Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Driving precision: Creating a tech revolution at PGA Tour events (NET101)

Summary

Ken Lovell from PGA Tour is responsible for collecting data during professional golf events.
PGA Tour has been using a system called ShotLink for over 20 years to collect and understand golf data.
The traditional setup involved extensive cabling, network switches, and sensors, including handheld devices, tablets, lasers, radars, and cameras.
The data collected is foundational for storytelling in golf, used for broadcast, digital platforms, and gambling partners.
PGA Tour is rethinking its technology strategy to improve data collection, reduce setup time, and enhance the digital core.
Accenture is partnering with PGA Tour on this project, focusing on full lifecycle projects from strategy to operation.
PGA Tour is moving towards collecting ball-in-motion data, reducing on-site footprint, and leveraging cloud-native software for production.
The network infrastructure is being re-evaluated, with options like private 5G being considered to replace extensive fiber cabling.
PGA Tour aims to make the data collection process more efficient, scalable, and resilient, with a focus on improving the fan experience and meeting the demands of sports betting.

The PGA Tour is undergoing a significant digital transformation, leveraging cloud technologies and advanced sensors to collect more detailed and real-time data.
The use of cloud-native software allows for remote production, reducing the need for on-site personnel and enabling a more flexible and scalable operation.
The shift from algebra to calculus in data collection (from XYZ coordinates to polynomial representations of shots) indicates a move towards more sophisticated data analysis and storytelling capabilities.
The PGA Tour's partnership with AWS is integral to their innovation strategy, providing the scalability and compute power needed for their ambitious data collection and analysis goals.
The PGA Tour's approach to rethinking its network infrastructure, including the consideration of private 5G networks, reflects a broader industry trend towards modernizing legacy systems to support the increasing demands of digitalization.
The PGA Tour's efforts to reduce the human element in data collection through AI and machine learning could lead to more accurate and efficient operations, as well as new opportunities for fan engagement and sports betting.