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The Loop

Game Golf will track statistical data for you

March 28, 2013
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Statistical data conceivably could help anyone improve their golf, but taking the time and trouble to gather it is problematic. Until now.

A software engineer from Ireland, John McGuire, CEO of Active Mind Technology, has developed a system by which the data is collected for you.

Game Golf comes with 18 club tags (see photo above), one for each of your 14 clubs and four extras for additional clubs, that pop into the grip end of the clubs. A sensor that features GPS, a compass, accelerometer and a gyrometer clips to your belt and records all manner of data, which after a round is sent via a Bluetooth connection to Game Golf servers and can be viewed on computers, iPhones or iPads.

"A good analogy would be ShotLink," McGuire said, referring to the PGA Tour data collection system. "It's easy to use, very intuitive. The data is very clean, simple. You see each club you use, the distances you hit them. I don't want people putting in information, I want information to come from the game.

"We can generate all the stats for you -- fairways hit, greens in regulation, number of putts, scrambling, without you having to put in that information. You go play your round of golf and we do the rest. We're showing you your round of golf, the course you played, where you took your shots from. Then based on your last five games, based on your distances, your course management, we recommend ways to improve."

Game Golf's team is impressive. The device was designed by Yves Behar, better known as the chief creative officer for Jawbone and its popular Jambox compact wireless Bluetooth speakers. Golfers Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood also have a stake in the company and have been testing the product and providing feedback to Game Golf's research and development team.

"For it to be useful, it has to be simple to use and it has to be very visual," McGuire said. "The way you present the data has to be simple."

The device will retail for $249, though early adopters can buy in now for $189, McGuire said.