ShowMe Golfers Launches Kickstarter Funding Campaign for Its 'Intelligent' Scorecard, Player Device and Golf Shot Data Capture Platform

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paper golf scorecards can only keep score, and are one of the biggest reasons that until now, golf shot data was simply too difficult and too expensive to capture. In fact, of all the golf rounds and tournaments played in compliance with the USGA and R&A rules of golf, for nearly 100 percent (99.9%) there is no shot-by-shot GPS data captured, and for amateurs play, no ability to efficiently broadcast live leaderboards as rounds and tournaments progress.

Now there is a solution that does both, ShowMePlatform is an intelligent digital scorecard, device and robust app that, in complete compliance with tournament rules, captures and tracks the GPS coordinates of golf shots. This gives players a range of stats previously only the pros could get during tournament play. Best of all, ShowMePlatform is a boon for clubs and amateur tournaments, who can broadcast rounds and tournaments in real time, just like the pros.

Designed to outlast every weather condition, ShowMe is like having a personal coach that calculates game stats automatically and sends it to the cloud for easy sharing and access. Share rounds with buddies, coaches, recruiters, or on social networks like Facebook or Twitter, direct from the course, in the clubhouse (or anywhere else on the globe).

Data capture starts with the ShowMeGolfer device, about the size of a smartphone with a simple two button interface, that uses proprietary Record Shot Technology to save the geo-coordinates and timestamps of each shot (down to a precision of one yard). It then transmits the data for either live broadcast or review on any screen (mobile/tablet/computer) anywhere.

ShowMe can be worn on a belt or put in a pocket, whenever it's time, simply press a button to record the position of the shot, measure the length of drives, or just keep score (it does that simple job quite well).

"Today only a fraction of the 150 billion golf shots annually are captured, and these are only through the PGA Tour's ShotLink, which costs a boatload of money, requires hundreds of at-game volunteers to make it work, and that's not going to help anybody outside the pro tour extract data that is meaningful and actionable, " said ShowMe founder Erik Winther.

"ShowMe is a golf revolution! For a modest investment of time, money and resources, any tournament organizer, club, team or player can broadcast (live or on-demand) any tournament and any practice round for viewing on any screen anywhere," said Brad Furber, CEO.

To date ShowMe has mapped more than 19,000 golf courses in the USA, UK and Denmark and soon should have every course online here, as well as other courses around the world. ShowMe, which has been tested in live tournaments through a partnership with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), has a number of consumer and commercial uses including: 

• Tours, Course Clubs – brings PGA Tour-like live leaderboards to any event; broadcast to mobile devices or over the internet; incredible opportunities for corporate sponsors; company meetings, amateur events, et al
• Social component – the ShowMe golf app "gamifies" golf, turning golfers into "virtual players" who can "share their game" live to other mobile devices or PCs, compare to peers, etc.
• "Moneyball" for Fans – just like Baseball, opens up slew of in-game stats, performance benchmarks previously available only to pros.
• Players/instructors – improve performance by analyzing data post-round; from greens in regulation to average driving distance and accuracy; can visually track shots on an interactive map; and automatically emails/prints scorecard with key performance stats.
• Advertisers/Equipment Manufacturers – enables highly targeted ads, promos, upsells, cross-sells
• Golf Course Design and Management – track course shots, use data when designing new courses; use data to optimize course management, including tracking and optimizing pace of play.

For complete Kickstarter campaign details, pledging options, and video, click here. ShowMe will come with a one year subscription (value: $89), including data-plan for anywhere in the USA, and ships with:

• Quad-Band GPRS/EDGE and Tri-Band 3G connectivity
• 3.5" high contrast display for better outdoor view
• Best-in-class GPS solution with 1 yard precision
• Lithium polymer battery
• Automatic OTA software updates
• Electronic scorecard
• Tournament mode with support for marker
• Charge via standard micro-USB connector
• 1 year of data services

About Golf Metrics Inc. dba ShowMe and ShowMeGolfers

ShowMeGolfers is a patent-pending golf data capture platform and digital scoring device that captures and tracks golf shot data, and also interprets, distributes, and broadcasts information about live golf games in real time. Built on top of the platform is a robust app that is used by players to track their own performance/improve their game. The ShowMe Platform-as-a-Service golf data capture system and digital scoring device includes proprietary software, mobile apps and smartphone sized belt-wearable device and is the only platform available outside of the PGA Tour's ShotLink that captures, interprets, distributes, and broadcasts data/information about live golf games in real time. ShowMe and ShowMeGolfers are trademarks of Golf Metrics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.