Toptracer, the leading range technology provider, has entered into a five-year partnership with The R&A, encompassing The Open and AIG Women’s Open. The collaboration aims to introduce new ways for fans to engage with golf both at championship venues and at golf facilities equipped with Toptracer technology.
The partnership’s scope will be fully realised at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, with an exciting new addition to this year’s event that integrates Toptracer’s technology with Foresight Sports, the leader in launch monitor technology.
This will be showcased at The R&A Swing Zone, offering spectators a first look at the new indoor application. Additionally, the product will be featured within the official Championship hospitality areas.
As the Official Ball Tracking Technology Supplier, Toptracer will continue to offer its tracing technology at both The Open and AIG Women’s Open. The Championship driving range will feature Toptracer’s ‘Tournament Range’ technology, which instantly displays ball traces and data points such as carry distance, ball speed, and launch angle.
This information will be shown on a large LED screen visible to all on-site spectators and will now be available at both championships, providing trusted data for competitors and enhancing engagement for spectators and TV viewers.
Avid golfers attending The Open Championship and those at more than 1,000 Toptracer Range locations worldwide will have the opportunity to experience Royal Troon through Virtual Golf mode. They can also participate in a global ‘Closest to Pin’ competition at Toptracer Ranges, inspired by the iconic ‘Postage Stamp’, the 8th hole at Royal Troon.
“Toptracer has been providing ball-tracking to The R&A at The Open for more than 14 years and our team has demonstrated remarkable dedication and creativity in their efforts to provide an unrivalled viewing and fan experience,” said Scott Blevins, General Manager of Toptracer.
“This partnership allows us to provide our trusted technology and data on one of golf’s biggest stages, and we are grateful to The R&A who have placed their trust in Toptracer technology for the foreseeable future.”
Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, added, “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and is watched by many millions of viewers around the globe and having Toptracer at The Open since 2010 has been crucial to delivering the very best viewer experience.
When we looked to build a long-term partnership with a ball tracking technology provider for The Open and the AIG Women’s Open, Toptracer’s accuracy, innovation, and global presence clearly made them the stand-out choice.”
Armit also highlighted the broader impact of the partnership, saying, “We’re equally excited about the value and enjoyment this partnership can bring to golfers all over the world, away from our TV screens.
Millions of golfers will be able to tackle Championship venues at their local Toptracer Ranges, compete in virtual events against golfers from 38 different countries, and see more Toptracer and Championship content across digital channels – this is something every golfer should be excited about.”
***
The new Toptracer Range Indoor solution will be available for pro shops and retailers starting September 1, 2024.
