TaylorMade are joining forces with IT giant Microsoft to bring the latest in digital technology to the fairways with the Microsoft Golf Tile.
The Microsoft Golf Tile is built on the success of the the Microsoft Band, the first device powered by Microsoft Health. The Golf Tile app will give golfers GPS yardages to front, middle and back, shot tracking and detection, plus a digital scorecard as well as biometric information such as calories burned, steps taken, heart rate and duration of the round.
All the information is available in real time on the course, but the device also twins with the Microsoft Health application, which runs on iOS, Android and Windows Phone, allowing golfers a summary of the information that was generated during the round, allowing them to build up a picture of their games.
Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Devices and Services, thinks golf is a natural fit:
We are excited to bring the golf experience to the Microsoft Band. The combination of walking several miles with the physical rigour that goes into playing a round provides a great opportunity for Microsoft Health and Microsoft Band to track our golf customers’ fitness and provide observations to help take their game to the next level.
Following the release of the Golf Tile, TaylorMade are adding golfing know how with the release of their standalone analytics platform, myRoundPro, whose functionality will be enhanced when used in conjunction with the Golf Tile and Microsoft Health.
To be launched in the coming weeks, myRoundPro will allow players to make a more detailed analysis of their rounds, with features such as strokes gained and proximity to the hole adding value to classic stats such as fairways hit and greens in regulation.
David Abeles, CEO of TaylorMade, explained the thinking behind the link up:
Digital technology is playing a bigger part in peoples’ lives today. This is no different in the golf space, so it was a natural fit to partner with Microsoft in developing this innovative platform, aimed at enhancing the golfers experience through a series of unprecedented smart technologies.
The Microsoft Band is available for £169 and can be bought through major retailers whilst golfers can sign up for TaylorMade's myRoundPro ahead of the official launch by visiting www.myroundpro.com