San Francisco, May 24, 2016 – For some father and son teams, the most fun they have together is on the golf course. Historically, it’s been fathers teaching their sons how to enjoy one of the world’s oldest sports. However, this coming Father’s Day, the next generation of golfers appears to be teaching their Dads something new about their games. They’re doing it with a little technological help and a new promotion from GAME GOLF LIVE that runs from May 23 to Father’s Day where fathers and sons (and daughters!) can pick up the award-winning shot-tracking device for $199 ($100 off) at GAMEGOLF.com, golf specialty shops, more than 800 green grass pro shops or #AmazonLaunchpad.
“For the first time in the history of golf, we’re seeing a shift in how people learn about their own golf game,” said Rob Labritz, PGA Director of Golf at Glen Arbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y. “Dads may have initially gotten their sons onto the course, and even given them their first lessons. However, when it comes to really getting into the specifics of improving their games, it’s the sons who are turning the tables and are teaching their dads a new way to play.”
This shift is due to the rise of wearable digital game analyzers. The leader of the pack is the award-winning GAME GOLF LIVE, the world’s first, most accurate and most technologically advanced wearable real-time device to track and analyze a golf game. The wearable system uses GPS motion sensor tags and near-field communication technology that is attached to the tip of the grips and a lightweight device that is worn on the belt. Golfers pull a club from their bags, touch the tag to their GAME GOLF device or Android phone, and hit their shots. Not only does the system have a powerful rangefinder and real-time mapping and graphics, it provides data on every aspect of a golfer’s play, including true distances of every club, location of every shot, fairways hit, greens-in-regulation, putts per hole and much more. The system also compares a golfer’s play against the data of a scratch golfer and proactively provides TIPS for game improvement.
Junior players are readily incorporating these kinds of devices into their play. “Juniors all grew up playing computer games and are naturally more tech savvy than their parents,” commented Labritz. “For them, GAME GOLF LIVE just makes the game cooler. They are motivated by what they see about their games. They really study the data. So, adding a device like this to their routines is easy. Their dads, however, are a little more set in their ways. But, as they play with their kids, they’re learning a lot of new tricks to shave strokes off their scores.”
One of the first things that fathers and sons both learn when using an analyzer is the importance of the pre-shot routine. “For years, we have coached people about the importance of getting properly set up,” lamented Labritz. “Everyone is so eager to just take a swing. They don’t take the time to really analyze what they need to do before they address the ball. GAME GOLF LIVE’s Tag & Go feature is one of the best ways to make a player slow down, and think about what shot they are actually trying to pull off, do their yardages, know if they have to hit a draw or a fade, and analyze their slopes and undulations. As they walk to the shot, they tag the club to the device as they’re walking. By the time they take their stance, they’re more focused and ready to go.”
The amazing, real-time graphics of GAME GOLF LIVE make analyzing shots even more compelling. Immediately after taking a shot, data is available on Android or iOS smartphones, or on Apple or Pebble watches. Editing data for accuracy and adding penalties is easy. All playing history and statistics are automatically backed up online. “Juniors are hardwired to the idea of getting information right away, so they take full advantage of the real-time nature of GAME GOLF LIVE,” said Labritz. “They show their parents how they did after a round. They also fully use the social media features to share their successes with friends via email, Facebook and Twitter. When they do this, the parents think it’s pretty cool and want in on the action.”
Friendly competition has always been part of golf. With GAME GOLF LIVE, sons are showing their Dads a whole new way to dial up the gaming aspects of the sport. The GAME GOLF platform takes the game out of the Friday foursome and puts it into a community of players around the world. Within the community, players can see how everyone is playing the more than 33,000 courses in the system. With the device’s “Challenge” feature, players can virtually compete in a skills challenge with anyone – even GAME GOLF pros like Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk. Players join an existing challenge or create their own by merely choosing the time and place.
“Father’s Day is a great time for sons and daughters to get Dad into technology that will truly help their games,” added Labritz. “Wearable analyzers have radically changed how I coach. I can’t physically follow every golfer on all the holes they play in a week. But, I can literally see every shot they take. I can look up every round played and can offer advice through the GAME GOLF system. The parents of these juniors are able to participate in their child’s improvement by watching their play on their phones or online. And everyone is getting a lot more value out of my coaching because we spend time on the things that the data says need the most improvement.”
Visit GAMEGOLF.com for more information on the Father’s Day promotion or follow GAME GOLF on Facebook and Twitter at @GAMEGOLF and on Instagram at @GAME_GOLF, #GAMEGOLF.
Contact:
Siobhan Olson, Siobhan@FeistyPR.com, 336-769-6365
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