How Parkstone Golf Club Solved On-Site Safety Challenges

03 September 2025

See how Unique Group fixed long-standing safety concerns near the 18th tee, where stray golf balls occasionally posed a risk to golfers leaving the driving range or navigating that part of the course.

Parkstone Golf Club faced a long-standing safety concern near the 18th tee, where stray golf balls occasionally posed a risk to golfers leaving the driving range or navigating that part of the course. Traditional warning systems, such as bells or push-button relays, often fell short in terms of reliability.

While the club was considering a solely camera-based setup, The Unique Group proposed an innovative alternative, a bespoke, AI-powered traffic light warning system. Installed in Spring 2025 and designed, developed, and delivered entirely in-house, it offers a more dependable and intelligent solution to keep players safe without interrupting the flow of the game.

Unique led the full process, from initial consultation through to site-specific design and installation. Using AI cameras, the system detects motion in real time and activates warning lights to signal when it’s safe to proceed, dramatically reducing the risk of injury, with zero disruption to the player experience.

This wasn’t just a safety upgrade; it was a technical first. A unique challenge with a one-of-a-kind solution.

James Fuller, General Manager at Parkstone Golf Club and a respected voice within the GCMA, commented:

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the team, and we’ve created a solution that we are very, very happy with.”

Parkstone Golf Club isn’t alone. Many golf clubs have tight pathways, blind spots, or crossovers that pose similar safety risks, but up to now, there hasn’t been a practical or elegant fix. This project proves that with the right technology and a tailored approach, it’s possible to resolve these issues without compromising the flow or feel of the course.

For sites with complex safety issues, where traditional systems fall short, Unique’s tailored technology could be exactly what’s needed.

To discuss a solution for your venue, email [email protected]

VISIT UNIQUE GROUP HERE

By Mark Shanley

More from Your Community

GCMA Teams Up with 59Club as an Official Education Partner

5 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

Press Release The Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) is delighted…

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Women in Golf Awards

4 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

The Women in Golf Awards announced its 2025 winners at…

‘Governance is key’ — David Holmes

3 Dec 2025By GCMA Content Team

Drawing on over two decades of experience, David Holmes shares…

John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

This will close in 0 seconds

Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.