Golf always had a reputation of being for the wealthy elite as a place to conduct meetings, but the truth is, millions of people from all walks of life are true fans, as well as avid participants in the game.

Today, golf is one of the most popular sports in the world. Played by around 80 million people across the world, it has become more accessible and entertaining to all parts of society in all different countries.

There has also been a bit of stigma for generations where it was often considered a “man's game”. Thankfully, this continues to be proven wrong, with 5.6 million female golf enthusiasts in the United States alone.

On top of playing and watching, sports betting sites have seen continual growth in the amounts placed on golf tournaments. In the United States, between $4.5 and $5 billion was spent on golf wagers alone in 2021.

As golf has developed, like in almost all sports, the use of technology has helped revolutionize how it is played and enjoyed.

So much has been poured into the way players play the game as well as how the courses are designed. The advancements have helped provide incredible benefits to fans of golf.

Swing Analysis

When a golfer loses their form and their usual swing starts to elude them, frustrations boil over. All of a sudden, your game can fall off a cliff and the accuracy, distance, or both can take a major hit.

There are many different products on the market now varying in styles which are designed to help a golfer keep their perfect swing in shape.

DeWiz is one of the most reliable and well supported swing analyzer from professional golfers. This device is used to monitor what your body is doing rather than what happens to the ball. Golfers are able to identify their stance and shape for different types of shots to get the best possible chance of a quality shot each time.

The DeWiz uses a wristband to feed back to the app easily. Other forms of swing analysis technology include sensors on the club like the Blast Golf Swing Analyzer.

Smart Golf Balls

Get some help with your putting as well as understanding the movement of the ball and so much more by using Smart golf balls. This incredible development in technology brings GPS technology into the golf ball.

The data which the golf ball will gather, from the roll movement, cup entry speed, the number of feet your putts have made as well as its location after a drive and so much more can be transmitted straight to your smart phone.

Smart golf balls help with providing data for analyzing golfer performance. Professionals and amateurs will use data analytics to identify the strengths and weaknesses in their game as well as the progress they are making in certain areas of their game.

Virtual Reality Training

Virtual Reality is making its way into so much of the everyday life, and golf is no exception. Creations of virtual courses and driving ranges allow golfers to practice their swing from home and receive instant data feedback on their form and accuracy.

Simulators enable golfers of all levels to experience a wide range of different courses without having to make the long and expensive journey to what is often a member only club which could be impossible in real life.

Course Management Apps

There is only so much you can gather from a small map of the course on a leaflet, as well as from what you can see with your eyes. For an amateur especially, judging the right approach for your shot can be tough.

Even for the pros, using an app which identifies the exact distance you are from the pin can be vital in club selection as well as approach.

Golfers are able to make more strategic shot and club selections, with detailed maps and yardage information as well as tips for each hole.

Course Management

For those who maintain and manage a course, the improvements in technology allow them to ensure the course is in perfect condition for golfers.

Remote sensors can monitor soil moisture and temperature as well as so much more. Understanding the conditions of the course and how they can be maintained perfectly ensure that the course remains popular and well used.

This also helps with ensuring staff are on top of all issues as well as having their work planned out well in advance to avoid any unforeseen issues catching them out.

The technology allows staff to see turf stress marks well before the human eye can making it absolutely necessary.

We have seen a tradition and historic game grow with the times and the technological revolution. It remains close to its roots, though how we play and manage a course continues to evolve.