The Solheim Cup is Using Tech to Up Their Fan Experience

by
September 18, 2014

Golf can be a really cool thing to watch live. You get to be outdoors, see beautiful landscapes, and get closer to the athletes than probably any sport (save for those crazy-expensive courtside NBA tickets). Seeing golf live can also be a bit of a hassle. There’s so much ground to be covered that it becomes quite easy to lose your way or spend a good deal of time searching for a concession stand, a restroom, or even the way back to your car.

There is also the feeling that you are always missing something. You may be following a certain pairing or a favorite player, but except for the occasional scoreboard sighting, it can be difficult to know what else is going on on the course. The best action might be happening 800 yards away from you.

In partnership with SAP, the Solheim Cup is looking to change these problems, by using smartphone apps to help fans get around the course and know more about the game. Fans who make the trip to Germany for the event in 2015 will be able to use their smartphones to find their way around the course, as well as find the latest scores, stats and standings from the competition. SAP is planning on instituting live streaming as well, so fans won’t have to trek across the course to see how a certain player or pairing is doing. The app will also provide live traffic and parking updates to help prevent congestion coming to and from the course, and will also offer integration with SAP’s ride-sharing app TwoGo.

This is a great step for golf. As they are already seeing a good-sized drop in event attendance, any reason to keep fans engaged is a good one for the sport. Giving spectators the ability to follow along with all the action of the event without having to log miles on their feet will help ensure fan morale and should cut down on foot traffic. An easy way for observers to find the nearest restroom or beverage stand without aimlessly wandering about should also help keep people happy. We don’t know the participants of the Solheim Cup yet, but it should bring some great competition for viewers all over the world to see. Thanks to some help from SAP, it should bring a good deal of enjoyment for the event goers as well.

(Header photo via Keith Allison)

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David G. Temple is the Managing Editor of TechGraphs and a contributor to FanGraphs, NotGraphs and The Hardball Times. He hosts the award-eligible podcast Stealing Home. Dayn Perry once called him a "Bible Made of Lasers." Follow him on Twitter @davidgtemple.

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