Major Development

Meet The Man, And High Definition Technology, Behind A UAE-inspired Golf Course Guide App With Global Ambitions

IT’S 2009 AND RON MAJOR is working on an offshore oil platform 45 nautical miles (84km) out into the Arabian Gulf. As manager of projects for an Abu Dhabi-based engineering consultancy, the Englishman is using a laser scanner to map a detailed 3D model for field operator Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) when he has a lightbulb moment.

“I’m up there thinking about retirement to be honest, thinking about what I’m going to do with myself next,” Major reveals of his flash of inspiration in the Upper Zakum field, a 45-minute helicopter flight from the UAE capital.

Though he hadn’t played regular golf for many years, Major suddenly struck on an idea for a course guide app using the same high definition mapping technology. Fastforward the best part of a decade and that dream has finally been realised in Course Master, an application that includes a competition mode which the R&A has confirmed meets the revised 2019 version of the Rules of Golf (elevation data that is available in recreation mode, as well as some zoom levels, is disabled in competition mode).

Where Course Master differs from other course guide apps is the mapping technology and use of high definition imagery; scroll in and you can even see footprints in bunkers. Another of the app’s unique features is that it doesn’t require users to chew into their own mobile data on course. Simply log into the app (after first registering online at coursemastergolf.ae) at home beforehand or using the participating club’s Wifiat check-in, and you’re good to go for the day. The “SYNC process” downloads the weather forecast for your location, the day’s exact pin positions and logs you into the Course Master server for later access to your “Play Data”.