A Digital Locking System for Ingolstadt’s Golf Hall

First unlock, then tee off and putt is the name of the game in the golf hall on the grounds of the Ingolstadt Golf Club. Access is for registered sportspeople only who train with the high-quality simulators to improve their technique and ‘keep the ball rolling’ all year round. The hall was made secure at the beginning of the year by MobileKey, a digital locking solution for small business units. Mechanical keys have been replaced by digital transponders, PIN code keypads, or smartphones in this system. A digital locking cylinder was installed first of all, without cabling and without the need for any drilling or other construction work, and then the system was configured by means of a web app. The all-in-one solution is suitable for up to 20 doors and 100 users.

Entry and Exit Checking

A system was needed for the door used both by the instructors and by the golfers to enter the hall at Ingolstadt’s indoor golf course; apart from this main entrance, there is only an emergency exit. Christian Müller, a PGA professional and graduate in Golf Operations Management, of Ingolstadt Sports and his partner had several factors on their minds when switching from a mechanical locking cylinder with a key to a secure and practical digital solution. “We need to be able to check and monitor who is entering the hall during day-to-day operations. The most important thing for us, however, is remote opening, coupled with the flexibility of being able to unlock the door both by a number combination and by a mobile phone or a transponder.” Before conversion, the hall was safeguarded by video surveillance and an alarm system, but the golfers coming in and going out were difficult to check on, and also involved risks.

Monitored Customer Access

The search for a suitable solution from other companies was not successful. It was just by chance that Christian Müller came across the SimonsVoss system in a completely different type of building – a church – and contacted the company via their website for advice. The different locking and unlocking options as well as the access monitoring impressed the operations manager. His two main requirements were opening the entrance door without having to be on site himself, and restricting access to a time slot for those authorized to enter. Seven permanent authorizations were assigned for the Ingolstadt golf hall; five people have a transponder for permanent use. In addition to the two managers, these are one golf instructor and two employees. Around ten people a week enter the hall by PIN or app when neither of the managers or the employees are on site. In the outdoor season, it is fewer.

A digital locking cylinder was installed without any cabling or drilling being necessary.

© SimonsVoss

Maximum Flexibility in Everyday Practice

Installation was carried out by Pfättisch Sicherheitstechnik, Ingolstadt, a company specializing in commercial, industrial, and residential construction, and their SimonsVoss sales representative Christopher Skupke assisted in an advisory capacity. Programming is via a USB drive and the system is administered using a web app, so there is no great effort involved. 

The system has been in use since the end of January 2024 and the benefits of MobileKey are clearly obvious to the golf instructor and operations manager: “On request, every customer can enter the hall using one of the options – such as a PIN, an app or a transponder, or remotely by me or my partner opening the door. This makes everything considerably easier for us as it means that we do not always have to be on site to open the hall. And I no longer have a key in my pocket.” The customers benefit, too, as Christian Müller is able to report from the time after the conversion: “Many are delighted that they can reserve the simulator at short notice. A phone call is all it takes and I can open the door via the app. The system meets all the requirements that are important to us.”