AI Golf Camera Deployment Checklist

Phase 1: Site Survey (10 minutes)

Before placing the camera, spend 10 minutes evaluating your deployment location. The right position dramatically improves video quality and AI detection reliability.

Location Selection Checklist

• ☐ High-traffic area identified — Choose locations where the most golfers hit: signature par-3 tee boxes, driving range end bays, practice greens. Higher traffic = more content = more engagement.
• ☐ Clear line of sight to hitting area — The camera needs an unobstructed view of the golfer's swing arc. No trees, posts, or structures blocking the view between the camera and the hitting position.
• ☐ Clear line of sight to landing area / flag — For the 18x zoom gimbal to track the ball to the target, the camera needs a clear view of the flag or landing zone. Verify this from the planned camera position.
• ☐ Background suitable for AI detection — The AI detects the ball against the background behind the ball flight. Sky, distant trees, or open field (high contrast, uniform) are ideal. Avoid positions where the ball tracks against a dark, cluttered, or busy background.
• ☐ Safe from cart and foot traffic — Position the camera where it will not be bumped, driven into, or blocked by passing golfers and carts. The edge of the tee box, behind a tee marker, or adjacent to a path divider are common safe positions.
• ☐ Sun position considered — Avoid pointing the camera directly into the sun during the hours of primary use. In the Northern Hemisphere, a camera position on the south side of the tee box, facing north, minimizes glare issues during most of the day.

Phase 2: Hardware Setup (5 minutes)

Camera Placement

• ☐ Mounting method selected
  • Ground stake — Push into turf until stable (works on fairway-cut and rough surfaces)
  • Tripod — Any standard 1/4"-20 thread tripod for hard surfaces (cart paths, concrete pads)
  • Bracket mount — For semi-permanent range installations
• ☐ Camera height set — Waist to chest height (approximately 0.8-1.3 meters). This provides a natural viewing angle and optimal AI detection geometry.
• ☐ Camera angle set — Approximately 85° to the golfer (±5°). The camera should be positioned to the side of the golfer, not directly behind or in front. From this angle, both the swing and the ball flight are visible in the same frame.
• ☐ Distance from golfer — 3-8 meters. Closer than 3m causes wide-angle distortion. Farther than 8m reduces swing detail in the video.
• ☐ Camera level — Ensure the camera is approximately level (not tilting significantly). A slight upward tilt is acceptable for capturing ball flight.

Power On

• ☐ Battery charged — Verify battery level before deployment. Full charge provides 10+ hours of operation. For all-day range deployment, charge overnight.
• ☐ Power button pressed — Single press to power on. The AI initialization sequence begins automatically (approximately 30-60 seconds to full readiness).
• ☐ Status indicator confirmed — Verify the camera's status LED indicates normal operation per the user manual.

Phase 3: AI Verification (5 minutes)

Before leaving the camera unattended, verify that the AI is detecting swings correctly. This step prevents wasted time and ensures quality content from the start.

• ☐ Test swing 1 — Have a staff member or golfer hit a shot. Verify that the camera detects the swing (status indicator/sound confirms detection).
• ☐ Test swing 2-3 — Hit 2-3 more shots to confirm consistent detection. If detection is intermittent, adjust camera distance or angle slightly.
• ☐ Review test video — Play back the test video on the camera or Golfeye app. Confirm:
  • The golfer is well-framed (not cut off at top or bottom)
  • The shot tracer overlay is visible and tracks the ball correctly
  • The zoom tracking follows the ball toward the target/flag
  • Video quality is sharp (no excessive blur, no overexposure)
• ☐ Flag/target lock confirmed — If the flag is visible, verify the camera's gimbal tracks toward it after the ball launch. This creates the dramatic zoom-follow effect in the final video.

Phase 4: Connectivity Setup (5 minutes)

Choose your connectivity mode based on the deployment scenario. All three modes produce the same video quality — they differ only in how and when videos are accessible.

• ☐ Connectivity mode selected and configured
• ☐ App connection verified (if using Hotspot or Hybrid mode) — Open the Golfeye app, confirm it connects to the camera, and verify test videos are visible.

Phase 5: Staff Briefing (10-15 minutes)

Brief the relevant staff on the deployment. Different roles need different information. According to PGA of America research on technology adoption, the single biggest barrier to successful facility technology is staff buy-in — not the technology itself.

• ☐ Pro shop / front desk briefed — Camera location, how to power on/off, how to answer member questions ("Yes, we have a new AI camera on hole 7 that creates shot tracer videos"). 5-minute verbal briefing.
• ☐ Teaching professionals briefed — How to access lesson videos in the app, how to export video files for coaching software (V1 Golf, CoachNow), how to promote "Video-Enhanced Lessons" to students. 15-minute briefing with hands-on demo.
• ☐ Maintenance/course staff briefed — Camera location so they can work around it. How to safely move the camera if needed (grip the body, not the gimbal). How to identify that the camera is on vs off. 5-minute briefing.
• ☐ Marketing/social team briefed — How to access the daily video library and curate "Shot of the Day" content. How to share videos with the facility's social media accounts. 10-minute briefing.

Daily Operation Checklist (After First Deployment)

Once the initial deployment is complete, the daily routine is minimal:

• ☐ Morning: Place camera at designated location, power on (2 minutes)
• ☐ During day: No action needed — camera operates autonomously
• ☐ End of day: Retrieve camera, connect to charger (2 minutes)
• ☐ Weekly: Review video library, curate social content, check battery health

Troubleshooting Quick Reference