The U.S. Open Golf Championship is being played right in our own backyard this weekend but already virtual play of the Chamber Bay Golf Course has “teed-off” thousands of golfers online. And we don’t mean misjudging the virtual wind speed and hitting the ball into the rough under the backdrop of majestic Mount Rainier, or sinking your tee-shot into the Puget Sound.
To play the U.S. Open virtual course, click on the link. That’s right, your U.S. Open tee time is just a click away.
For the past seven years, the USGA has been working to transform usopen.com and bring the excitement of the U.S. Open Championship to golf fans wherever and whenever they want. Now fans can get closer to the action than ever before, thanks to numerous, high-tech, high-touch enhancements.
There are also many more ways to participate in the social conversation around the event, as the usopen.com design has integrated many social media platforms, like aggregated tweets from @usopengolf and @USGA, as well as tweets from select players and broadcasters.
Fans using approved mobile devices will be encouraged to download the official U.S. Open mobile app prior to entering the championship grounds, and connect to complimentary Wi-Fi by choosing “USGA WiFi” upon arrival at Chambers Bay.
The robust app, available through iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon App Store, will provide a player locator, enabling fans to target the hole and position of their favorite golfer in real time and plan their on-course experience. The leader board – one of the program’s most popular features – will include live scoring, player highlights and statistics.
The USGA U.S. Open app is free for download at the iTunes store http://itunes.apple.com/app/id319204550 or Android Play http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ibm.events.android.usga&hl=en A separate iOS iPad app can be found at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id653146633
FOX Sports continues its leadership role in the use of production technology with a cutting-edge approach to its inaugural coverage of the prestigious U.S. Open Championship.
Among the technologies in play, Virtual Reality, Aerial Drones, 4K Cameras and a gyro-stabilized, 20-mph RC Camera Car. FOX Sports also delivers major coverage enhancements through multiple point-of-view (POV) cameras and Virtual Immersive Graphics, displaying yardage, green shadows and wind. There will even be tiny “Hole Mic” microphones in the bottom of every hole of the 250-acre, Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course.
At the U.S. Open’s VIP tents, approximately 100-300 visitors daily can be immersed in NextVR’s live virtual reality experience. Five camera rigs will be placed at premium vantage points around the course. Fans will have the ability in real time, to virtually visit the most active holes and be instantly immersed in the action. NextVR will also live stream the U.S. Open VR experience to FOX Sports locations in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The FOX Sports Rangefinder consists of a Tower Cam rig with the ability to extend from eight to 21 feet, delivering a unique perspective from the fairway. The camera is equipped with augmented reality graphics, along with a ball tracer to give the ultimate look at what each golfer is facing. Drop-down robotic cameras controlled from the FOX Sports television compound, bring viewers closer to the golfers than ever before.
Multiple touchscreens are on location, providing in-depth analysis with announcers or players – one in the booth, one on the practice range and one in the player interview area. The two that are outdoors are equipped with ultra-bright monitors so video is easily visible even in bright sunlight.
So join the fun and swing for the green — on the Chambers Bay fairway, or your own device! [24×7]
