Hi-tech lowdown for Sanctuary Lakes golfers

Technology has come to Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club with a smartphone app giving players a virtual caddy.

The free app informs players of the distance to the next hole and provides aerial maps of hidden obstacles.

Unfortunately, it can’t carry your clubs.

Sanctuary Lakes is the second course in Victoria to use the Gallus Golf app, which was invented in the US.

“It will tell players how far they are from a hole and if there are bunkers or water, wherever they are on the course,” Gallus spokesman Wayne Sutherland said. “There are ‘flyovers’ or satellite pictures of the entire course showing images of what players can’t see over a hill.”

Players can post their scores on Facebook through their smartphones. The app can be downloaded from the iTunes or Android stores.

 

Sanctuary Lakes general manager Allan Shorland said the app’s real-time leaderboards would be a talking point at the club, while the Facebook connection would result in “some good-natured bragging among players”.