Wind. It can be a golfer’s best friend when you catch a helpful breeze—or your worst enemy when gusts knock shots offline.
For years, many of us have resorted to tossing the old tuft of grass skyward, peering at treetops in the distance, or relying on that phone app that’s just accurate enough to tell us last Tuesday’s weather from five miles away.
But now, there’s a new kid on the tee box: WindIQ, a technology so hyperlocal that it measures real-time wind speed, direction, and even the precise hole location—right on the green.
Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur and passionate golfer Ben Holbrook, WindIQ first came about because he was tired of battling West Coast gales without reliable wind data.
As Holbrook puts it, “We have yardages for bunkers and everything else—but when it comes to wind, we rely on gut feeling. Wind is the invisible hazard.”
Enter Tagmarshal Golf, the on-course optimisation leader who quickly saw the brilliance in WindIQ’s real-time wind intel.
WindIQ seamlessly adds new layers of wind data to the Tagmarshal platform’s tried-and-true analytics, broadening the horizon of tools that help operators optimize pace of play and enhance the player experience.
“Our vision and WindIQ’s are in perfect sync,” says Tagmarshal CEO Bodo Sieber. “We aim to deliver next-level technology that improves the golfing experience.
WindIQ does just that, giving golfers the wind information they need to make more confident shot decisions.”
How it Works
Rather than relying on phone signals or distant weather stations, WindIQ uses ultrasonic transducers that capture wind speed and direction on the green every second. It’s compact, screws into the top of each pin, and even boasts multi-band GPS to pinpoint daily hole locations.
No cords, no cables, no fumbling with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It’s rugged, solar-powered, and as close to “set it and forget it” as you can get in golf tech.
That unassuming little device opens up a world of useful intel:
- Wind Speed & Direction displayed on Tagmarshal Golf’s Caddie app or 2Way screen devices, as well as select on-course screens.
- Real-time recommendations that factor in wind impact on distance, club selection, shot trajectory, and aim.
- Daily Hole Locations fed right into the Tagmarshal system, saving staff countless hours.
- Pin In/Out Tracking for pacing stats that make sense—helping keep groups moving without the guesswork.
No more second-guessing how that pesky crosswind might push your ball into the next fairway.
By leveraging the Tagmarshal platform’s analytics, WindIQ translates wind data into actionable suggestions: “The pin is 157 yards out with an 11-mph wind in your face—maybe grab the extra club.” Think slope rating for wind.
Bigger Picture Benefits
Beyond the obvious joy of hitting more greens and fairways, WindIQ cranks out real-time wind info that can guide course operators to fine-tune tee times, speed up pace of play, and optimise labour.
With the device automatically feeding pin locations into the Tagmarshal Golf ecosystem, staff and superintendents can spend more time improving the course (or sneaking in extra range practice) instead of fussing with hole data.
WindIQ and founder Ben Holbrook will be on full display at the 2025 PGA Show in Orlando, alongside Tagmarshal’s latest on-course optimisation solutions.
Visitors can drop by Tagmarshal’s Booth 3123 for a firsthand look at how the partnership is blowing fresh air through the golf tech landscape.
For those who can’t make it to Orlando, check out WindIQ or schedule a call with Tagmarshal via their contact form.
To learn more—or to simply make wind your new secret weapon—visit their website and see how WindIQ and Tagmarshal Golf are reinventing the way we play.
After all, a well-informed golfer is a dangerous golfer. And now, so is the wind.
