When we are discussing the challenge of how could golf broaden its appeal and attract new audience demographics we cannot or it is hard to neglect the importance of such technology innovation like artificial intelligence.
Let me give you an example.
Personalization is a must-have for current and future success. Our guests and golf club members know very well that technologies can be at our disposal if we really want to personalize our services, offers, customer relationship, and communication.
Personalization is just one area where we can utilize artificial intelligence.
I am sure that you have heard about Arccos Golf and its products among them the latest one the Arccos Smart Caddie (a virtual caddie; using Microsoft Azure technology & artificial intelligence: AI).
Another interesting area where we already enjoy the benefits of AI (artificial intelligence) is the chatbots (e.g. Facebook Messenger bot).
Some golf clubs are already using chatbots to manage their relationships with their guests and members, and even sell tee times and membership to golfers.
Pebble Beach Golf Resort in cooperation with IBM Watson launched in 2017 a virtual concierge service by utilizing AI technology. The idea was to help every guest on a personal level and at the right moment and place.
Gartner estimates that by 2020, 85 percent of CIOs will be piloting AI programs through a combination of buy, build and outsource efforts1 and that AI-generated business value will more than triple from $1.2 trillion in 2018 to $3.9 trillion by 2022.
After reading all this, you can rightly ask, what is the connection between the usage of AI and the world’s first ParOne Invitational STEAMathlon.
ParOne Invitational STEAMathlon & Artificial Intelligence
The event was held between 25-26 April at The Els Club Dubai in association with Canada’s leading Ed Tech company, Kalebr Americas, in partnership with BMW Group Middle East and AGMC, the official BMW Group importer for Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates and Dubai Autism Center.
20 UAE schools and over 100 students competed with their artificial intelligence GolfBots, trained to traverse a custom 3-hole mini golf course.
The UAE community supported the initiative with over 500 guests in attendance.
Nord Anglia International School, Al Barsha was crowned “Grand Winner 2019” champions of the ParOne STEAMathalon winning the BMW GolfSport Trophy.
The winners were chosen by combining expert judges, community votes and social media interactions.
These were the categories of the competition:
- Grand Winner 2019,
- Runners up,
- Most Creative,
- Most Popular,
- Most Sustainable,
- Most Tolerant,
- Grittiest Team, and
- Most Innovative.
The winners could win:
- BMW merchandise and car leases,
- a round trip to India from Cox and Kings,
- Emaar vouchers,
- and Kalebr goodies.
Aaditya Tangri, the co-founder of STEAMathalon, said the purpose of STEAMathalon was to promote innovation, well-being and empower learners with 21st-century workplace skills.
It is not a big surprise that the ParOne Invitational STEAMathalon was held in The Els Club Dubai. The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 to support people who are living with autism.