Inventor takes swing at golf market

COLUMBUS -- A local inventor has taken a swing at creating a product to improve golf instruction.

What he has come up with appears to be a hole-in-one.

Mikol Hess of Columbus spent two-and-a-half years doing research on a problem he pondered for years after a conversation he had with a golf teaching professional.

“A friend of mine was a teaching pro. He was so busy running the pro shop doing everything but teaching that he said, ‘It would be great to video tape on the golf course so I could view it later,’” Hess said.

Although not much of a golfer himself, the inventor in Hess was intrigued. He wanted to create a recording system that could be used on the golf course, but one that wouldn’t involve the hassle of tripods or cause the golfer to hold up play while he got the camera set up.

After many rounds of trial and error, and waiting for the right technology to come around, Hess came up with the PortaPro Video, a hands-free, fully integrated audio and video system that is mounted to golf carts.

Using programmable logic controls and a direct drive digital video recorder, the PortaPro Video records a golf lesson or round on a DVD. The golfer can view the DVD with a golf pro and the two can go over the player’s swing, or have a recorded memory of playing a course.

The system is made up of a digital video camera mounted on the front of the cart and a digital video recorder mounted on the back. The system operates through the use of the cart’s brakes. When the brake pedal is locked, the video recorder starts. When the brake pedal is released, the video stops.

Hess, 54, said the PortaPro Video is simple to use. All the user has to do is put in a DVD, press one button, and it is ready.

The PortaPro Video made its debut at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., and Hess said he knew he had made something special when people flocked to see the creation. The product has recently been endorsed by PGA Teacher Ben Alexander.

Hess said the main clients of the PortaPro Video are teaching pros, destination resorts and golf cart owners.

More information about the system is available at www.portaprovideo.com.

Originally from South Dakota, Hess has lived in Columbus for the past two years. He is president of PortaPro Video in Columbus and calls himself an inventor and businessman. He has been inventing products for 20 years, and most of that time has been spent working with stereos and speakers.

He settled in Nebraska after spending time in Arizona, New York City and Colorado. He said Columbus has been a great place for him to be creative.

“Columbus is like an inventor’s dream. Where else can you go in America where the mayor will sit down with you and help you work a circuit? Where my friends from Vishay will come help me out?” Hess said.