TECH UNIVERSITY 2 | December 2017 #juniorgolfmag Visit us at juniorgolfmag.net GOLFZONIntrosNextGenerationSimulatorBY WARD CLAYTON I n November 2016, Mark Carnevale was at the Executive Women’s Golf Association Cup in Palm Springs, California, broadcasting his Sirius/XM radio show from the event. Prior to going on air, the 1992 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year tested the GOLFZON 3D simulator in a massive ballroom. With a short-game setup where the target was a funnel that became progressively smaller, Carnevale chipped for a while, testing his prowess on shots from 30 to 100 yards. “I just practiced my short game for 30 minutes and didn’t even realize it,” Carnevale said. “I used to hate practicing my short game. If I would have had this type of simulator when I was a junior golfer and when I was on the Tour, maybe I’d still be playing. That was fun.” Carnevale’s revelation was right in line with GOLFZON’s corporate philos- ophy, “Making golf enjoyable for everyone.” GOLFZON (www.golfzongolf.com), founded in South Korea in 2000, now commands the largest market share in the global golf simulator busi- ness. Products are currently being exported to more than 40 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and other continents. This year, Golf Digest recognized GOLFZON as an Editors’ Choice Award winner for “Best Simulators.” GOLFZON simulators allow golfers to practice indoors in colder climates and when adverse weather strikes. Precise feedback provides game improve- ment data. Rounds on some of the world’s top courses can be completed in approximately one hour, and practice modes create fun games outside of the usual golf space. Global on-line tournaments are also accessible, helping to increase a player’s competitive edge. The product’s unique moving Swing Plate produces different lies and the short game and putting features make for accurate play, using the proprietary GOLFZON software. GOLFZON’s impact on junior golf has been felt globally. The Korean and Chinese National Golf Teams use the simulators in their practice facilities. GOLFZON has formed an Elite Junior Golf Academy at its GOLFZON Zoimaru facilities in South Korea, and the GOLFZON Yuwon Foundation gives $ 1 million annually to provide scholarships for elite juniors. “Based on our research from 2015, we found that 80 percent of new golfers in South Korea use simulation golf to get started,” said Tommy Lim, CEO of GOLFZON America. “That’s where the success of many PGA Tour and LPGA players began.” GOLFZON has focused on its United States expansion since 2016 when GOLFZON worked with Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul, an NBA All- Star, and LPGA player Alison Lee, a GOLFZON Ambassador, to install a simulator at the Roy W. Roberts II Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles. “To have this type of technology in a community where kids aren’t typically exposed to golf provides them with a great opportunity to learn another important skill set,” said Calvin Lyons, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles. “Golf has been a missing element in our clubs.” Last January, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, GOLFZON of- fered a sneak peak at its new software, ARCADE, which was released late this summer, and more arcade-style games are still to come. Some junior golfers have already tried this 3D dart game where points are accumulated by hitting shots toward an island green with a dart board pattern. And the game has proven to be harmlessly addictive. Most technology watchers believe that simulator companies like GOLFZON have just scratched the tip of the iceberg. And with young golf- ers eagerly embracing these new innovations, the market seems primed for anything new and edgy that comes its way. Ward Clayton is a free-lance writer and golf industry communications specialist. Left: Even younger kids have gotten the GOLFZON bug Above: Realistic visuals give you a sense of being there Right (top/bottom): The newest software, ARCADE, blends darts and golf techniques