Start Up Takes Tech To The Golf Course

Golfing app, Hole19, has reported record growth in consumer downloads over the last three months.

The app assists players on the golf course with GPS distances, hole map imagery and stat tracking, and has now amassed over 600,000 users around the world.

The game of golf has previously been accused of being slow on the uptake when it comes to embracing technology, however, while professionals are strictly forbidden to use it on course, the adoption of technology at the grassroots end of the market is spreading.

After launching in April 2014, Hole19 now has two million rounds played using the tracking tool, with half of these rounds coming in the last three months.

Hole19 was one of the first apps available for Apple Watch, which allows golfers to reference distances to the front, centre, and back of the green, and track their score and stats without needing to check their phone.

Commenting on the growth of its usage and adoption of technology in the industry, Anthony Douglas, founder and CEO, Hole19 said: “The rate at which we’ve grown tells a story: golfers are tech-savvy, golfers appreciate good design, and golfers are eager to improve their game. The Apple Watch is great for golf because it meets these needs while fitting seamlessly into the flow of a round of golf. The Apple Watch is a big win the golf industry, and as is the beauty of technology broadly, it only gets better from here.”

Based out of Lisbon, Portugal, Hole19 is currently in the process of raising Series A funding as it seeks to continue its growth. Douglas continued: “This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what technology can bring to the $76bn golf industry. Hole19 is enhancing the on-course golf experience and helping golfers improve.

“There continues to be huge potential for golfers, courses, coaches, brands and retailers to tap into a wealth of valuable data. That’s what gets us excited and that’s what we’re working on.”

Hole19 has now mapped in-house over 36,000 courses, which represents more than 95% of golf courses worldwide.