Golf technology platform 18Birdies has landed one of the biggest up-and-coming social media stars as a brand partner in golfer Paige Spiranac.
The 24-year-old Cactus Tour player, who boasts nearly a million followers on Instagram, signed on with the startup company, which centers around a free app designed to track golfers’ round history and statistics along with a digital scorecard. It also includes a GPS range finder and side-game bets with friends, among other features.
Spiranac along with other new 18Birdies ambassadors — PGA Tour players Harold Varner III and Willy Wilcox — will begin to promote a new app integration called Live Rounds. The feature will allow the trio to regularly share playing rounds and statistics to the 18Birdies feed or Facebook so that their audience can follow along in real-time.
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“The Live Rounds feature is a great way for me to connect with fans. 18Birdies has done a great job in emphasizing the social nature of the game,” Spiranac said in a statement.
Added 18Birdies Founder and Chief Executive Officer Eddy Lui in a statement: “A big focus for us is making golf more social and interactive. Through the Live Rounds feature, we are excited to give our users a chance to interact live with Willy, Harold and Paige as well as share their rounds with their own golfing community.”
Big News! 18Birdies welcomes it’s newest team member to the roster! pic.twitter.com/s3pwrndrwb
— 18BirdiesApp (@18BirdiesApp) March 27, 2017
Wilcox explained that it’s important for him to engage with followers on across social media and through the Live Rounds feature, his fans will have the opportunity to join him “virtually” as he plays during the week.
“Usually golf fans only get to see how we do Thursday through Sunday,” Varner III added in a statement. “With 18Birdies’ Live Rounds, they’ll get a chance to follow me live during the rest of the week.”
18Birders also recently partnered with the Symetra Tour, the qualifying circuit prior to the LPGA Tour, around providing pro-ams with scoring updates.