18Birdies, mobile technology startup, just signed Wesley Bryan to a multi-year partnership.
Bryan will be featured as an 18Birdies ambassador by wearing the brand logo on his apparel, using the app to post “Live Rounds,” as well as other exclusive content in the app’s golf-focused social feed and making special personal appearances.
Since launching in 2016, 18Birdies has seen rapid growth and now claims more than 750,000 users. The app seeks to gamify the game of golf, as it were, and foster a social community. From GPS, to shot tracking, to stats, to custom recommendations in its Premium mode, 18Birdies is an impressive app.
Bryan certainly makes sense as an endorser, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.
Ben Alberstadt: Taco Bell, Skechers, now 18Birdies. You’re amassing a unique stable of sponsors. Is there a tie that binds? What do you look for in a sponsor relationship?
Wesley Bryan: I’m fortunate enough to partner with companies that share the same vision that I do. I’m all about making golf fun, enjoyable and approachable. It’s important to me that brands I represent on Tour have that same approach.
BA: Considering YouTube, which is among other things an app, raised your profile and helped you earn a living before making it on the Web.com Tour, you have a unique perspective on apps among pro golfers, no?
WB: Technology is really an amazing thing – being able to connect with fans all over the world is something that I love doing. I recently played my first Tour event in Asia last week in Malaysia – it was incredible to hear so many fans referencing the content I’ve done with Dude Perfect!, amongst other things.
BA: Do you think apps like 18Birdies have a role to play in the growth of the game?
WB: Absolutely. We need to find a way to keep younger audiences interested in the game and one way to do that is integrating more technology and social media into it, which 18Birdies does a great job of. Kids these days are tech savvy and are used to being able to do everything on their smartphones, so an app like 18Birdies fits well into their lifestyle.
BA: Social media was/is obviously important to the Bryan Bros, but what motivates you to stay active and connected to fans now that you’re a PGA Tour winner and have no need for self promotion?
WB: Having the ability to impact even just a single fan of the game is huge. If nothing else, I hope that I can help grow the game’s appeal as I continue my pursuit of wins on TOUR.
BA: How important is shot and stat tracking to you as tour pro?
WB: Very. It’s what helps us improve as Tour players. We’re lucky that the Tour provides detailed analytics for us so that we really know what areas of our game need a little bit more attention than others. With 18Birdies, weekend warriors can devote that same level of detail to their games, too. I really think that taking detailed stats on the app will help players understand what they need to work on, rather than just practice without purpose.
BA: Do you think the average golfer can plan for upcoming rounds aided by 18Birdies?
WB: I’ve been impressed with the accuracy of their GPS rangefinder. It’s a pretty cool way to “walk” the course before you arrive to get a sense of how you should play it and what you can expect.
BA: Why should golfers download 18Birdies?
WB: They have a lot of useful features that golfers can take advantage of on the course from an awesome GPS rangefinder to score/stat/round tracking to distance and shot tracking and a virtual caddy that provides custom club recommendations.
Not only that, they do a good job of promoting a golf community by incorporating social into the app. I’ll be posting Live Rounds in the app throughout the season, so fans can follow my rounds in real-time and interact with me.
I really like what they are doing with their DreamGames campaign as well. Rewarding people for just going out and playing golf is a great incentive to go out there and play.
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jack
Oct 28, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Need to do what they do in Europe. All golfers pass training tests, qualify on a short course and build real handicaps through tournament play. No fake handicaps, no playing without having learned the rules…
097
Oct 27, 2017 at 2:51 am
Good. Lets inundate bad players and newbies with more of this stuff and keep them occupied and confused, their egos crushed because the Stats on these screens tell them they suck at the game. But we good players can’t have them tinkering with more of this stuff while they play and slow the rest of us down! Enough chumps out there blasting their music and chugging beers and not paying attention. Yeah. Thumbs up! Not.
ReggieW
Oct 25, 2017 at 8:00 pm
If you’re a bogey golfer you don’t need this gizmo and probable you shouldn’t be carrying a driver or more than 10 clubs either. It’s only for pros and rec golfers who have more money than brains or talent.
“Golfers are gullible.” — Harvey Penick, Little Red Book, page 74…. believe it.
SteveK
Oct 26, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Ouch ~~~~~!!!