Global simulator leader brings its technology to golf’s activation on Dakar’s West Corniche, giving students and the general public an accessible first experience with the game.
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (Thursday, 29 October 2026) – The International Golf Federation (IGF) today announced a technology partnership with GOLFZON, the global leader in golf simulator technology, which will bring its simulator to golf’s Engagement Activation in Dakar, Senegal. Inside a dedicated tent on the city’s West Corniche, GOLFZON technology will allow young people and the public to hit their very first golf shots and play virtual holes – with no golf course, no equipment of their own and no previous experience required.
Golf at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Golf is one of ten Engagement Sports at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games; the first Olympic sporting event ever held on African soil. Rather than awarding medals, Engagement Sports introduce young people and the wider public in Senegal to new disciplines through hands-on activities. Golf’s activation will run daily at the Engagement Sports area on Dakar’s West Corniche from 1 to 13 November 2026, with a special Golf Focus Day on 6 November.
How GOLFZON Golf Simulators Introduce Beginners to Golf
The GOLFZON simulator area will sit at the heart of golf’s activation, complementing the short-game and putting stations. Guided by the GOLFZON team, visitors will take a full swing with a real club and ball, watch their shot fly down the fairway on a large screen and see instantly how far and how straight it went. Within minutes, complete beginners will be playing virtual versions of renowned golf courses from around the world – without leaving Dakar.
How Golf Simulator Technology Makes Golf More Accessible
For many people in Senegal and across Africa, the biggest obstacle to golf is not a lack of interest but a lack of access. Simulator technology offers a different way into the game: a GOLFZON simulator needs only the footprint of a room, works in any weather and at any hour, and can be installed in a school, community centre, or sports hall – bringing golf to the places where people already live, study and gather.
What GOLFZON Technology Brings to the Dakar Golf Activation
- Open to All: Free GOLFZON Leadbetter Academy Coach-led sessions for students during the day and for the general public in the evening, with all equipment provided and no prior experience needed.
- No Course Required: A complete golf experience – from the tee shot to the final putt – in the heart of the city.
- Flexible, All-Weather Play: An indoor simulator experience that allows golf to be played regardless of outdoor conditions.
- Instant Feedback: High-precision sensors measure every shot – ball speed, launch angle, spin and distance – and display it on screen, so first-time players understand the game and see their progress within minutes.
GOLFZON’s Global Reach and Golf Simulator Technology
Founded in 2000 with a mission to make golf more fun and accessible, GOLFZON today has simulators at nearly 13,000 locations worldwide, on which golfers hit more than 100 million shots a year. The company is the Official Indoor Golf Simulator of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open and will now bring its simulator technology to visitors in Dakar.
Supporting Golf Development in Senegal and Across Africa
For the IGF, the partnership looks beyond the event itself. It shows how simulator technology can support golf development at every level, from grassroots to elite: giving beginners an engaging first contact with the game, helping coaches analyse and refine technique with precise data, and allowing talented players to train and progress whatever the conditions.
GOLFZON Donates Simulator to Support Long-Term Golf Development
The partnership is also set to leave a lasting mark. In a generous gesture, GOLFZON has offered to donate the simulator after the event, so that it can continue to introduce new players to the game and support local coaching and player development for years to come. The IGF is now working with its partners to identify the best long-term home for the simulator and ensure it delivers a meaningful legacy for golf development in Senegal.
IGF and GOLFZON Leaders on Making Golf More Accessible
IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon stated:
“Our goal in Dakar is to make golf’s first impression as simple and as welcoming as possible. Many of the students who visit us during the day, and the families and adults who join us in the evening, will never have set foot on a golf course, and some will never have held a club. With GOLFZON, they can take a full swing, watch the ball fly and feel the excitement of the game within minutes. Just as importantly, this technology shows what golf development can look like in Senegal and across Africa: you don’t need a golf course to start playing, to learn or to fall in love with the game. That is a strong message, and we are grateful to GOLFZON for sharing it with us – and for its generous offer to keep the simulator working for golf long after the event.”
Sean Pyun, Head of GOLFZON’s Global Business Division and CEO of GOLFZON America, said:
“GOLFZON was founded on the belief that golf should be fun and accessible to everyone, wherever they live. Our technology brings the full experience of the game into the heart of a city – no course and no special conditions, just a club, a ball and a screen. We are proud to partner with the International Golf Federation to bring that experience to Dakar, and to show people of all ages in Senegal that golf can be their game too. If that first swing sparks a lifelong passion for even a few of them, it will have been well worth it.”
Follow the Golf Activation at Dakar 2026
Media and the public are invited to follow golf’s activation in Dakar, including the GOLFZON simulator experience, via igfgolf.org and the IGF’s social media channels.
For more information, please visit theIGF website.
About the International Golf Federation (IGF)
The International Golf Federation (IGF) was founded in 1958 and is the recognised International Federation within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The headquarters of the IGF is located by the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.
About GOLFZON
GOLFZON is the global leader in golf simulator technology. Founded in the Republic of Korea in 2000 with a mission to make golf more fun and accessible, the company develops simulators, software and indoor golf experiences used at nearly 13,000 locations worldwide. GOLFZON is the Official Indoor Golf Simulator of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open and hosts the international GOLFZON Tour, launched in 2024. For more information, visit golfzongolf.com.
Read the Full Press Release Here.