Advanced GPS Satellite Technology Incorporated Into LPGA Broadcasts As Part of Multi-Faceted Partnership
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 19, 2007 – Starting with the 2007 SBS Open at Turtle Bay, advanced GPS satellite technology made its broadcast debut of Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) events televised on both the Golf Channel and ESPN2. Integrated into a multi-year partnership with the LPGA, SkyGolf’s SkyCaddie® GPS rangefinder will serve as the official rangefinder for the LPGA and on-course analysts and reporters will be equipped with the SkyCaddie® GPS rangefinder, providing the viewing audience with unprecedented real-time performance data.
SkyCaddie® is designed to enhance the viewing experience for fans, by providing real-time data that enables fans to more closely monitor the performance of their favorite LPGA stars. Viewers have access to an assortment of real-time performance data such as driving distances and positioning, distances needed to clear or lay up in front of fairway hazards, and exact distances to the front of the green and the back of the green from any angle, due to SkyGolf’s patented IntelliGreen technology. From crushing 275 yard drives, to precision shots over water or sand, the SkyCaddie® eliminates the guessing game, and provides analysts with relevant and unique information at their fingertips.
"We are pleased to be able to incorporate SkyGolf’s state-of-the-art technology into various areas of the LPGA business, which will positively impact fan, viewer and member experiences," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens.
"We are very excited to partner with the LPGA, and for the first-time ever, integrate advanced GPS technology into each broadcast," says Richard Edmonson, SkyGolf CEO. "SkyCaddie’s real-time performance data provides fans with an enhanced viewing experience and further illustrates the remarkable talents of these highly skilled professional athletes."
The multi-faceted partnership, which recognizes SkyCaddie® as the official rangefinder of the LPGA, reaches LPGA fans and golfers via multiple grassroots initiatives and mainstream media beyond television and will include LPGA.com, which will highlight its pace-of-play and game improvement benefits, and at LPGA Tour and Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) tournaments. Additionally, LPGA fans at select Tour events will be able to visit consumer expo areas, where SkyCaddie® representatives will offer first-hand demonstrations of the products.
About SkyGolf
SkyGolf is a solutions integrator that leverages the convergence of proven technologies, including GPS, Internet, mobile handsets and proprietary content to provide an instant answer to the oldest question in golf, "How far?" While respecting the game’s traditions and history, SkyGolf is committed to using its advanced technology responsibly to improve pace-of-play, enhance golfers’ enjoyment of the game and ultimately increase participation for the good of the game.
The SkyCaddie, developed by SkyGolf, is used on over 15,000 golf courses in 45 countries around the world. Weighing less than 5 ounces, the SkyCaddie utilizes the same global positioning system used by the U.S. military, but in a highly portable handheld device, about the size of a cell phone, to compute distances to any point on a golf course. SkyGolf uses professional, high-performance GPS engines, satellite-based accuracy augmentation, plus proprietary accuracy enhancements to provide golfers with the distances needed to play smarter, faster and have more fun!
The proven reliability and accuracy of the SkyCaddie handheld, combined with the precision of SkyGolf’s vast course library, gives golfers the trust and confidence they need to play their best golf. For more information, visit www.skygolf.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Dana Gross-Rhode, LPGA; 386.274.6200, dana.grossrhode@lpga.com
Glenn Mastro, Mastro Communications, Inc.; 732.469.5700, gmastro@mastrocomm.com
