Galway golfing invention proving international hit

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

A Corofin man, who is rubbing shoulders with the world’s top golfers, is looking to guide one of the most conservative sports into the 21st century through his digital performance tracker, Game Golf.

Now based in San Francisco, John McGuire’s journey to this point of time, where even the President of the United States Barack Obama is using his technology, is a testament to his resilience and courage. Yet, more of than anon.

For those not familiar with Game Golf, which retails at approximately $199 dollars (€160), it works by attaching a data-collecting sensor to the golf clubs. Before a swing is taken, the player touches the top of the handle to another sensor wore around the belt.

Game Golf will then keep track of the player’s swings, the distance of the shot, the score and driving accuracy. When the player finishes their round, they upload the data to a computer or smart phone to review their statistics, allowing them to compare past rounds and to analyse their game.

Sport, in general, has not always been the quickest to embrace new technology but McGuire says the response to Game Golf has been superb. “The response has been fantastic. The PGA of America is an investor in our company and ours is the first company that they have ever invested in,” says the proud Galway man.

“The Golf Channel is also involved in our company as are [professional golfers] Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk. So, we are seen as the bright, shining light in golf in the US in 2014,” says McGuire.

He notes one of the reasons the PGA has invested in his company – Active Mind Technology – is to bring golf into the 21st century and through this new technology to attract a younger demographic to the sport and, consequently, grow the sport and ensure it remains strong.

Certainly, having secured the appropriate investment in order to build and market Game Golf, McGuire and his venture has responded by firmly establishing itself in the ultra competitive industry of sports products.

Indeed, he says the figures from the first nine months have surpassed what other wearable companies have done in a year and McGuire agrees they are moving in the right direction. “Absolutely,” he affirms.

“I mean, our revenue is very strong. It is being used in over 79 countries now and there is over 120,000 rounds uploaded to the system and we have 10 million golf shots stored in our database right now.”

That does not just simply happen and over the two days the Talking Sport conversation takes place, McGuire has flown from his home in San Francisco to Florida to meet with the CEO of the PGA of America to plan out their strategy for 2015.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.