Troon Management, the global leader in golf and country club management services, partnered with WaterGuru of Silicon Valley to implement a connected pool-health monitoring system at El Macero Country Club. This innovative pool solution integrated with El Macero’s member website and mobile app to eliminate member complaints, improve operational efficiency, and elevate the swimming experience for 1100+ members—a testament to Troon's commitment to operational excellence across its portfolio of 900+ locations worldwide.

Founded in 1961 in Davis, California, El Macero Country Club serves over 1100+ members from the greater Sacramento area. A decade ago, Troon Management Company—the worldwide leader in golf and club management with 900+ locations across 35+ countries—was brought onboard to raise operational excellence at the club. El Macero features an 18-hole Championship golf course that has hosted notable players including Governor Ronald Reagan and Tiger Woods, a full-length swimming pool, tennis courts, a clubhouse, and elegant banquet facilities that have hosted numerous high-profile events and serves as a popular wedding venue.

Over the past three years, El Macero has seen significant growth in its swimming community due to global warming and recreational preferences among young families. With increased pool usage by children and senior members came a challenge that tested even Troon's industry- leading management protocols: controlling pool-wide temperatures. Even a three-degree variation is jarring in water.

As Operations manager Morgan McKinney explains, “Members were increasingly asking how the pool was managed and frequently - Is the pool heater working, is it adequately powered, and, why is the water temperature cold in the shallow end”? These questions aren’t unique to El Macero’s pool as their echoes are familiar to lifeguards in all commercial pools.

“At Troon-managed properties, members don’t accept ordinary," explains Morgan. "While our members weren't expecting pool perfection; they did expect perfect information to maximize their family’s enjoyment.”

Beyond comfort, health concerns are also a factor, with some members needing to avoid colder water due to medical conditions. For example, one member had a Tachycardia condition with her physician warning that colder water could trigger a rapid heart- beat episode. Clearly a serious concern.

The technical challenges exemplified why Troon's management expertise was so crucial. Temperature variations of up to three degrees between different pool zones created discomfort for swimmers when moving between areas. Warmer water near heating outlets contrasted with cooler water in the shallow end where young and older members preferred to swim. Aging water pumps gradually reduced circulation efficiency, while cold water refills due to evaporation during hot summer months further complicated temperature management. Throughout the day, weather factors caused temperature fluctuations that were difficult to predict.

Consistent with Troon's data-driven approach to club management, El Macero's first attempt at addressing member concerns involved measuring pool temperature at 6 AM, reported in the morning golf activity email. However, an early morning reading proved insufficient for members planning their pool time visits. Staff found themselves fielding a constant stream of calls inquiring about current pool temperature. One dedicated member even resorted to bringing her own thermometer to the pool. Complaints continued, member satisfaction suffered, and staff resources were inefficiently impacted—a common problem for pool-property managers which ran contrary to Troon's commitment to excellence.

The WaterGuru Pool-health monitor was invisibly installed in the skimmer at the shallow end—historically the coldest part of the pool.

After a brief technical evaluation, the integration was achieved with minimal effort, providing all 1100+ club members with continuously updated pool temperature at their fingertips. This smooth implementation process was a byproduct of Troon's well-established protocols for technology adoption and integration.

The impact was immediate and significant, reinforcing why Troon Management is the partner of choice for premier clubs worldwide. Member experience was dramatically enhanced, with Morgan reporting, "Our members are delighted with being informed. Gone are the days of being surprised when they arrive at the pool.

Even the most vocal members expressed gratitude for the beneficial change. ”Staff operations are now more efficient as employees no longer field frequent calls about pool temperature, freeing them to focus on other aspects of their roles. Members with medical concerns gained the ability to make informed decisions about when to swim, enhancing safety and accessibility—core values in Troon's management philosophy.

One added benefit was mitigating pool health liability risk - the system enables Troon to monitor El Macero’s pool contractor's performance, ensuring service level agreements are met for an always-healthy pool environment.

"At our annual member meeting, we proudly announced the big update to our website displaying real-time pool temperature. One of our members who regularly complained about this issue came running up to me with delight," shares Morgan. A strong testament to Troon's commitment to turning member feedback into tangible improvements.

By partnering with WaterGuru, Troon Management transformed a persistent source of member dissatisfaction into a showcase of its commitment to member satisfaction and technological innovation.

“This solution exemplifies Troon's approach to club management—identifying challenges, researching best-in-class solutions, and implementing them with an eye toward scalability across our portfolio," concludes Morgan. "Today, all El Macero’s members know the pool temperature, regardless of time of day.” The days of gauging water temperature by dipping toes in the water are over.”