RFID - Is Disc Golf Ready For This Technology?

It’s safe to say that disc golf is primed to take off with all of the new sponsors and growth we’re experiencing, and it’s time to start thinking about the future. That’s exactly what the PDGA has done as of November 17th, 2014, with a rule change relating to discs, stating: “Electronic components may be embedded/inserted with none of its metal components externally exposed.” It’s been almost three years since this rule went into effect, so what’s been keeping RFID out of our sport?

How Are Other Sports Using RFID?

Let’s explore how Zebra, an RFID sports tracking and solutions company, has implemented a reliable system that has been put into place in sports like football, soccer, and bike racing. Using RFID sensors in conjunction with players and the media, Zebra is providing statistics and feedback that fans can enjoy and coaches are using to improve the game. How can disc golf take advantage of these new technologies and allow them to transform the way our sport works?

How Might Disc Golf Use RFID?

Imagine what we could do with RFID tags in each disc and use them to mark each boundary, basket, and tee box. There would be no more guessing where a disc went out of bounds, and commentators will forever know what disc was thrown and how far it went.

We could have real-time statistics including RPM, MPH, the distance left to the pin, and have beautiful graphics with a mapped flight route after each throw. All of this could be logged right into our phones and then dynamically integrated into UDisc or Disc Golf Metrix tracking.

Players would see a huge drop in lost disc penalties, and could even implement auto-tracking cameras that would seamlessly interpolate the disc, player, and basket into one camera frame. All of this data could be used to improve course flow and reduce backups. Live scoring would become an automated process and completely remove the tedious work currently being executed by Marty Gregoire and the generous volunteers of the PDGA.

What Are The Costs And Obstacles?

It’s important to note that the cost of the RFID chips themselves is less than a dollar per unit, so it’s safe to say that price is not what’s keeping our sport from cashing in on this technology. The true cost is going to be integrating a uniform system across multiple platforms including discs, mobile devices, courses, and the web.

The development of this network is no small feat and is our sport’s primary obstacle if we wish to take advantage of the RFID tech market. Perhaps one way to overcome the costs of an RFID disc golf infrastructure would be to offer an in-depth statistic tracking system behind an annual membership fee. It might even be a huge incentive to keep more people current with the PDGA if the RFID network was included with and integrated into each membership and player info page.

Give us your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section about how you think this idea might revolutionize our sport!