Tech News

The data, networking and GenAI driving The Open golf championship

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2024

The data, networking and GenAI driving The Open golf championship

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (The R&A) has been a pillar of sporting tradition since its founding in 1754, preserving the rules and spirit of the game while organizing the annual Open championship. In addition to its historical significance, The R&A is also a provider of underground fibre-optic networking and a leader in private 5G mobile connectivity.

Despite hosting over 250,000 attendees at the 152^nd Open Championship at the Royal Troon course on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast from 18-21 July, many were unaware of the advanced networking technology and digital innovations implemented by The R&A and its technology partner NTT Data to enhance the fan experience.

Chief Technology Officer Steve Otto emphasizes the importance of seamless technology integration at the Open, despite the challenge of hosting the event at a different venue each year. The organization has invested in laying fibre-optic cabling underground across all nine independent golf courses in the Open roster to ensure consistent and reliable tech infrastructure.

Moreover, The R&A and NTT Data collaborated on implementing private 5G connectivity at the event to improve sustainability and enhance fan engagement. This private 5G network allowed for high-speed connectivity within a 2km range, offering bandwidth of up to 400Mbps to devices with suitable nanoSIM cards.

Looking ahead to the 150^th Open in 2022, The R&A and NTT Data introduced Shot View, a virtual representation of each course that enables fans to track every shot played by golfers in real-time. This interactive tool significantly increased fan engagement and dwell time on The Open app.

Utilizing advanced technology such as drones, Lidar scanning, and computer vision cameras, The R&A and NTT Data have created an immersive experience for fans, allowing them to track golf balls, analyze player movements, and access real-time data visualizations through tools like Shot View and the NTT Data Wall.

Through these innovative technological advancements, The R&A continues to push the boundaries of fan experience and data visualization in the world of golf.

Six years later, he became a full-time member of The R&A. With a background in aerodynamics and nearly three years as a scientist at Nasa, data plays a crucial role in enhancing not only The Open but also the entire game of golf. The R&A, responsible for governing the rules of golf, has a wealth of data dating back 100 years, gradually transitioning from minimal scores to comprehensive course-wide information. This data is now used to simulate past tournaments and employ deep learning algorithms to predict the impact of rule or equipment changes. The introduction of new golf ball specifications in 2028, aimed at reducing distance traveled, is a prime example of data-driven decision-making. Data governance is emphasized by Otto, highlighting the importance of accurate definitions and retention policies for valuable insights. Looking ahead, innovations such as utilizing fitness tracker data and golf simulator information for amateur players are envisioned. The potential of generative AI is also explored, with NTT Data’s digital avatar, Lottie, showcasing the capabilities of agentic AI. The collaboration between data and technology ensures that golf remains relevant and engaging for fans, with Otto acknowledging the privilege of working on such innovative projects.

“This is fantastic.”