Sports Coach Blog

UPS Eco Simulator Arrives at The Hong Kong Open

2012-01-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

The UPS Eco Golf Simulator had its last outing of 2011, during the recent UBS Hong Kong Open, won by Rory McIroy. The UPS Eco Simulator, which operates using Sports Coach software has been transported around the world to select tournaments. It is powered by 10 solar panels which capture natural light and convert it into electricity. The Simulator provided a unique and 3D perspective of a virtual golf hole, with a nearest the pin competition presented throught the tournament. Visitors had the unique opportunity to improve their game through professional instruction from PGA professionals. Men and women of all ages and abilities would test their skills, with the lucky winner receiving a signed golf bag. Vistit http://europeantour.ups.com/ for more information.

Tennis Centre Novak Selects Sports Coach

2012-01-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Tennis Center Novak, Belgrade, built to house the Serbia Open, was the creation of international tennis ace Novak Djokovic. Although Djokovic now lives in Monte Carlo, the tennis center - which hosts the Serbian Open, continues to thrive and expand. There are indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a fitness center, and a sports therapy center. Sports Coach Systems were recently chosen to install a GPS Ultimate Golf Academy at the Centre. The ultimate academy is the complete indoor coaching system. Golfers play within a three sided projected image and can instantly analyse ball flight, shot performance and swing performance. This comprehensive system uses 3D high speed cameras to ensure the most accurate ball flight in addition to digital video cameras that record and play back swing.

Sports Coach Launch Live Online Support

2012-01-01T04:19:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of December 2011, Sports Coach has focused on improving their technical support experience for clients with the introduction of GPS Online Support. Clients can now have their golf simulator configurations remotely examined directly by the factory so that any issues that could develop through continuous use can be identified and speedily rectified thanks to remote control software that allows the factory to access simulators live.

Remote control assistance is available for any client that has a golf simulator connected to the internet. Remote control software will be available as part of the package in forthcoming releases.

24 Golf Installs Sports Coach

2011-12-23T03:42:00.000-08:00

24 hour golf is not uncommon in Finland at certain times of the year, but this year, a new phenomenon has begun - the opportunity to play golf 24 hours a day, all year round. The first of 24 Golf Ltd's golf simulators opens on the Friday 13th January 2012 in Kouvola. Registered customers can access the simulator when through an online appointment.The Sports Coach golf simulator offers some of the world's best known and finest courses including Finnish ones. It is open to all ages and all levels of golfers. Players do not need a green card to play, but as the facility is not staffed 24 hours a day, players need to know the basics of the game so that they can enjoy without requiring assistance.The unique advantage of Golf 24 is that the facility can be accessed at any time to allow non-golfers and golfers alike to practice their game at any time that suits.

Hotel Mikado Installs Sports Coach

2011-12-16T03:16:00.000-08:00

The growing trend of golf simulator installations in hotels continues with Hotel Mikado being the latest to feature this popular indoor sport. Situated in Nitra, west Slovakia, the hotel offers several sports and relaxation services in addition to their golf simulator. These include a swimming pool, sauna, squash court and fitness centre.

The simulator allows guests to play rounds, improve swing technique and enjoy the game in all weather conditions. Tee times are controlled via an online booking system in order to manage any anticipated demand.

Decathlon Continues Simulator Upgrades

2011-12-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

Decathlon in Spain is continuing to upgrade stores, replacing North American golf simulators with the very latest more advanced, user friendly and reliable technology developed by Sports Coach. The requirement was for an easily maintainable system with accurate ball flight measurement and ease of use. As for their customer’s, the best quality of service should be afforded to them to enhance their shopping experience. The Club Fitting option in the software is just one of the many features that can be used to assist customers during club selection, testing and club fitting.

Visitors Treated to Golf Simulators at Portugal Masters

2011-12-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Portugal Masters, held at Vilamoura was won in October by up and coming professional protégé Tom Lewis from Welwyn Garden City, England. The Masters were held in Portugal for the fifth consecutive year offering a prize fund of €3 million.

Approximately 35,000 spectators attended the event to watch Lewis stride into the pages of history. This was a great turnout, especially for the Portugal Tourist Board as they were entertaining visitors with a nearest to pin contest on a Platinum Golf Simulator provided by Golf One Systems or Loule, Portugal.

UPS also continue to follow the tour with their Ultimate Golf Academy simulator at this event, offering upmarket teaching from PGA professionals using the latest swing capture digital video technology.

Moholt Golfsenter Opens in Norway

2011-11-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

Moholt Golfsenter which recently opened in Trondheim on the west coast of Norway, is introducing local golfers to the latest technologies in indoor golf. The centre, which has three platinum surround simulators and a single screen bay, offers networked game play, swing analysis and regular in house competitions.

Part of the attraction to Moholf Golfsenter is the simulated Byneset Nord course which has been recreated to the highest level of accuracy, arguably making the course the most true to life simulated course around.

The centre also offers regular professional assistance from PGA pro Eva Helen who has worked in golf for nine years and has been a member of PGA Norway since 2005. Having participated in several tournaments, including the Florida Ladies Open in U.S, Eva is on hand to assist golfers to help them improve their game.

Riga Indoor Golf Opens in The Netherlands

2011-11-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

On the 5th of November Riga Golf based in Nijverdal in The Netherlands had its grand opening, which was well attended by both celebrities and the public alike. This superb indoor golf centre has a full array of golf facilities which include a putting green, practice nets and several different simulators with two Sports Coach golf simulators amongst them. Golfers can also enjoy improving their game with regular golf clinics run by owner and PGA Professional Roy Nijenhuis.

Now players can keep up their golf during the winter months and choose to play 9 or 18 holes on several courses from around the world.

Golftec Launch Advanced Training Centre

2011-11-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

The new Golftec Academy, an ambitious project to create 10 indoor golf training bays has opened in Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Sports Coach Systems were chosen for the project the technology used captures spin dynamics to pick up the most difficult shots including slices, fades, draws and shanks which other simulator technology cannot handle. Golf enthusiasts also benefit from digital video technology that captures golf swings from both the side and the rear and provides advanced golf swing analysis. Three of the bays at Goltec are 3D surround systems, with the remaining 7 bays being single screen simulators. An indoor sand bunker modelled on the infamous 'Road Hole' on the 17th at St Andrews and an indoor putting/chipping green both compliment the venue.

Golf Simulator Arrives at Purple Dragon

2011-10-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

Its not very often that parents can find a clean and bright location in London that offers entertainment for both children and parents alike, but boundaries are being broken to provide just that at Purple Dragon, an exclusive member's club for children under 12. Not only are the children treated to hours of entertainment and fun playing with the latest gadgets, parents can join in too - and enjoy a round of golf of all things - the latest addition to the new 12,000 sq foot premises in Grosvenor Waterside, Chelsea. This incredible crèche has everything a child could wish for, with indoor beach, imaginarium, gourmet cooking, recording studio, design lab and lounges to relax and learn. And while they are occupying their minds, parents can relax playing a round of golf on the simulator, whenever they wish. The Sports Coach golf simulator -which also doubles as a putting simulator for the children, was installed for the flagship premises in September. Further locations are planned by businesswoman and founder Sharai Meyers, which includes further London spots, L.A and Moscow.

Sports Coach Release New Interface

2011-10-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach has recently overhauled the complete user interface for their golf simulator and putting simulator packages. This new enhancement includes new sharper icons, improved background gradients, more defined dialogue boxes and a more visually appealing colour scheme. The interface remains as simple to use as it ever was, with only subtle changes in layout that is more noticeable when using the recently developed DV studio or DV academy settings. As with all Sports Coach developments, the new interface is available free of charge for all customers and can be accessed via the Sports Coach FTP Site at http://sports-coach.ftpstream.com/.

Golf Sim Australia Installs First Triple Screen in Sydney

2011-10-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Kingpin at Darling Harbour Sydney, is a state of the art family entertainment complex that offers Ten Pin Bowling, Pool Tables, Laser Shooting, Arcade Video Games and now a triple screen golf simulator. The simulator, the only one of its kind in Sydney, has been an instant hit and it is drawing a high demand. The unit which takes up previously under utilised space, is constructed by Golf Sim Australia and consists of lightweight steel tubulars with an enclosure fabricated from heavy duty non-rip matte black canvas. The screen, which is made from a double layer matte white heavy duty canvas, is finished with an elastic material which stretches to fill the area. As a result this durable screen is able to withstand high impact and zero deformation. It is estimated that Kingpin will achieve a full return of investment in a matter of months.

Sports Stars Test Cottrell Park Simulators

2011-10-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sporting legends leuan Evans, Welsh 400m hurdler, Matt Elias, the new head coach for Welsh Athletics, and former boxer Nicky Piper were recently invited to test their skills on the £120,000 golf simulator investment installed at Cottrell Park in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Cottrell Park was the first in the UK to install Platinum Simulators, having removed 10 driving range bays to make space for the new centre. The simulators offer over 100 courses including the clubs own courses - Mackintosh and Button Gwinnett.

The trend for Driving Ranges to incorporate golf simulators into their facility is on the increase, with interest not only from the UK, but from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. As technology improves, golf centres are seeing the benefits of golf simulators as they can offer 365 days of golf whatever the weather in addition to offering detailed analysis to players that is difficult to measure from a driving range.

Sports Coach Releases Golf Ball Fitting

2011-09-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach has recently has released the world’s most comprehensive golf ball fitting facility, which is fully embedded as standard within the GPS Virtual Ranges and Virtual Chipping practice areas. This user friendly custom ball fitting service, which is available at no extra cost to the customer, provides golfers and professionals with the toolset to match the correct golf ball to a player that best suits their own shot performance. Players can test their own golf clubs, with up to 5 different golf balls in one custom fitting session and use this valuable tool to determine which make and model of golf ball will provide the best possible ball flight on the golf course. The program takes into consideration ball characteristics for core type, skin type, dimples, feel, make and model of the golf ball and returns data for ball velocity, back spin, side spin, vertical launch angle, horizontal launch angle, shot height and the ball flight allowing the player to make an informed choice on which to select the best suited ball.

Sports Coach Adds to Home Improvements

2011-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

It is not every day that a swimming pool is converted into an up market games room, but that is exactly what happened after several months of deliberation for one customer. Pro Shot Sports - the UK distributor for Sports Coach golf simulators discussed the possibility of changing the use of the indoor space designated for a swimming pool with a prospective customer back in 2010. Since then, the pool area has been converted into a living space large enough to accomodate not only a golf simulator, but a home cinema, pool table and bar. It goes to show that if there's space, a golf simulator can be installed almost anywhere!

ShangSha City Adds Luxury to Indoor Golf

2011-09-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

As interest in golf simulators in the Far East continues to grow, a unique and ambitious project is underway in the Hunan district of Souteastern China. In Shang Sha, a city with around 7 million inhabitants, designs have been laid down and work is underway for an oppulant indoor golfing facility with no expense spared. Two platinum and two Gold Sports Coach golf simulators will compliment the plush surroundings to produce a luxurious members club environment. The project aims for completion towards the end of October.

Nokia Installs Sports Coach Simulator

2011-09-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

Many teaching professionals throughout Finland are looking at installing either a Sports Coach Ultimate Golf Academy or Ultimate Golf Studio this Autumn. Among those showing interest is PGA Professional Juha Pentikainen, who has spent several months reviewing various golf simulators on the market. This was a simple task when navigating the Sports Coach user friendly menus on the Ultimate Golf Studio recently installed at Nokia. Similar to the Ultimate Golf Academy, the Studio installation offers a projected screen that displays a players shot, with two additional LCD screens alongside that display shot data and swing footage. Up to four cameras are used in total. Two to measure the shot, and two to record digital footage of the swing from both rear and side positions. PGA professionals combine both video footage and shot data to improve student performannce on important aspects of their golf swing.

Sports Coach Golf Simulator Installed in Paris

2011-09-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

Parc Municipal des Sports, located in Issy les Moulineaux, south west Paris offers various sporting facilities including athletics, soccer, tennis and fitness training. Recently, a Sports Coach Golf Simulator was added to the amenities.
The triple screen Platinum simulator is already used for game play, practice, contests and lessons. Since its installation, discussions are already underway to add the DV High Speed Camera System - one of the latest developments by Sports Coach that adds digital video footage to examine a players swing alongside shot replay and shot data.

Sports Coach Offer Sample Business Plans

2011-09-08T03:25:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach is regularly requested to provide various Indoor Golf Business Plans, which are provided at no charge to the client. To facilitate these requests, Sports Coach has created three Business Plans for a Golf Studio, Golf Café and Golf Centre.
In general, when building a business plan there are a number of areas that need to be considered. First of all, when a potential location has been located, summarise the initial viability of the location having researched the area. As an example, this can include how far away local golf clubs are to the proposed factlity, local golf club memberships, whether there is a local driving range, how far a driving range is from the golf clubs and the proposed facility, local population, whether the area is affluent, whether the location is seasonal , affordability, local interest in golf etc.
Facilities that already exist locally that can both assist with viability and cause direct competition - such as golf courses, driving ranges, golf stores and indoor entertainment. You should establish the possible impact of local factors. Consider the local golfing population and their access to golf facilities as this helps determine the ideal size and location for your facility.
Your business plan should include a statement explaining how you intend to address your competition. For example - if the facility will gain interest from golfers that are unable to play on their regular course during the off-season months, or if Driving Range customers will be attracted as the simulators are indoors, cheaper play and available all weathers. You could mention that the simulators offer a more detailed analysis from a player’s shot and will prove to be competitively priced on a per shot basis or that the relaxing environment will offer choice to those interested in sporting activities and competitive pricing similar to other sporting activities.
Sports Coach recommends hourly rates not to exceed £30.00 per hour, as this rate compares favourably with similar sporting activities available. We also suggest proposing opening times between 10am and 10pm daily, Monday to Saturday.
Several revenue streams can be created through hourly rental of the golf technology that is very versatile and can operate for virtual ranges, simulator game play, tournament play, ultimate golf lessons, putting game play and custom club fitting,
Additional revenues can be achived through refreshments, golf merchandising, Ultimate Golf Lessons, Putting Gameplay Golf Accessories and Memberships.

Sports Coach Release Ultimate Golf Studio

2011-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach has recently completed the Ultimate Golf Studio upgrade, a new addition to the Sports Coach suite of products.

The Ultimate Golf Studio is aimed at existing customers with single screen simulators and new customers that would like the benefits of the Ultimate Academy, but in a single projected screen format.

Until recently, most installed golf simulators consisted of a traditional single screen projected setup. Now it is possible to upgrade with the addition of 2 additional High Definition LCD screens on the right side and a video coaching camera*. With 3 High Definition Displays integrated the Ultimate Golf Academy experience can be achieved, with the projected image displaying the local golf course, one lcd screen showing the actual shot performance and the second lcd screen displaying the actual swing performance.
The Ultimate Golf Studio provides the golfer with live interactive video playback and analysis data on two additional screens. This has been proven as an excellent coaching tool as it can visually demonstrate shot performance and highlight areas of improvement where needed.

*Older systems may require some hardware upgrades. A GPU or graphics expansion card capable of three displays is required for all upgrades. Please contact your supplier for more details.

Cleveland Exhibit Latest Club Range at Senior Open

2011-08-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Senior Open Championship followed straight after the Open Championship with weather switching to high temperatures at Walton Heath in Surrey, England.
American Russ Cochran finally saw off any remaining competition with a final round of 67 to finish 12 under par, with Mark Calcavecchia finishing 2 strokes behind.
The former US PGA Tour champion, who was tied third in last year’s Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, pocketed €220,961 for his victory.

The Tented Village at Walton Heath offered a variety of entertainment including merchandise, exhibition stands, free golf coaching, a putting green and 'village brasserie'. Amongst them, Senior Tour sponsors Cleveland Golf/Srixon installed a GPS Golf Simulator to demonstrate their latest range of clubs. Golfers enjoyed testing the range on a simulated version of the famous Walton Heath course throughout the event.

UPS Impresses at The Open Championship

2011-08-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

UPS continued their tour with the UPS Eco Golf Simulator in July 2011 with an exhibit at The Open Championship in Sandwich, Kent. The Sports Coach golf simulator, powered by 10 solar panels which captures and converts natural light into electricity, was used for interactive professional instruction.
The UPS Eco Simulator provided a unique three dimensional perspective of the 163 yard 16th par 3 hole at Royal St Georges and offered members of the public a chance to hit a shot from tee to green. Those who took part were given the opportunity to see their swing on a live video replay, examine the detailed post shot analysis, and gain professional advice from PGA experts. With all this information taken on board, golfers could take another shot to see the immediate improvements gained.

Sports Coach Dominate at The Open Championship

2011-08-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Darren Clarke won his first major title after 54 attemps after claiming a three shot victory over Americans Phil Mickleson and Dustin Johnston at the 140th Open Championship hosted at Sandwich, Kent for the 14th time from Sunday 10th - Sunday 17th July 2011.

The course has always proven to be a challenge for the finest golfers, and this year, many of the 200,000 spectators took up the opportunity to practice this fantastic links course on one of many golf simulators available within the tented village.

Sports Coach Systems was selected for now less than seven golf simulator hires at the event. The simulators were used to offer nearest the pin and longest drive contests, course clinics, putting contests, Ultimate Golf lessons and corporate hospitality. Next year's open Championship will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes and will also feature Sports Coach golf simulators.

Jumbo Golfwereld Updates Simulators

2011-07-26T01:18:00.000-07:00

Customers at Jumbo Golf World can not only play a round of golf at many of the top golf courses in the world, but they can also have their clubs fitted to precise measurement with a PGA professional that can watch their swing under the microscope. Until recently, North American simulator software was used for club fittings, but the reliability of the software proved disappointing. The Dutch Golf Company were commissioned to update the systems used and replace them with the latest technology. The chosen solution was to fit Sports Coach golf simulators which required only minor changes. The cage structures could remain unchanged as could carpeting. The complete upgrade proved less expensive than to update the existing equipment as the only changes needed was to introduce a replacement computer system using Sports Coach Camera technology, and to upgrade the quality of the projected image.

Sports Coach Attracts Interest at Goodwood

2011-07-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Festival of Speed is the largest motoring garden party in the world. This unique weekend brings together an grand mix of cars, stars and motor sport professionals to create the largest car culture event in the world. Held in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House, this annual hill-climb event is a true celebration of motor sport and all things automotive. The event, held in the glorious grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, is typically held in late June or early July. This year, amongst other attractions, A Sports Coach Golf Simulator was hired to create interest in corporate golf days, membership, society days and green fees at the Goodwood Golf Club. With the event being such a success, the club is now planning to install a permanent simulator on the estate. It is anticipated that the James Braid 'Kennels' course will be simulated and will act as a centrepiece to market golf facilities.

HSBC Launch Ultimate 18

2011-07-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

So which is the Open Championship's greatest opening hole, the best around the turn, or indeed the finest finishing hole?

The question has been answered as HSBC, celebrating its first year as Patron of the Open Championship, have taken up the debate by asking Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, to create a course of the finest holes in the Open Championship golf, "The HSBC Ultimate Open 18".

The brief was to produce an 18 hole Open Championship course, using holes from the nine courses on the current Open rota. This wasn't about creating a list of the best holes, it was a matter of selecting holes from Championship courses, taking into account the length and par and maintaining the hole numbers so that they correspond to those actually played at each of the courses during The Open.

BBC's Andrew Cotter kept order over the debate, and over time, the HSBC Ultimate Open 18 was decided. The final HSBC Ultimate Open 18 course they agreed on is certainly a challenge. At 7,264 yards, it's similar to this year's Open course at Royal St George's, Sandwich.

Many would wonder what the course would be like to play. Well, they would be in luck, because Sports Coach Systems were commissioned to produce the full HSBC Ultimate 18 course which was launched on the 4th July.

The full 18 holes are as follows:

1) St Andrews (Burn) 376yd par 4

2) Royal Birkdale (The 2nd) 421yd par 4

3) Carnoustie (Jockies Burn) 361yd par4

4) St Andrews (Ginger Beer) 450yd par 4

5) Carnoustie (Brae) 392yd par 4

6) Carnoustie (Hogans Alley) 512yd par 5

7) Royal Birkdale (the 7th) 177yd par 3

8) Royal Troon (Postage Stamp) 123yd par 3

9) Turberry (Bruce's Castle) 449yd par 4

10) Muirfield (the 10th) 475yd par 4

11) Royal Troon (Railway) 490yd par 4

12) Royal Birkdale (The 12th) 183 yd par 3

13) Royal Birkdale (the 13th) 498yd par 5

14) St Andrews (Long) 615yd par 5

15) Royal St George's (the 15th) 496yd par 4

16) Carnoustie (Barry Burn) 245yd par 3

17) St Andrews (Road) 495yd par 4

18) Muirfield (the 18th) 473yd par 4

Azerbeijan Capital Installs First Golf Simulator

2011-06-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

Baku, also known as Baky or Bakı, is the capital of Azerbaijan. It is the largest city in the Caucasus and is situated on the coast of the Caspian Sea on the southern tip of the Absheron Peninsulaand. Due to the city's continuous expansion, it has become a wealthy city, which has generated opportunities within sports, leisure and entertainment industries. With one sport in particular, the first indoor golfclub in Baku, recently opened with both a Sports Coach Platinum Surround Golf Simulator and an 18 hole stroke and play area. Golfland is a unique indoor golfclub located in the center of the city. It is open for golf practice and play every day with the Sports Coach simulator available for hourly hire to give customers the opportunity to play rounds, contests and practice, or undertake golf lessons and club fittings.

UPS ECO Simulator Arrives at BMW Open

2011-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

At selected tournaments throughout the year, UPS present their ECO simulator - a self powered simulator that utilises 10 solar panels that capture light and convert it into stored electricity. The simulator continues its road show, having last been displayed at The BMW Open - Germany's major golf event, held at Munchen Eichenried in Bavaria. The UPS Eco simulator presented the Eichenried course during the event providing a 3D experience of a virtual golf hole. Members of the public were also offered a chance to improve their game through professional instruction assisted by live video playback and on screen analysis results. The simulator will next be presented at The Open at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, England.

Golf Live Chooses Sports Coach

2011-06-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

London Golf Club was the chosen venue for Golf Live this year, and it attracted 12,915 spectators for the three-day golf show.
Golfing stars that attended included European Ryder Cup-winning captain, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Ian Woosnam, Retief Goosen, and Michael Campbell.

Visitors were also treated to a hole in one competition held by Pro Shot Sports using a Sports Coach Golf Simulator which also saw French professional golfer Thomas Levet playing the Celtic Manor Twenty Ten simulated Ryder Cup course.

The show also included Interactive masterclass theatres with World Long Drive Champion Joe Miller’s demonstrating tee shots, a Three Hole Pro Celebrity Challenge, displays from trick-shot specialist, Jeremy Dale, and golfing discussions with Iain Carter and Andrew Cotter from the BBC, Shane O’Donoghue, and Diana Dougherty from Sky Sports.

SWALEC Attracts Crowds at SAAB Wales Open

2011-06-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Energy provider SWALEC is the latest patron sponsor of the Celtic Manor Wales Open, which took place this year from 3rd-6th June. The company, part of Scottish and Southern, now joins the likes of Zurich, Diageo, Rolex and BMW in backing the £1.8m golf tournament on the European Tour.

The SAAB Wales Open took place on the Twenty Ten Course which will also host The Ryder Cup later in the year. As part of the event, SWALEC hired a Sports Coach inflatable golf simulator which was situated in the tented village overlooking the 18th hole. Over 1000 visitors took part in a Nearest The Pin competition on Celtic Manor's 3rd hole over the four day event, with the winner receiving four tickets to play the famous Twenty Ten course.

Sports Coach Attends BMW PGA Championship

2011-06-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

Prior to 1984, The European Tour’s flagship event has been played on many of Britain's finest golf courses. However, once settling at Wentworth, the PGA Championship has remained there ever since. The West course has challenged several champions, including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and four times winner Nick Faldo. This year's championship was as close as any with Luke Donald claiming the trophy after an intense battle with Lee Westwood. 94,000 spectators attended the four day event, with many enjoying the entertainment provided in the tented village. Amongst the exhibitors, UPS presented an Eco simulator which premiered the Sports Coach Ultimate Academy - a three screen golfing experience on the famous par 3 second hole that also features automatic live video playback showing players swing positions and post shot performance statistics.

HSBC Joins Open Championship

2011-05-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

As Patron of the Open Championship for the first time this year, HSBC will mark the event with the launch of the HSBC Golf Zone in the Tented Village at Royal St. Georges Golf Club this July.
This impressive interactive experience that covers an area equivalent to five tennis courts is expected to exceed 50,000 visitors during the course of the week.

Vistors can expect to see a full scale replica of St Andrews' notorious Road Hole bunker, Longest Drive and Nearest to the Pin competitions on an Open Championship course on a Sports Coach Platinum Golf Simulator and compare swings to great golfers using FlightScope tracking technology.

Video walls and touch screen televisions will be available throughout the HSBC Golf Zone showing past and present players and golf history and visitors will also have an opportunity to engage in designing their own golf course.
The event opens from the 10th to 17th July 2011. More information is available on the HSBC Golf website

Sports Coach Unveil Revised Interface

2011-05-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach Systems continues to improve their product, and this month sees the release of a new user interface with improved buttons with a slightly different yet familiar layout. Development is currently underway on a GPS Digital Video program as part of the GPS DV Simulator upgrade, although a launch date is yet to be announced. The upgrade features up to four cameras in total - an overhead camera with an optional side camera to accurately measure shots, with the addition of up to two cameras to record and display swing patterns dynamically and automatically post shot. The worlds most comprehensive course library also continues to expand with several more top courses completed and more under development. Recent additions include Medinah - the next US Ryder Cup course, Valhalla - the previous Ryder Cup course, and Altlanta Athletic - this year's PGA Championship course.

Unique Unmanned Golf Facility Opens in Finland

2011-05-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Golfroom Finland is the first unmanned golf facility designed to allow players access to a golf simulator with minimal effort 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Players can reserve a tee time using the simple and convenient online reservation system.
The unoccupied simulator room is then accessed using a booking code, and inside, motion sensors control lighting. In less than two minutes, the simulator is available for use. From there, it is possible to play 18 holes in about an hour, or one and a half hours for two players.

The Golf Room is proving popular with enthusiasts, so much so that another seven facilities are planned in the Helsinki area alone.

Greece Comes to London

2011-04-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

During the last week in March, the U.K and Ireland Greek Tourism Office hosted 'Visit Greece', a free public event at the Westfield shopping centre in Sheperds Bush, London.
The week long event featured an interactive Greek activities over 1.500 square metres to advertise Greece as a major tourist destination. Vistitors were given opportunity to enjoy educational presentations from Greek chefs and sample traditional Greek dishes and wine. For those seeking relaxation spa treatments, a Greek beach and a sailing simulator to explore the greek islands was available. Visitors looking for activities could try their hand at rock climbing and golf.

A Sports Coach GPS Golf Simulator was on display to promote the Costa Navarino Dunes course- a world class waterfront golf course in Messinia, southwest of Peloponnese. The course, designed by former US Masters Champion and Ryder Cup Captain Bernhard Langer, combines large undulating greens, wide fairways and steep pot bunkers, and it features a links element to add to its unique style.

Visitors keen to play, were given the opportunity to try their skills at a nearest the pin competition on the 10th hole. Interacting with the Golf Simulator on the Costa Navarino course has resulted in a number of enquires for resort bookings, green fees, academy clinics and real estate interest.

Simulator Draws Attention at German Golf Shows

2011-04-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Hanse Golf fair, held recently at Hamburg Messe and Congress in North Germany, brought together industry professionals, retailers, producers and manufacturers, each sharing ideas and expertise. The event covered more than 8,000 square meters of exhibition space showcasing an international range of golf equipment, fashion, accessories and machinery in the golf industry. The show was not short of the big players, which included Bridgestone, Callaway, Nike, Ping, Precept, Titlist and Wilson among others. Much of the equipment could be tested on two driving ranges covering 950 sqm that could accommodate up to 16 players at a time. Visitors also took part in activities which included a 22 metre longest putt challenge. Sports Coach Germany and Golf Range presented a Nearest The Pin competition at Gut Larchenhof on the GPS Gold Simulator and a putting contest alongside, which both drew plenty of attention. Golftage Munchen followed in Munich in the South. Sports Coach Germany also attended with Golf Range and presented one of the highlights of the show. The simulator, equipped with dual high speed camera technology, showed impressive results as it was used to demonstrate the driving range, practice greens, virtual chip and nearest the pin. Visitors were surprised to learn that the Sports Coach simulator has the largest golf course library in the world with 40 standard courses that can be expanded to 160.

Golf Team Holland Supports Golfers with Disabilities

2011-04-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

The 5th Annual Amsterdam Golf Show took place between 11th and 13th March this year, attracting over 13,000 visitors. The show is more than just a golf fair, with numerous exhibitors, the newest collections, golf shops and a huge array of indoor driving ranges and greens, making it a perfect place for testing equipment.

Many top golf players actively participated in the show, and amongst them, Golf Team Holland, represented by Christel Boeljon (from the ladies European Tour and LPGA tour), Floris de Vries and Tim Sluiter (both from the European Tour).

The team had organised a special charity event to raise funds and awareness for Netherlands Disabled Golf, with the Dutch Golf Company providing a Sports Coach GPS Platinum Simulator. As well as Golf Team Holland, physically limited players also tried a few swings on the simulator. All were impressed with the simulators accuracy.

The therapeutic benefits of golf for players with disabilities are immense. Activity such as this stretches the muscles, reduces spasticties, stimulates mobility of the joints and helps metabolism. Due to the shere size of a the Platinum simulator, it can easily accomodate a Para Golfer allowing the player to use the on board stand-up device to assist with a stable stance. The player can then connect with the ball firmly and experience a performance that is similar to that of non-handicapped players.

BMW Gear Up For The Race To Dubai

2011-03-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

The 2011 European Tour is well underway with 13 of at least 50 tournaments already played. BMW sponsorship is prominent in this tour that finishes in December for the first time. The Race to Dubai started on 9 December, 2010 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. It ends on 11 December 2011 at the Dubai World Championship.

BMW are sponsoring three of the events; the BMW Italian Open hosted at Royal Park, Turin, the BMW International Open hosted at Golfclub Munchen, Eichenried, Munich and the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship hosted at Wentworth for the 31st time from 26-29 May.

BMW customers in Dubai can already get a piece of the action before the tour descends on Jumeirah Golf Estates on December 8th, as the recently opened dealership has just completed an installation of a Sports Coach Platimum simulator at its impressive showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road.

The simulator, officially opened by Mr. Stathis, BMW's Middle East Managing Director, gives clients the opportunity to enjoy famous local tournament courses such as Emirates, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Royal, as well as other famous courses from around the world featured on the tour this year. Golfclub Munchen Eichenried which hosts the BMW International Open will also feature in the Sports Coach golf simulator course package soon.

For the complete European Tour schedule, visit the European Tour website.

Golf Simulator Cures Winter Blues

2011-03-28T09:19:00.001-07:00

The snow can cause complications for golf with many courses closed until the winter freeze has melted away, But in Gatten, Denmark, golfers are not put off by blankets of snow on the fairway. At Himmerland Golf and Country Club, the secret is the introduction of a new Sports Coach 3D Platinum Golf Simulator, which gives players the opportunity to play indoors all year round.

With a huge screen, stretching 30 m2, the simulator offers golfers the chance to immerse themselves into a realistic backdrop on more than 100 of the best known courses in the world, which has been attracting bookings since the installation only a few weeks ago.

Himmerland Golf and Country Club decided that the Sports Coach simulator is the finest simulator on the market today, and as Sports Coach are simulator manufacturers, Himmerland intend to have their own golf course modelled later in the year.

Cottrell Park Modernises Driving Range

2011-03-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

Cottrell Park Golf Club, between Cardiff and Swansea offers two courses and some of the finest golf facilities available. In November 2010, the club embarked on a new project to convert some of the driving range bays into golf simulator bays with the intention to provide a state of the art indoor facility for practice, entertainment, corporate hires and to enhance membership.

Proshot Solutions, based in Surrey, worked closely with the club to design a solution and the installation was underway by January. The Sports Coach Platinum golf simulator was chosen for its state of the art 3D high speed camera system. An above camera tracks ball speed, direction and spin, and a side camera tracks vertical launch angle and ball speed. The result is a fantastically accurate indoor golf experience with players immersed into a 3 dimensional environment.

The facility was finished to a high standard and rivals some of the best indoor facilities in the UK. Players familiar with the driving range can now play the virtual driving range indoors and view analysis and statistics post shot such as club swing, ball speed, launch, club head speed, path, distance, carry and much more that was previously impossible to measure on the driving range.

Impressive Golf Facility Opens in Stockholm

2011-03-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

Situated in Stockholm's southern suburbs, a short distance across from the world's largest Ikea store, lies Heron City, a shopping and entertainment complex not far dissimilar to other large out of city shopping centres sprouting around the world. However, Heron City is home to a very ambitious project that is drawing great interest from golf simulator enthusiasts and businesses.
Tomas Lindkvist, general manager of O'Learys Sports has recently revealed a golf simulator facility, a project that has been two years in the making. Following extensive research and budget analysis, the facility was opened at the end of January having taken delivery and installation of no less than five Sports Coach golf simulators, all supplied through C&T International.
All of the five simulators use the latest technology with twin high-speed cameras measuring ball travel from two separate 90 degree angles. Each simulator offers 110 courses including Swedish options Bro-Bålsta, Kungsangen, Halmstad and Oxie.
Golfers can also indulge while they play as the facility boasts a licenced bar and the Golf Channel on big screens.
With five simulators available, the facility also offers tournament games, linking each of the machines to a tournament server that displays a live leaderboard.

Simulators Assist Performance Golf

2011-03-07T04:37:00.000-08:00

With so many golf products on the market, finding the one which works for you is becomming increasingly difficult. Performance Golf Studio, based in Surrey, have a wealth of knowledge in this area. The club fitting staff are highly trained PGA professionals with extensive swing coaching knowledge as well as a unique understanding of club components and fitting. Coupled with the latest technology and product know how, the team assist in improving a golfers overall game for the future using ball flight simulation software, and fitting expertly built golf clubs. The indoor range facility allows the pros to see golfers overall shot pattern as well as viewing all relevant information in terms of club speed, ball speed, launch and spin.
If swing technique needs some attention before an equipment change, fitters are experienced enough to highlight these changes using high speed video systems before recommending a golf club change. The high speed camera bay also highlights swing characteristics and can explain why certain types of head and shaft combinations will produce better results than others.

Eurogolf Launches Two Simulators in Stockholm

2011-02-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

With over 800 square metres spread over three floors, Euro Golf is the largest golf store in the centre of Stockholm. The store has recently installed 2 Silver GPS Golf Simulators into their flagship store, one of 5 Swedish golf stores. Players can pick and choose from 40 courses all over the world, four of them being Swedish courses, which have so far been the most popular.
The store also offers Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and a Virtual Range. The latter is used for custom club fittings. As you would expect, all of these options form part of the standard Sports Coach product, each providing additional detailed analysis information.
During the winter, the store also offers lessons with their PGA Pro’s and two beginner courses on the simulators. This provides opportunites for beginners to achieve "green card" status and recieve a handicap to play on real golf courses.

Simulator Impresses at World Of Golf

2011-02-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

The World of Golf specialised fair took place from 7th of January until the 9th January this year in Lucerne, Switzerland. This popular event has become the meeting point for golfers and people interested in the sport. Over 140 Exhibitors and contributors from over 12 countries attended the exhibition, filling an area of more than 3000 square metres, promoting fashion, accessories, golf clubs, resorts and hotels. Amongst them, the Platinum GPS Golf Simulator developed by Sports Coach stood out as the most popular feature, with contests including Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive as well as demonstrating various tournament courses available. Several visitors have since asked for a site visit to explore the possiblility of installing a golf simulator in their own home.

Weir Golf Studio Opens in Estonia

2011-02-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

Weir Golf Studio, run by Scottish Golf Professional Robert Weir, has opened on the 5th floor of the Stockmann building, Liivalaia, Tallinn. The studio is a small family run business offering the best and most luxurious indoor golf facility in Estonia. The golf simulator at the facility is proving to be a great way to practice alone, or with friends. Free coaching is on hand as well as on screen comprehensive analysis for each stroke. The simulator statistics are a useful tool providing valuable feedback to help golfers improve their game all year round. The facility welcomes anyone who would like to play a few free strokes on the simulator and even try out the latest Nike golf clubs. The simulator is also available for bookings, where the simulator caters for men, women and children aged (7-11 years) whether they are left or right handed. Weir Golf recommends players engaging in a booked session to bring their own golf clubs as it will help to improve their game.

Storeable Simulator at Northumbria University

2011-02-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

The brief form Northumbria University was to install two 'Gold' golf simulators in their state of the art sports facility. The snag being that the requirements for the space changes regularly, so the simulator installations would need to be designed in such a way that they can be set up or put away quickly and easily.

The solution was to permanantly install the lighting and projectors and design everything
else to be removeable. Nets and hitting screens were hung from tracking above, which simply roll back to the corners when the simulators are not in use. The Projectors, Lighting and Overhead Camera are fitted permanently from the ceiling. The side cameras and computers were permanently installed into side cupboards, leaving

just the golf mats and the carpet that needs to be laid for play. As a result, The University's state of the art sports facility can now be quickly transformed into an excellent twin simulator golf teaching facility in about 5 minutes. Students can be fully analysed by their coaches and their performance can be fully assessed on a daily basis using shot performance data and the swing performance data. Once lessons are over, the space can revert to a multi purpose sports facility.

PGA Merchandise Show 2011

2011-01-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

The PGA Merchandise Show, a professional event providing a platform for the golf business was held this year from 27th-29th January at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Since the show's humble beginnings in a parking lot back in 1954, it has grown into a comprehensive and highly popular event. The event itself is organised by PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions in partnership with the PGA of America, which incidently are celebrating their 95th anniversary.
From fashion galleries and special exhibits to over 250 educational seminars and celebrity guest appearances, the show was attended by over 1000 vendors from all over the world, showcasing the latest and developments in golf products and services as well as providing opportunities for industry professionals to develop profitable relationships with new retail partners. Over 41,000 visitors from around the globe visit the show, and this year, one vendor in particular was turning heads. Fore Golf launched 'The Academy ForeGolf', which features state of the art golf simulators for golf instruction, club performance evaluation, club fitting, video swing analysis, putting analysis and club performance alteration utilizing the new industry standard in simulation technology.

Player Data Enhancements Released

2011-01-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

The latest innovation from Sports Coach Systems is the new Player Data screen. The benefits of this new feature allows players to save shot data in date order and review and compare shot performance at any time. Initially, driving range, chipping and putting performance can be saved. This will extend to club fitting, tournament results and digital video analysis in the near future. Sports Coach are the only manufacturer that offers this facility, which is provided as part of the golf simulator package at no extra cost. This latest development ensures that Sports Coach golf simulators remain the most innovative and comprehensive golf simulators around.

Academy Golf Club Budapest Installs Sports Coach

2011-01-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Academy Golf Club, located in the centre of Budapest, Hungary, offers a range of golfing activities including a golf course, driving range and golf academy. Recently, the club has converted its veranda in the club house to incorporate a Sports Coach indoor golf simulator.
The installation, a platinum surround golf simulator, enhances the restaurant area and provides visitors with the opportunity to play on over 100 golf courses from around the world all year round.

Nearest The Pin at Coutts Christmas Party

2010-12-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early for staff and prestigous guests that attended the Coutts Christmas Party this year. To ensure important clientele of the famous investment bank were truly entertained, a Sports Coach GPS Golf simulator was hired to treat the guests to a Nearest The Pin competition at the Coutts Head Office. The event went very well and resulted in enquiries from several guests seeking to purchase a simulator for their own use.

Kitzbühel Offers Indoor Golf

2010-12-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

Year-round, Kitzbühel in the Tirol region of Austria offers a multitude of sporting activities. The region is best known for its selection of winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. In fact, sporting events hosted in Kitzbühel attract tens of thousands of fans and millions more spectators tune in around the world. What is probably lesser known about the region is that it Kitzbühel has been offering several summer sports for decades - one of them being Golf. The city boasts 4 golf courses alone and 19 courses in the sourrounding region. During the winter, the courses are not accessible. However, winter golf is still possible at indoor sporting centres. Kitz Indoor Golf , who recently installed the incredible GPS Platinum Golf Simulator is one of the facilities in the region. Indoor facilities give players the opportunity to hone their game during the winter months ensuring that their game is up to speed when the snow melts in April. Several Ski resorts have already invested in Sports Coach Simulators this winter to maximize income and they are achieving a very good return on investment.

Jumeirah Carlton Tower Upgrades Golf Simulator

2010-12-21T09:19:00.001-08:00

Jumeirah Carlton Tower, situated in the heart of Knightsbridge and just walking distance from Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Hyde Park, offers guests one of the most exclusive health clubs in London. This award winning hotel provides a fully equipped gym, aerobics studio, sauna, steam room, award-winning Spa, a 20 metre heated indoor pool, and a recently upgraded state-of-the-art golf simulator by Sports Coach.
The accuracy of the 3D camera system along with the expertise from resident professional coaches from The Swing Factory helps players quickly improve their swing, and with 50 of the world’s most famous courses made available, players are spoiled for choice.
By replacing the existing golf simulator, the upgrade was affordable, comprehensive, and conveniently fitted into the existing bay.

Sports Coach Develops Online Tournaments

2010-12-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

Many indoor golf centres are already benefiting from the networked gaming option developed by Sports Coach, which allows several golf simulators to be connected to a local network for tournament games. Players can select a start date, finish date, the course to be played and the competition mode to be used. The network game feature is great for tournament games that are spread over time as a tournament can be set up to last for a day, week or even a month. This flexibility allows players to join the game and play the tournament at any time during the tournament period and see how they rank on the tournament scorecard. As part of release 2.47, this feature has been developed further to include an online tournament mode, giving players the opportunity to engage in tournaments across the internet. Enhancing this feature further is the addition of live leaderboard displays. Usually running on a separate computer acting as an academy server, the live leaderboards are updated and rotated every 30 seconds. Academies have reported that networking and online tournaments are powerful tools to achieve repeat custom.

Platinum Simulator Installed in Trnava

2010-12-06T03:28:00.001-08:00

Trnava dates back to the 13th century and is one of the oldest cities in Slovakia. Situated 40 miles north east of the capital Bratislava, tourists are attracted to the region for its architecture and history. Since the establishment of Slovakia in 1993, the Trnava region has also flourished in manufacturing, most notably with the arrival of French car manufacturer PSA, which began construction of a large automobile plant in 2003.
Hotels in the region enjoy the benefit of business and tourism, and one hotel in particular, Hotel Inka, has gone one step further to ensure it receives a sizeable share of available custom. This year, the hotel has constructed a dedicated lounge bar with a platinum golf simulator installed. It is made available for professionals and also beginners who are keen to take lessons and learn this popular sport.

Costa Cruises Select Sports Coach

2010-12-01T08:25:00.001-08:00

Costa Cruises began as a fleet of freighters mid-1800's, and are now the largest modern cruise fleet in Europe. The Italian fleet of 11 operates cruises of seven days and beyond, throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Arabian Gulf, Asia, the Indian Ocean and trans-Atlantic.

Since May 2009, Costa have launched 3 liners. The 92,700-ton Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Favolosa, all of which are fitted with golf simulators on board. Following extensive market research and tests, Sports Coach were chosen having met the main selection criteria, which included accuracy, reliability and low maintenance requirements.
In July 2006, the cruise line launched its biggest ship - The Concordia. Two more Concordia-class vessels are scheduled to in spring 2011 and spring 2012, both of which will also carry Sports Coach golf simulators.

Indoor Golf Installs Camera System in Freiburg

2010-11-29T00:45:00.000-08:00

Indoor Golf Freiburg, located in south west Germany, has recently installed two dual camera systems to give their members a significantly improved experience for club fitting and teaching. This popular club welcomes members into a family type atmosphere giving players the opportunity to play golf even on the coldest of days.

The two high speed cameras accurately measure the ball flight and provide valuable analytical data, which has greatly assisted the centre's custom fitting facility. Visitors can enjoy playing on a host of courses, such as Pebble Beach, Gut Kaden, and St Andrews, or even other courses from around the world including Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States.

Armani Brings Fashion to the Fairway

2010-11-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Armani has developed the EA7 sport brand over recent years, choosing to adopt technical advances in fabric design to improve performance. This season sees the addition of a new range of elegant performance clothing for the fairway. The latest EA7 Golf Collection was launched in Milan showcasing fashionable yet practicle garments for all weathers. The launch included a Sports Coach golf simulator to enhance the theme resulting in an indoor golfing environment and adding a perfect backdrop and interactive attraction to this hugely successful event.

Decathlon Installs Simulator for Club Tests

2010-11-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

A Sports Coach Golf Simulator has recently been installed at the latest Decathlon store. High speed camera technology replaces radar technology to improve accuracy, giving professional retail staff informative data to assist in their recommendations. The flexibility of the simulator allows various clubs to be tested, including irons, wedges and putters. This valuable information assists staff in order to tailor the best and most suitable golfing equipment for their clients.

Garage Makes Ideal Space for Golf Simulator

2010-11-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

One for Golf have fullfilled a slightly quirky request in Switzerland recently, having successfully converted a previously used garage into a smart indoor golf facility. The building stands three metres wide, but with the installation of two overhead cameras on the left and right of the bay, the simulator can cater for both left and right handed players. Features within the software allow users to change the viewing perspective depending on where they choose to play from. Shifting alingnment is useful for smaller installation spaces as the alignment allows players to hit straight shots even if they are standing off centre. This garage installation demonstrates that any home owner that has the space to swing a golf club can enjoy a GPS Golf Simulator.

Simulatorspel Delivers a Quality Golfing Experience

2010-10-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Simulatorspel, a forward thinking Swedish indoor golf facility has recently opened in Gothenberg, Sweden.

As part of their commitment to quality, Simulatorspel insisted on installing only the latest GPS Platinum Golf Simulators. The result is an incredible 270 degree golfing experience and a choice of 100 courses.

Simulatorspel have also incorporated network gaming into the centre. This relatively new development by Sports Coach Systems has been utilised by creating a tournament with 64 teams in 8 groups, which reduce in number through knockout stages during the season. Players nominate which day they wish to play each fortnight, to which they are assigned throughout the season until they are knocked out. The feedback from clients is extreemely encouraging, with directors planning on adding more surround simulators to keep up with demand. To promote the facility, Simulatorspel have also invested in an inflatable golf simulator to demonstrate the facility to golfers around Gothenburg, and to raise awareness of the centre.

Course Library Continues to Expand

2010-10-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

The next selection of stunning courses have recently been completed for package K, comprising another 10 famous courses from around the world. In total, there are now 110 golf courses that are now playable on the simulator, with another 47 golf courses currently under development. With a large and expanding number of superbly drawn courses, The Sports Coach GPS course library is the world’s most comprehensive course library on the market.

Costa Navarino Selects Sports Coach Academy

2010-10-19T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Costa Navarino Golf Resort in Messinia, Greece, has chosen the Sports Coach GPS Golf Academy in its upmarket training facility.

The resort is host to two golf courses - The Dunes course and the Bay course. The Dunes course has been mapped on the simulator, whilst the Bay course is currently under development.

The Navarino Golf Academy uses three screens to assist personal trainers in providing extremely high levels of on course instruction indoors. Costa Navarino is another excellent resort managed by the worlds largest golf management group, Troon Golf.

Innovative Putting Simulator Launched

2010-10-12T07:16:00.001-07:00

Sports Coach Systems are continuously developing and improving their range of products. The latest addition unveiled is a new putting system that has been developed with affordability and ease of use in mind.

The system accurately measures putting shots without the need for an embedded sensor mat or additional lighting. Instead, it uses a single 'webcam' to record a shot, simulator software to calculate the direction and speed of the ball, with a display screen and projector to display the shot.

The putting simulator can be easily set up in minutes. It's ideal for both new golfers just starting out or accomplished golfers wishing to improve their putting skills.

Offering a host of features, including adventure golf, clinical golf and fantasy golf, the putting simulator is perfect for home use, entertainment events and golfing facilities.

Sports Coach Chosen for PGA Tour Shop Beijing

2010-10-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

Oriental Albatross International Trading based in Beijing has forged an exclusive partnership with the PGA Tour and Global Brands Group to sell a wide range of PGA Tour branded merchandise throughout China. The flagship store has already launched in Beijing.

As part of the PGA Tour's efforts to increase its market position in Asia, it was announced that a total of 180 PGA Tour Shops are planned, which will be located in key cities and golf clubs throughout the country.

To add to the PGA Tour-specific retail environment, a Sports Coach Platinum Simulator was selected, enhancing both the shopping experience and adding focused interest to the store.

Platinum Simulator Impresses at Golf Europe

2010-10-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

Golf Europe remains an important event for the golf industry attracting over 3,000 visitors from 45 countries. The show, held in Munich, was another opportunity for Sports Coach Systems to showcase the GPS Surround Academy, the ultimate 270 degree state of the art golf simulator. Trade show visitors were greeted with displays from 206 exhibitors with Sports Coach Systems attracting great interest and generating numerous sales conversions over the two day event.

Sports Coach Tee Up For The Ryder Cup

2010-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations are in order to Colin Montgomery and the Europe team as they won The Ryder Cup on a sensational final day at The Celtic Manor Resort.

Pressure was on as Colin Montgomerie's side lost the singles 7-5, but a three-point lead on the first Monday in Ryder Cup history led them to a victory with a 14 and a half to 13 and a half win.

Sports Coach showed presence prior to and during the tournament, demonstrating two golf simulators. Colin Montgomery took time to try the simulator himself at the Canali Ryder Cup Team Suit Event at the New Bond Store two weeks prior to the event. Playing the Celtic Manor 2010 Par 3 third hole, he commented that he was glad that he was not having to play that hole in two weeks time!

The Sports Coach Golf Simulator on show at Canali had been provided by Pro Shot Sports for the launch of The Ryder Cup.

Surround Academy Brings Teaching Flexibility

2010-09-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

The GPS Surround feature is being used by many leading PGA professionals to revolutionise the teaching experience for golfers. Using the GPS Golf Simulator and any two teaching programs such as digital video, body motion, and weight transference software packages, the professional
can bring all the industry teaching tools to the forefront in one complete surround visualisation lesson. The golfer can now be fully aware of their actual shot performance during play on their own golf course.

The GPS Surround Simulator is the only simulator which will allow the facility to switch between a full surround golf academy to a 3 screen surround golf simulator. With a seamless blending of the three projected images, specially adapted user friendly screens, and the flexibility to run additional training packages, the GPS Surround Simulator is without doubt the best visual experience of any golf simulator.

Sports Coach Enhances Network Gameplay

2010-08-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Following the introduction of the network game mode, enhancements have already been made to allow golfers to create and play multiple network games.

Players can select a start date, finish date, the course to be played and the competition mode to be used. They can choose from several network games, by selecting from a list of the various games created, and as with all games, the network game can be configured for to play all holes, the front nine, back nine, or a combination of any holes. In addition, the weather and wind conditions can be set for the game. The network game feature is great for tournament games as a tournament can be set up to last for a day, week or even a month. This flexibility allows players to join the game and play the tournament at any time during the tournament period and see how they rank on the tournament scorecard.

Golf Punk Nearest The Pin Contest at the 150th Open

2010-07-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Golf Punk organised a nearest the pin contest on the Golf Simulator for 6 days, during the 150th Open Championship, at the renowned Rule Pub in St. Andrews town. There were a number of high level events which were attended by several touring professionals. To ensure that the public were fully entertained in the evenings, Optimal Analysis ran the Sports Coach simulator on behalf of leading magazine Golf Punk and offered enthusiasts the chance to hit the famous 18th green on the simulator. On Wednesday evening there was an event organised, using the original hickory clubs from St. Andrews Golf Company, which gave golfers the chance to play in the same conditions as the 1st Open, some 150 years ago.

Seve Ballesteros Golf Academy at St Andrews

2010-07-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Seve Ballesteros Academy launched the surround platinum golf simulator during the Championship at St. Andrews by three time Open champion Seve Ballesteros online. Seve famously triumphed at the Old Course, in 1984. The surround simulator features 3 projected screens resulting in a 270 degree panoramic image of the golf course. The Seve Academy Simulator will also attend a number of tour and retail events to engage golfers and corporate partners, who will benefit from demonstrations and coaching on how Seve made doing it the hard way, look breathtakingly easy! Profits from the academy simulator, will support the Seve Ballesteros Foundation who work closely with Cancer Research UK.

Wentworth Frustration Resolved by Sports Coach

2010-06-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

Being a member of the Wentworth Golf Club is superb, but for one member, working long hours in the city and then getting home after dark caused frustration. Limited daylight hours prevented play on the famous West course. There was only one solution - a custom fitted Golf Simulator. Alterations, that were remodelled by Ernie Els were incorporated into the course simulation and as well as having the ability to regularly hone his game, improve his course management and be taught by the club’s own professional at home, he could introduce his family to the game of golf.

The UK’s leading simulator designer Pro Shot Solutions custom designed the ultimate Games Room which also included a fully seated cinema and a pool table. With all three areas blending in seamlessly and complementing each other as well as the property. Any grand property on the Wentworth estate, requires a very high standard of cosmetic finish, to in keep with the surrounding area. So it was crucial that very high levels of design were replicated, the installation was implemented with minimal delay and disruption.

Sports Coach Develops Network Gameplay

2010-06-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Indoor Golf Centres can now benefit from a networked game linking several simulators together thanks to a new networking solution developed by Sports Coach Systems. Players can now add their details onto one simulator which are then automatically being saved onto the entire simulator network. Players can save their game on one simulator and resume the game on another. During June the world’s first, live tournament feature will be integrated, enabling live games to be played over all the simulators simultaneously. After each hole, a live leader board replaces the score card, showing all players on all simulators. This new feature enhances gameplay and provides an opportunity for numerous players to participate in a game across several simulators.

Sports Coach Introduces Flyby Voiceovers

2010-06-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

The GPS Golf Simulator now has professional flyby voice over’s embedded onto the golf course library. The voice over commentary begins automatically during each hole flyby giving detailed advice on the ideal way to play the current golf hole. Several GPS courses have already had the voice over’s embedded, such as Abu Dhabi, Belfry Brabazon, Bro Balsta, Celtic Manor 2010, Coghill Dubsdread, Doral Blue Monster, Fontana, Gut Kaden, Innisbrook Copperhead and Manoir Richelieu. During the summer the intention is to add voice over commentary to the entire extensive course library. This latest enhancement can be downloaded Free of Charge to all Sports Coach clients via our FTP Site ftp://sports-coach.ftpstream.com/

Mantsalan Kuntokeidas Installs Sports Coach

2010-05-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

Mika Kuivaniemi, owner of Mantsalan Kuntokeidas has installed the Sports Coach at his Gym. The members of Kuntokeidas Golf Club, get full access to the simulator and the gym. Mika says “both businesses are strongly supporting and complementing each other. Now we have a social draw for golf groups who come together each evening, when husbands come to play golf and the wife’s exercise at the gym. During the summer time the simulator is being used as a cinema for the kids.”

Sports Coach Leads the Scandinavian Market

2010-05-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

Ari Hagren owner of Swingari Golf, located in Valkeakoski started a new indoor golf facility last winter. He says “The soul of the whole facility is the Sports Coach simulator. We have separate putting areas and hitting areas, but most interesting is the golf simulator, which brings customers to the other areas when the simulator is fully booked. The best part of the simulator is that it is so accurate and realistic. Players with handicaps of scratch to 6 are the most enthusiastic. Players with a 7 to 35 handicap are reporting how much they love playing the machine, whereas players of handicaps of 36 to 54 are finding the simulator very challenging as it teaches them course management - having to hit out sideways when playing out of trees is unlike other simulators. Our best player from Pirkanmaa practises regularly on the Sports Coach. He is representing Finland, at the amateur European Champions. Better players are in the spot light, which means more golfers will follow suit and practise on the Sports Coach during our next indoor golf season.”

Finnish Add Growth to the Indoor Golf Market

2010-05-12T03:25:00.000-07:00

Finland is leading the indoor golf market in Europe. With an indoor golfing season from October through to April, there are now some 135,000 Finnish golfers playing golf on 140 golf courses in the summer - all developed by Sports Coach Systems. During the last two years Sports Coach have sold 84%, of the golf simulators purchased in Finland.

Pasi Kuutti, Managing Director of Leaf Arena based in Turku commented “On the best days we have had 12 hours daily usage on the golf simulator. Sports Coach has worked perfectly and customers are very pleased with the machine. The simulator has been in use this winter from October until April and every day we have had lots of players. During this year - our first winter, we have got back our total investment on the machine. Better players with a 0 – 5 handicap have used the machine and local junior golf teams use Sports Coach to measure different things. We are really happy with the new high speed camera technology.”

Sports Coach Virtual Driving Range Launched

2010-04-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sports Coach have released a Virtual Driving Range -a traditional flat outfield with signage. By having a flat outfield means golfers, can truly know their exact performance with each of their own golf clubs. All types of shots can be practiced with the additional advantage of club fitting options. After every practise shot, automatic replays of shots such as reverse replay, forward replay or overhead replay are available. With the detailed post shot screen appearing automatically after the replay, the golfer is given a vast amount of detailed information.

Golf Show News

2010-03-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

During the first few months of this year many distributors have utilised the GPS 3D Golf Simulator at several golf shows, throughout Europe. Sports Coach has received outstanding feedback from golfers, who have been truly amazed at the superb graphical picture quality and the excellent levels of accuracy for the ball flight thanks to the superb performance of the 3D High Speed Camera Technology. Clients have made very favourable comments regarding the comprehensive course library, the flexible simulator setups, the affordable pricing of the simulators, as well as the unique free life time software upgrade support.

Sports Coach Launches Short Game Academy

2010-03-03T01:40:00.000-08:00

Sports Coach have introduced a professional short game academy that can reproduce all short shots realistically and accurately. Designed to allow all PGA Professionals to teach golfers to even higher levels of technical ability indoors compared to outdoors, the Short Game Academy covers all important aspects of the short game.

Every type of approach shot can be practised such as full pitch shots, flop shots,
bunker shots and chip and run shots. Whether those shots are played from the fairway, semi rough, rough, long grass or out of the 4 styles of bunker. The short game
academy is 143 yards long x 90 yards wide and has 5 separate pin positions that can be selected.

Sports Coach Develop Club Comparisons to Improve Performance

2010-02-22T09:21:00.000-08:00

Club Comparison can now be selected showing the actual average performance data for 5 separate clubs tested. This ensures the golfer will be completely satisfied that the correct club has been chosen. The Club Advisor can print the results for the customer and more importantly, discuss the purchase of the new equipment based on facts.

Ultimate 3D Club Fitting – the Next Generation Overtaking Launch Monitors.

2010-02-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

Our latest technology allows the Golf Industry to offer the very best Interactive Professional Club Fitting Service. GPS Club Fitting works alongside the Virtual Range program within the GPS Simulator. The 3D High Speed Camera Technology ensures an incredibly accurate Ball Flight Model, providing next generation club fitting after launch monitors.

The GPS Club Fitting Simulator will enable any golfer to see the benefits of changing to more suitable golf clubs with ease.

Sports Coach Introduces their Surround Simulator

2010-02-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Enhancing the gaming experience is the immense Surround Simulator. Featuring 3 high quality projectors, an ultra wide projected strike screen and the enhanced control system, the surround simulator allows the golfer’s view to be fully immersed within the golf course environment. This is the ultimate golfing game play experience, for all Indoor Golf Centres, at a reasonable cost.

View details about our Platinum Surround Simulator.