Golf tech frontrunner Golf GameBook and the Swedish Golf Federation have extended their multi-year marketing partnership. Building on the previous three years of success, both partners are continuing to push the overall digitalization of the game and fostering digital engagement, especially via promoting junior golf and matchplay in 2022.
Junior golf as a catalyst to growing the game
Over the past three years, more than 20,000 junior golfers across Sweden have utilized for free the full benefits of Golf GameBook’s industry leading app, which includes a wide range of different game formats, the possibility to play multi-group tournaments and features for staying in touch with friends on and off the course. With the free premium membership, which is provided ad free, juniors have also been able to improve their game through Golf GameBook’s advanced statistics.
“One highlight of our partnership with the Swedish Golf Federation is our shared commitment to co-create engaging and meaningful relationships with junior golfers all across the country. Our modern and digitally driven engagement solutions enable juniors to have more fun on the golf course, as well as expand their own social networks around golf,” says Mikko Manerus, CEO and co-founder of Golf GameBook.
In addition to the complimentary membership, juniors have been able to join a series of virtual challenges that have been hosted by some of Sweden’s legends: Annika Sörenstam, Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren to name a few. These virtual challenges will also continue in 2022, capitalizing on delivering engaging programs for juniors that deepen their relationship to the game.
“It has been great to see how excited the juniors have been when our shining pro stars have been challenging them to score more birdies, play more golf or collect more friends on the course,” says Mathias Resare, Chief Marketing Officer at the Swedish Golf Federation.
The oldest golf tournament in Sweden – the most modern technology to promote it
In addition to juniors, the parties want to activate Swedish golfers of all ages with innovative digital concepts. One of the key initiatives this season will be a nationwide matchplay challenge. This virtual concept will promote the oldest tournament in Sweden, The Swedish Matchplay Championship. The tournament has been played since 1904, and this year it will be bigger than ever in partnership with Big Green Egg. The goal in the nationwide Golf GameBook virtual challenge is to promote matchplay and let players join virtual golf events, not only by themselves but also with a friend to compete as a twosome against the rest of Sweden.
Extending exposure and engagement via professional golf tours and pro-ams
In addition to the virtual activities, the partnership will also continue to cover both professional golf leagues organized by the Swedish Golf Federation; The Ahsell Nordic Golf Tour and MoreGolf Mastercard Tour. These golf tours have been actively promoted to Nordic-wide audiences through Golf GameBook’s virtual challenges and have invited amateur golfers of all skill levels to further engage with these regional professional tours. Additionally, Golf GameBook will be a sponsor of the 2022 Dormy Open, a Challenge Tour event to be organized in August.
The Swedish Golf Federation manages its various pro-ams with Golf GameBook’s B2B software, Tournament Manager, and increasingly more golf clubs in Sweden will use the tool for their tournament activities this upcoming season. This platform enables a turn-key B2B tournament solution that will introduce new and progressive concepts within the world of digital golf.
“As we see it, players love using the Golf GameBook app on their every day rounds and our natural next step is to let players use our tools also at physical golf events, organized by golf clubs, event organizers or the federation,” says Emilia Ottela, Chief Business Officer at Golf GameBook.