Innovative Golf: Teeing Up A Solution for Drive Shack

Project Summary

Drive Shack is a golfer’s paradise offering visitors from scratch golfers to hackers a unique entertainment experience; Drive Shack has something for everyone. The three-story, indoor/outdoor all-weather golf-entertainment complex features 90 state-of-the-art interactive hitting bays, a Free Play Game Lounge with classic games like shuffleboard, skeeball, and Pac-Man, a full-service restaurant and bar, an outdoor lounge, and three fully-equipped meeting and event rooms. Drive Shack takes golf fun to a whole new level; guests can play proprietary games such as Shackjack (golf blackjack) and Monster Hunt, or use virtual technology to play golf courses such as Teton Pines and Linfield National. The technology used at Drive Shack is unique to the industry. Cameras monitor each hit of the golf ball to get the angle and trajectory and project the site path which is shown on large TV screens. The data displayed about each stroke is valuable to those looking to improve their game, and golf instructors frequently bring clients for lessons at the facility.

When Drive Shack was planning its flagship location in Orlando, FL which opened earlier this year, Patti Engineering was honored to be selected to co-develop 90 electronic golf ball dispensers with Rack Solutions.

Patti Engineering was hired to provide the electromechanical assemblies to fit into the golf ball dispenser outer housing designed by RackSolutions. “One of the things I like about this project is that it’s not our typical industry and not our typical business model,” said Nick Hitchcock, project manager for Patti Engineering on this program. “Usually we design one or two of a kind, and in this project, we had to build 90 of them. It’s cool to build a product on an assembly line.”

Once a prototype was ready, we sent it to Drive Shack for testing. After getting feedback, we made some modifications and sent over a second prototype for review. We got the green light on this one, and proceeded to build the additional units.

The golf ball dispensers feature Siemens control hardware. Patti Engineering is monitoring the system using MindSphere. In this application, MindSphere can provide data such as utilization, overall equipment efficiency (OEE), and predictive maintenance. “MindSphere’s tremendous power lies in its adaptability to changing data requirements and its ability to remotely monitor equipment,” said Sam Hoff, CEO of Patti Engineering. “For the Drive Shack project, MindSphere monitors usage statistics and leading indicators for predictive maintenance.”

RackSolutions designs and builds custom products including precision computer server racks, data center cabinets, shelves, and custom mounting solutions for a number of industries. RackSolutions is a subsidiary of Innovation First International, which also owns popular brands such as HEXBUG toys and VEX Robotics.

The Drive Shack Orlando project was Patti Engineering’s first time partnering with RackSolutions. “It was a pleasure working with John V-Neun and his team at Rack Solutions on this project; their philosophy of finding convention-defying solutions that solve problems in creative ways aligns well with Patti Engineering’s approach to helping our customers,” said Sam.

Whether you are the next Arnold Palmer or a hacker at best, the next time you’re visiting Orlando adding Drive Shack to your list of destinations will not disappoint. Just ask our engineers lucky enough to be on the installation team for this project! Want to learn more? We found this video you should check out.