Imagine if, on your TV or phone screen, you could watch golf and explore the historic and entirely different golf courses gracing America’s landscape, all in virtual reality? That possibility is not far off, according to Navin Singh, Head of Global Content and Media Distribution at the United States Golf Association, and the featured guest on Bram Weinstein’s SportTechie podcast.
Though Singh admitted that golf is just getting its feet wet in that arena, it has the potential to, as he said, bring fans into historic and unique venues. Other golf organizations and partners are also exploring and experimenting with virtual reality.
“We have a unique opportunity to take fans into historic venues that they may not have been able to otherwise access,” Singh said. “And I think virtual reality will help enhance that experience by being able to make them feel like they’re right there…in a way that they could not otherwise experience unless they were on site.”
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But VR was only one of a number of significant developments, potential and real, in USGA content. The U.S. Open ended Sunday as Brooks Koepka earned his first career major championship with a record-tying score at Erin Hills. But perhaps more importantly for Singh, the USGA produced a lot of fresh content at the six-day tournament. Alongside what Singh said is a ton of video, the tournament featured live walk-alongs and interviews with players on social media for the first few days of the Open. Overall, Singh said, the USGA will have produced 40-50 hours of golf content alone at the tournament, without considering their online and social properties and partner coverage from FOX Sports.
Singh also addressed live streaming. Golf has an advantage in its style of play — with multiple groups of golfers playing on any one of 18 holes at a time, streaming efforts can jump to different holes so that fans can track how various golfers are doing, Singh said. Currently, USGA.com has three different streaming channels: two show a particular group in the morning, and another in the afternoon, and the third is dedicated to holes 13-15 at the U.S. Open.
Along the same token, Singh explored the possibility of augmented reality and using live stats to enhance coverage. There’s a trove of data to be examined in how golfers are hitting fairways and greens, but more important are the consequences of each shot a golfer takes. Singh imagined that such data in golf coverage could help lower-level or amateur players compare themselves against the pros and improve their game.
The overarching focus of USGA content, for Singh, is reaching young golfers of all levels across the world. “This is about all demographics. We obviously have core golfers who have been playing for quite some time, but we definitely have a point of emphasis on reaching younger players, reaching younger sports enthusiasts who we want to get involved in the game of golf,” Singh told Weinstein.
“Golf has the ability to cross all those different skill levels and bring people together to enjoy the game.”