Congratulations to the MGCA on its 50th anniversary! That’s a milestone to celebrate — with reflection and a look ahead. And because Handicomp has evolved alongside technology, if you think the last 50 years have been transformative, you haven’t seen anything yet.
My memories of the summer of 1976 center around Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. He captivated not just Michigan, but the entire country. At the same time, I was at Handicomp helping my dad process golf handicaps. It was prior to personal computers, yet even then, we were setting the table for modern golf tech.
At the course level? A phone system, an adding machine, maybe a cigar box. That was it. No systems. No connectivity. From a tech standpoint, courses were essentially deserted
islands.
Then came disruption — PCs, the internet, and mobile. Each wave didn’t just improve golf — it rewired it. We computerized operations, connected courses, and linked golfers. Ideas once impossible — like statewide league competition — became reality.
And yet, through all of it, the industry largely viewed technology the same way: as a tool. Something to support the business and make things easier.
With AI, that mindset is being shattered.
Artificial Intelligence isn’t just another upgrade — it’s a dividing line. Two paths are forming: those leaning in and rethinking operations, and those waiting, assuming it’s just another trend. That gap is widening fast, because AI isn’t just better software — it’s technology that acts — with agency.
So where does that put us in fifty years? That’s too far out to predict. But 10-15 years? The trajectory is already visible. Let me be clear — I believe what’s coming will challenge how owners think about running a golf course.
Here are a few thoughts to ponder:
First, the course that runs itself.
In the near future, AI won’t just assist — it will run operations. Tee sheets will optimize themselves, pricing will shift in real time, F&B will anticipate demand, maintenance will be self-managed, and staff will assist.
Sound far-fetched? We already have riderless mowers, smart irrigation, AI-driven scheduling, and virtual golf environments that run themselves. This isn’t speculation — it’s acceleration.
And here’s the uncomfortable question: If your course can run itself… what is your role? Not less important — more important, but different. Human interaction becomes the premium layer: the experience, the relationship, the brand. Everything else? Automated. Employees? I’ll let you speculate on that one.
Second — Sim golf.
It’s creating new golfers and already outpaces “real” golf in rounds played, a shift that took just over a decade to complete — and won’t reverse. As Sim becomes more capable and affordable — and as course property values rise — “real” golf has some thinking to do.
And third, the golfer that isn’t human.
This one may push you. Think of it as a reverse Sim — the course is real and the golfer is the simulation, in the form of a robot. I believe within 10-15 years there will be an autonomous robot golfer capable of playing 18 holes — and beating the best score on any course. We already have robots that can walk, swing a club, think, and see. It’s just a matter of integration.
In the future, golfers won’t just compete against others — they’ll compete against their bot-self. Their data — every round, every hole, every tendency — can create a digital twin. It’s something we’re already doing with AI score prediction and AI Subs (in leagues). Paired with robotics, golfers could rent a robot that carries their clubs, suggests shots, and plays against them in any style — including their own.
That’s not science fiction. In 1997, when Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov, it felt like a stunt. Today, machines outperform humans in complex tasks every day — and no one blinks.
That’s how fast “impossible” becomes “expected.”
So where do you stand?
For 50 years, technology has been weaving golf together — connecting courses, players, and operations. The next 50 years will be different. Technology won’t just connect the game — it will participate in it. It will make decisions, take actions, and even compete. And that leaves every operator, association, and leader with a choice:
Lean in — or lose your place in the game.
Fifty years ago, golf technology was a seedling. Today, it’s a tree. Tomorrow, it’s the forest.
May 8, 2026 – Published in the MGCA Tee-Off Times, Spring 2026 Edition
Stu Healey, President
