Ames Golf and Country Club does 30% faster computing with Windows 7 Profesional

1. Windows 7
Customer Solution Case Study
High Season for Golf Club Means
High-Speed Business
Overview “We’re now running and comparing three different
Country or Region: United States
operating systems. The new OS wins the speed
Industry: Recreation, Retail contest with 30 percent faster computing. Windows 7
Customer Profile
Ames Golf & Country Club, Ames, Iowa, is a
is the golf equivalent of a hole-in-one.”
private golf course formed in 1911. The Cory Strait, General Manager, Ames Golf and Country Club
facility has 350 members, five core
management and up to 70 part time
employees. It has 11 PCs and one server. Project Coordinator
High season for Ames Golf & Country Club, Ames, Iowa, can mean
The Atlas Corporation
Business Situation more than finishing 18-holes in record time; it can be a rush.
Dozens of part time employees needing
training compound high golf season pace. Situated on 164 acres, with 350 members and up to 70
The club test-drove Windows 7 against two employees, the championship golf course comes with all of the
older OS’s. Speed, reliability and
productivity mattered most. amenities—and all of the headaches—of a quality run, fast-paced
business. Managing temporary employee training and senior staff
Solution
Taking advantage of new Windows 7 workflow volume are constant challenges. Tapping the IT expertise
features like Action Center, Problem Steps of Heartland Technology Solutions, a Microsoft® Gold Certified
Recorder, Taskbar Customization, and the
Aero desktop experience, Ames sped up Partner, the golf club is test-driving the Windows® 7 operating
workflow and found ways to support system. In a sport where a low score is high praise, Windows 7 is at
temporary staff better.
the top of the leader board. Ames is discovering several features
Benefits like Taskbar customization, Aero® desktop experience, Federated
 New OS 30-Percent Faster, More
Reliable Search, and Problem Steps Recorder that are not only are speeding
 Better On-Screen Document up its “business-play” but making everyday tasks easier.
Management
 Longer Battery Life, More Work Time
 New Search Fills In Gaps
 Faster Problem Resolution


2. Situation more efficiently we can work, the better for
Ames Golf & Country Club was formed in our business.”
1911. The original Club, a nine-hole golf
course with a clubhouse and swimming pool, Solution
was located south of Ames, Iowa. In 1971 Ames is uncovering various features in the
land was purchased and a new golf course new operating system that is helping the club
built at the present location, north of Ames. to manage documents more efficiently.
The grand opening of the new facility in the Battery Power Management
present location was held on Labor Day The new power manage feature, Battery
1974. The Club consists of 164 acres, Power Management, efficiently dims the
including a well-manicured golf course, a screen when not needed to better conserve
heated pool, a wading pool and two tennis power consumption. The result is longer work
courts. The pool facilities are available times on a single charge.
Memorial Day through Labor Day
Restore Previous Versions
The renowned Donald Sechrest of Tulsa, Restore Previous Versions enables AGCC
Oklahoma, designed the 18-hole, 114-acre users to quickly restore previous versions of
course in 1971. The golf course boasts lush documents that have been accidently
fairways, tees and well-manicured greens changed or deleted.
irrigated and surrounded by a few small, well-
positioned lakes. Also included are an ample Federated Search
practice and teaching facility and a large This functionality enables the AGCC team to
practice green. The club has four POS find any type of file whether on local drives,
terminals in its pro shop, seven desktop network or the Internet. Searches are deeper
computers and four laptops as part of a WAN and more comprehensive.
set up. During the peak season the five core
staff is joined by up to 70 part time Problem Steps Recorder
employees. Problem Steps Recorder allows AGCC staff to
precisely capture and communicate a
While part time employees are critical to the computer problem. It also enables staff to
operation, there is at least one unintended document fixes, create tutorials or
consequence--lost computer files. The hectic knowledge-based reference materials for
pace of high season sometimes falls prey to customers.
lack of computer training, job training and
follow-up. Files can be difficult to locate on Action Center
local or shared drives. “We often get too Action Center keeps AGCC users informed
much help misplacing files,” muses Cory about PC status without interrupting the
Strait, general manager, Ames Golf and workflow. It also provides direct links to a
Country Club. large variety of security and maintenance
solutions.
Another challenge is being able to have
remote access to AFCC network. Strait Aero desktop experience
needed to solve POS ticket or payroll issues The Windows 7 Aero Snap feature allows
from home or while on the road. “High AGCC users side-by-side window viewing by
season means high speed,” said Strait. “The dragging windows to borders, left and right.
Grab and shake the foremost screen to make

3. all other screens disappear. The Peek feature
is invoked by clicking the lower right hand Longer Battery Life, More Work Time
Show Desktop rectangle. The desktop is The Ames Golf & Country Club is situated on
immediately visible to view gadgets and other 164 acres of land with a number of facilities
desktop icons. spread out across the entire area. Thought
Strait is regularly on the move, he still needs
Taskbar to be connected.”I often take my laptop with
Features like Pinning and Jump Lists, me as I move around the club during the day.
accessed conveniently from the taskbar, I’d estimate I’m getting an extra 50 percent
streamline document navigation. AGCC users more battery life with the Windows 7 Power
have their files move readily available. Management feature. I really prefer battery-
life not dictate my work life.”
Benefits
New OS 30-Percent Faster, More Reliable New Search Fills In Gaps
According to Strait, Ames is in a unique When employees leave, finding information
position to compare old and new operating on their computers can be problematic. So
systems. “We’re now running and comparing also can be accidently deleting important
three different operating systems. The new documents. Windows 7 is providing
OS wins the speed contest delivering 30- assistance with Federated Search and
percent faster computing. Windows 7 is the Restore Previous Version features. Said
golf equivalent of a hole-in-one.” Strait, “We just lost an accountant and I had
to fill in while we found someone else. We
For many small businesses, the ultimate test still had bills and employees to pay.
of new software—especially an operating Federated Search saved the day. I was able
system—is that it works. “My job isn’t to quickly locate the files I needed.
computers, it’s running a golf course and
country club. So far, Windows 7 has been “The Restore Previous Versions feature can
extremely stable and reliable…just what I fix mistakes. It’s easy to talk yourself into not
expected,” noted Strait. believing you could lose a document, but
when it happens you panic. Now, I don’t have
Better On-Screen Document to worry.”
Management
Taskbar customization and Aero desktop Faster Problem Resolution
experience features are making document Up until now, identifying and communicating
navigation faster. Noted Strait, “I have an 18- computer problems has always been
hole private golf course, club house, pro challenge—especially for less technically
shop, two bars, two restaurants and two savvy users. Ames is discovering a faster way
swimming pools to manage with up to 150 to get issues in front of its IT consultant and
guests a day. Tools like Snap, Peek and finding the same Windows 7 feature, Problem
Shake make juggling business documents Steps Recorder, can help support the training
easier. It’s like having an extra set of hands of new employees. According to Strait, “Trying
to get things done faster. to have non-technical staff clearly
communicate a computer glitch to our IT
“Jump List and Pinning features in the new consultant, HTS, can be hard. Problem Steps
Taskbar are excellent. I can move between Recorder now makes it easy. In minutes we
many spreadsheets and word documents can capture and email the problem for faster
much easier with Windows 7.” resolution.”

4. For More Information Windows 7
For more information about Microsoft One recent example of how much time can be Faster and more reliable: Windows 7 will help
products and services, call the Microsoft wasted is when Ames management was your organization use information technology
Sales Information Center at (800) 426- trying to connect to a mail server. Said Chet to gain a competitive advantage in today’s
9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Hunemuller, lead engineer, Heartland new world of work. Your people will be able to
Canada Information Centre at (877) 568- Technology Solutions, “Apparently, no one be more productive. You will be able to
2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of- had changed email settings. After 20- support your mobile work force with better
hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone minutes, we found an outbound box that was access to shared data and collaboration
(TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in unchecked. Problem Steps Recorder could tools. And your IT staff will have better tools
the United States or (905) 568-9641 in have quickly captured each Microsoft Office and technologies to enhance corporate IT
Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Outlook email setup screens for fast security, data protection, and more efficient
Canada, please contact your local resolution by us—a five minute job instead of deployment and management.
Microsoft subsidiary. To access information 30.”
using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com Strait continued, “Training dozens of For more information about Windows 7, go to:
temporary employees on computer www.microsoft.com/windows/business
For more information about Ames Golf & procedures is a time-sink. We see Problem
Country Club products and services, call Steps Recorder helping us that can help
515-232-8334 or visit the Web site at: speed up the training process.”
www.amesgolfcc.com
Easier Status Reports
For more information Heartland Technology Action Center provides a consolidated one-
Solutions products and services, call 712- view place for Ames users to check on the
744-3619 or visit the Web site at: status of security and maintenance. “Action
www.heartlandtechnologies.com Center is a great tool for any level of
computer user. Ten or more security and
maintenance areas are monitored via a
single window. Unobtrusive alerts get our
attention when something important needs
action.”
Software and Services Hardware
 Products  Lenovo
− Microsoft Windows 7 Professional  HP
− Microsoft Office® 2007 Professional
− Microsoft Windows Server® 2003
This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT
MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
SUMMARY.
Document published July 2009