It started out as a DM on Instagram. When Joelle Lucero, a member of the LPGA Amateurs Las Vegas Chapter, messaged Sean Pyun, President & CEO of GOLFZON America, she had no idea what would come about from her message. But it was worth a shot.
It turned out to exceed her expectations.
Momentous,” she described.
LPGA Amateurs Las Vegas and Louisville Compete via Network Play
After months of preparation, the Las Vegas and Louisville chapters of LPGA Amateurs competed in a virtual indoor golf simulator match last week using GOLFZON’s Network Play technology at their respective facilities, J Bar Golf & Lounge and Tee It Up Golf USA.
Connecting Women Golfers: A Unique Virtual Golf Experience
Nearly 20,000 members over 130 global chapters are part of LPGA Amateurs, whose mission is to connect women to learn, play and golf. Using Network Play, which can connect up to 10,000 users, was the perfect tool to accomplish that goal.
Being able to play with people in other states, you get to see where their ball is on the screen,” said Holly Corpuz, who played for the Las Vegas chapter in the match. “It makes it really interactive and really fun. It’s a great experience and I think it’s really unique because I haven’t seen that before.
Match Format and Results
Each chapter formed four teams of two and competed in a 2 vs. 2 alternate shot indoor golf match. Each team picked up two wins, resulting in a tie and receiving $500 from GOLFZON to each chapter.
But the result was almost an afterthought. That the members had an unforgettable time with their families and friends watching, connecting, despite being three hours apart in time, through golf was the true winner.
LPGA Player Reactions
To be honest, my most fun was splitting the win,” said Tara Fox, president of the Las Vegas chapter. “everybody wants to win, but the perfect situation would be to have us win one. It’s like a win-win all around.
The experience was amazing. I really wasn’t sure what to expect with all of this, but this was so much fun” said Sandy Carroll, president of the Louisville chapter, who participated in one of the matches. “When can we do this again? It was a blast.
Technology That Brought the Competition to Life
The GOLFZON simulators featuring a moving floor, zero latency and auto-tee enhanced the experience, but it was the Network Play technology that stood out and earned praise from the members.
The network play technology was fantastic because I was constantly looking at what their score was and our score after every hole, so I love that connectivity,” said Janet Miller, secretary of the Louisville chapter. “It was almost like you’re watching the leaderboard from PGA or LPGA Tours.
It was a bit awkward at first for both chapters. But after getting a few swings in and seeing the opposition’s ball on their screen, the women grew more comfortable. Some even called for another round of matches.
This is my first time ever playing virtual golf,” Lucero said. “It’s crazy seeing golf balls flying and I really love that the element of virtual golf can bring people together. So excited to do more of these.
Looking Ahead: Connecting More LPGA Amateurs Chapters
More is certainly expected in the future. GOLFZON plans on connecting hundreds of LPGA Amateurs chapters using Network Play technology. With hundreds of facilities across the United States, the goal is a feasible one.
Using network technology is going to help our chapters connect a lot,” Miller said. “I think there’s been efforts to connect other chapters a lot, but it’s really hard to do it physically, so this is going to give us a lot more options and easier options to connect with other LPGA chapters.