the whole course during the Easter holidays. The results can be seen at
www.stannesoldlinks.com. “To our knowledge,” states Stuart, “St Annes Old Links is the first golf club in
Image courtesy of
heliphoto.biz
the UK to have an aerial video of the complete course available free to all on its website. Utilising this innovative technology enables us to showcase our wonderful course, providing an enhanced service offering to our visitors and guests. Equally as important, it provides me with valuable information in terms of course maintenance and development.” Work is ongoing to refine the videoing techniques and Ali and Peter have now set up a new business to further promote the use of lightweight, high tech drones for aerial filming of golf courses and other sporting events and venues. “For members to keep seeing us professionally, and that we are actually well trained and always learning, is of the utmost importance,” concludes Stuart.
Ali Barrett
THE drone concept initially developed from Ali Barrett’s enthusiasm for building flying machines and photographing extreme sports. Having demonstrated his ability to produce video footage of his own sports (kitesurfing and wake boarding), and getting some very positive feedback from those filmed, he decided to generate a website -
www.Heliphoto.biz - to show off some of his new videos.
Within a few days of it going live, he was offered the opportunity to put forward a proposal to video some twenty sites totally unrelated to his own sports. Unfortunately, due to his final year university
commitments, the timing was wrong to take the opportunity further. However, over the past few months or so, with a number of unrelated opportunities coming to light, and particularly with the
interest and enthusiasm shown by Stuart Hogg and Daniel Webster for the golf course videos, Ali and his father Peter decided to formally establish
Heliphoto.Biz Ltd, and this was done in April of this year. From a marketing viewpoint, the video gives a whole new perspective and richness to the golf club’s website, allowing golfers to ‘virtually’ walk the course before deciding to visit. The benefits are that they would be able to familiarise themselves with the course before playing it to ensure that it is the sort of course they wish to play.
For the club, the benefits include a new dimension in publicity (showcasing the whole course, hole by hole), which should encourage visitors, thereby bringing in much needed revenue.
Heliphoto are aiming to expand its involvement in filming extreme sports, as well as specialising in the videoing and developing of marketing strategies for golf clubs, using this media as part of a package which could include filming other local facilities, golf or other interests for the non-golfing family members. In addition, they are investigating the use of its capability to inspect areas not easily accessible without specialist equipment, e.g. factory roofs. The Civil Aviation are currently
developing rules for the use of such drones,
John Deere 220C pedestrian greens mowers x 4
Toro 3100 Sidewinder Charterhouse 7516 Verti-Drain Ransomes Core Harvester John Deere HD200 hand sprayer Lastec 3696 H/M Articulator John Deere 2030 Pro Gator John Deere 2030 Pro Gator 4wd John Deere Turf Gators x 4 Rodgers TE1000 walk behind sprayer Turfmech Pro Pass 180 topdresser Echo SRM 330 strimmers x 4 Echo PB6000 blowers x 2 Greentek Thatchaway units Wiedenmann Overseeder Ransomes Turf Cutter
Various trailers x 5, back acter, back forks, power washer and vibrating plates and rollers
but the main constraints at presents are as follows:
- it has to be operated by a competent and qualified pilot supported by a competent observer
- the pilot must maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the aircraft and its flight path to ensure safety of all other aircraft, persons, animals and obstacles.
It cannot be flown in: - controlled airspace without permission
- at a height of no more than 400ft above ground
- over or within 150 metres of any congested area
- over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1000 people
- within 50 metres of any person (except observer), vessel, vehicle or structure not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft
Whilst there are no specific rules, flying over private land without the owner’s permission is not advised. It is not an all-weather vehicle, particularly when it comes to rain and wind. The aircraft only weighs 2.5kg and, therefore, is sensitive to wind and gusts, so appropriate care must be taken.
JUNE/JULY 2013 PC 29
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