(Traverse City, Michigan)—When Russell Edens debuted his Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator at the PGA Merchandise Show in 2007, the experience was a little humbling. “Our booth was too small and the van we used for transport broke down on the way to the show and on the way home,” he laughed. “In 2008 I had a long list of things we needed to improve on at the Merchandise Show, and I believe we did.”
Since its successful launch a little over a year ago, the Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator ™ has gained widespread consumer acceptance and golf industry approval. And its appearance at the January show in Orlando, Florida offered proof of system improvements and upgrades, along with the promise of a number of strategic alliances, that figure to make the revolutionary low-priced golf simulator a “must-have” product this year.
“The newest generation of our product (suggested retail of $425) is something that is within financial reach of most everyone, and it offers a golf experience that is exciting, helpful and realistic,” said Edens, president and chief executive officer of Dancin’ Dogg Golf. “We’ve updated virtually all of the elements of our simulator and the result is a compact and portable unit that will give golfers swing feedback that will ultimately translate to better performance on the golf course.”
In addition to being the first simulator dedicated to improving your golf game, the Shot Making Simulator also provides world-class golf simulation and swing analysis. It’s drawn rave reviews at trade shows and from golf industry publications and is bundled with the EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’07 golf game, which provides opportunities for simulated rounds on many of the world’s great courses, including Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. At this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, Dancin’ Dogg is announcing several new strategic product and instructional alliances.
The first is a partnership with Swing Technologies™ that has integrated SwingCoach Live video-capture with the Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator. Dancin’ Dogg users will be able to record a video of their golf swing and then transmit it to any of the more than 2,000 PGA of America professionals for online instruction through the Medicus Golf Institute.
A similar initiative involves what Dancin’ Dogg calls “The Open Dogg” Application Programming Interface (API). “We’ve had a number of people approach us with ideas and products they would like to integrate with Dancin’ Dogg,” said Edens, “ranging from games, launch-angle monitors and video-capture software. With this interface, we’ll be able to give our customers access to an ever-growing number of integrated applications, including SwingCoach Live (www.swingtechnologies.com)
and SimWay’s (www.simway.se) virtual golf game.”
Dancin’ Dogg is also teaming up with Medicus Golf and Accu-Length to produce a “Junior Success Kit” for the coming 2008 season. The set will consist of the Dancin’ Dogg Simulator, the Medicus Vision Track, which helps players envision the correct swing path of the club and a full set of Accu-Length adjustable clubs. “When you put all of these products together, I feel you have the necessary components that it takes to get a player started properly from the very beginning,” said Bob Koch, president of Medicus Golf, the maker of the Medicus Hinged Club, the best-selling training aid in the world.
And while associations with golf technology and manufacturing companies abound for Dancin’ Dogg, Edens said the company is still developing grass-roots programs to help popularize the sport. “We remain committed to helping The First Tee, to whom we’ve donated simulators to chapters in Michigan and New York,” he said. “I believe the lessons and relationships golf develops can make the world a better place. We are committed to growing the game for that reason and the First Tee exemplifies that vision. We are proud to be a part of it.”
At the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show, Edens’ comments were echoed by many people affiliated with initiatives designed to grow the game, including Rudy Duran of Accu-Length, the California teacher who gave Tiger Woods his first formal golf instruction. “When Tiger was young, he was always talking about having the opportunity to compete.” said Duran. “More than anything else it was about having the tools needed to improve. The Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator and the Accu-Length system can do the same for the dreams and hopes of other kids.”
Also present in Orlando was Lisa Woodcox, the executive director of The First Tee of Detroit, a chapter that has already received a simulator from Dancin’ Dogg. “The first time we brought kids in to use it, I think they would’ve gotten their sleeping bags and stayed all night if we had let them,” said Woodcox. “Having the simulator will also be a great asset for us when we go into area schools that have no money for physical education programs.”
For more information on where to buy the Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator, visit the company web site www.dancindogggolf.com. The unit is also available through leading golf shops and on-line retailers. For additional information on the Shot Making Simulator contact:
Dancin’ Dogg Golf
1371 Trade Centre Drive, Traverse City, Michigan USA 49686
Toll Free (US and Canada): (866) 941-3644 (941-DOGG)
Telephone: (734) 239-7004 Fax: (231) 346-5982
Contact:
Tom Cleary, All About Golf (616) 915-4267 E-mail: TJCleary@aol.com
Terry Moore, All About Golf (616) 247-1931 E-mail: terry_moore@comcast.net
