Latest news with #CliveMayhew
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Golf Enters a New Era: Artificial Intelligence Sparks Unprecedented Investment
Venture capital investment in AI companies surged to over $100 billion in 2024, with golf artificial intelligence platforms emerging as a specialized investment opportunity within the broader sports technology ecosystem that's experiencing unprecedented growth in both participation and technological adoption. The intersection of artificial intelligence funding records and golf industry expansion creates compelling investment dynamics that institutional investors are increasingly recognizing. Global venture capital funding for AI companies exceeded $100 billion in 2024, representing an 80% increase from $55.6 billion in 2023, with nearly 33% of all global venture funding directed to AI companies, making artificial intelligence the leading sector for investment capital. Golf industry fundamentals support this investment thesis with participation reaching record levels across multiple demographics. A record 47.2 million Americans played golf in some form during 2024, representing a 5% increase from the prior year and 38% higher than pre-pandemic levels, while 28.0 million people played on-course golf, the highest participation since 2008. The funding environment particularly favors specialized AI applications that can demonstrate measurable operational improvements. In 2024, the proportion of survey respondents reporting AI use by their organizations jumped to 78% from 55% in 2023, indicating accelerating enterprise adoption that creates receptive markets for golf AI platforms addressing facility management and customer experience optimization. The convergence of record AI investment activity with historic golf participation creates unique opportunities for golf AI platforms like Golf participation demographics support premium AI technology adoption Golf industry participation trends demonstrate sustained growth across demographics that typically drive technology adoption and premium spending. More than 3.35 million golfers maintained a Handicap Index in 2024, up over 6% year-over-year and up nearly 30% since 2020, according to USGA data analyzing over 77 million scores posted through the World Handicap System. Demographic shifts particularly favor technology-forward segments that represent ideal customers for golf AI applications. Golfers in the 18-34 age group are now the largest group of on-course players at an estimated 6.3 million, with 2024 on track to be the fifth consecutive year where more than 500 million rounds of golf will be played in the U.S. The industry's beginner influx creates sustained demand for technology-enhanced learning. The NGF reports that a record number of 3.4 million people played on a golf course for the first time in 2023, with over 3 million beginner golfers each year for the past four years, far above historical norms and creating ongoing opportunities for golf AI technology that enhances instruction and facility operations. Leading golf AI platforms demonstrate comprehensive value propositions Clive Mayhew, CEO and founder of has positioned his artificial intelligence golf platform to capitalize on both AI investment trends and golf participation growth. His company embodies what he describes as 'the world's first fully comprehensive AI golf assistant spanning the entire spectrum of golf experience. It covers golf fanatics while they watch (the media), while they play (caddie and rules), and even while they seek off-course activities.' The integrated approach demonstrated by aligns with broader AI adoption patterns favoring comprehensive solutions over point applications. 'At our mission is to blend technology with tradition, enhancing the game while keeping it authentic,' Mayhew explained when unveiling advanced artificial intelligence golf features including AI Caddie™, AI Scorecard™, and What's In My Bag™. Golf AI platforms possess structural advantages that differentiate them within the broader artificial intelligence investment landscape. The sport's operational complexity creates multiple value creation opportunities, from course maintenance optimization and tee time scheduling to personalized instruction and equipment recommendations that address real customer pain points while generating recurring revenue streams. comprehensive approach demonstrates how golf artificial intelligence can address multiple operational challenges simultaneously. Golf facilities manage sophisticated operations spanning maintenance scheduling, customer experience optimization, revenue management, and staff coordination that benefit from AI-powered automation and analytics capabilities. 'Our mission at is to make golf intelligence, simple and accessible to every fan,' Mayhew stated when launching artificial intelligence-powered golf podcast. The data-rich golf environment provides competitive advantages for AI platforms that can effectively process comprehensive information streams. Every golf interaction generates quantifiable performance metrics, course condition data, weather patterns, and customer behavior information that artificial intelligence golf systems can transform into actionable insights for both facilities and individual players. Investment outlook for golf AI technology platforms The investment case for golf AI platforms strengthens when considering sustained industry fundamentals. Rounds continue to trend more than 10% ahead of the five-year, pre-pandemic average from 2015-19, indicating durable demand patterns that support technology investment and adoption across golf facilities seeking competitive advantages. Companies like that successfully integrate comprehensive artificial intelligence capabilities may benefit from both macro AI investment trends and golf-specific growth drivers including demographic expansion, operational challenges, and technology adoption patterns that create multiple revenue streams and customer acquisition opportunities. For institutional investors evaluating AI investment opportunities, golf artificial intelligence represents a specialized application with proven market demand, expanding customer demographics, operational complexity that benefits from automation, and established revenue models that distinguish it from experimental AI applications with unclear value propositions. Early-stage investors in established golf AI platforms such as may capture value from the intersection of record AI funding availability, historic golf participation levels, and industry operational needs that create sustainable competitive advantages for comprehensive artificial intelligence golf solutions. Media Contact Company Name: Golf Contact Person: James Smith Email: Send Email City: Sydney State: NSW 2000 Country: Australia Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Golf Enters a New Era: Artificial Intelligence Sparks Unprecedented Investment
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"ChatGPT for golf": Golf.ai launches with Emajin to bring AI to the fairway--and the boardroom
SYDNEY, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech entrepreneur Clive Mayhew has launched the world's first fully comprehensive AI-powered golf assistant alongside Emajin Golf, launching the technology across one of Australia's largest c-suite communities of golf enthusiasts. The partnership will seek to educate Australia's business community on the benefits of AI both on the golf course and in the boardroom, with 94 percent of the 7,500 golf enthusiasts and executives hosted by Emajin Golf being c-suite executives or business owners. Over 70 percent of members also do business with one another, according to founder and former Westpac exec Raj Narayan, who set up the company to offer a more structured approach to business networking on the golf course. The AI golf assistant - or "ChatGPT for golf" as Mayhew describes it - is powered by a sophisticated AI-integrated rules engine that generates on-course support, live media interaction, and game improvement tips delivered through multiple avatars - one being Narayan herself, in her own voice. Through the partnership, Emajin members will receive access to a suit of products that will transform the golfing experience for both golfers and fans alike, delivered in the literal voice of their community's leader: Ai Caddie™ offers personalised recommendations for golfers to improve their game in real-time while on the course What's in My Bag is an equipment insights and optimisation tool that comes as part of the Ai Caddie, helping golfers to select the best equipment for the situation at any given point of a game Ai Scorecard™ allows fans to track pro events from the PGA and LIV tours with live, interactive stats, fresh stories, insights, and news. Ai Golf Rules™ is a rules interpretation assistant consistently achieves 10 to 15 percent more accurate results than base models This multi-purpose tool aims to make AI more accessible for the business community by embedding it into a familiar and enjoyable context that is also a common tool for networking—the golf course. The idea to insert AI integration into Emajin's existing golf networking structure was based on research that shows 46 percent of Australian organisations have yet to implement any AI strategies at all, and only 14 percent have adopted AI as a core part of their business strategy. Yet 80 percent of Australian business leaders believe AI is absolutely critical to their organisation's competitiveness over the next three years, and also see benefits to the streamlined decision-making and productivity boosting in their personal lives too. AI has also increasingly been a topic of growing interest at Emajin educational events, with multiple business leaders sharing the significance of the transformation being driven by AI, both with their own businesses and broader industries. AI advocates at these events have included CEO of Australia Post, Paul Graham, CEO of Metcash, Doug Jones, and Grant Ramage, former managing director of Xero, Trent Innes, and managing director of Vistage Australia, Stephanie Christopher - among others. By creating a digital ecosystem for golfers that now includes cutting-edge AI integration, this partnership represents more than a tech upgrade—it's a signal that the future of sport, business, and AI will be increasingly intertwined, according to Clive Mayhew, CEO and Founder of said: " is the world's first fully comprehensive AI golf assistant spanning the entire spectrum of golf experience. It covers golf fanatics while they watch (the media), while they play (caddie and rules), and even while they seek off-course knowledge, rules, planning, and game improvement. This operates at the intersection of two huge and growing global trends. Golf participation in Australia is on the rise, and so is the demand for clarity around AI. So we're meeting business leaders where they already are—on the course—and giving them hands-on experience with AI in a context they understand and enjoy. This isn't about theory; it's about lived experience. And that's where real adoption begins." Raj Narayan, founder & CEO of Emajin, said: "Golf has long been a place where deals are done and relationships are built. Now, it's also where leaders are learning how AI can transform the way they work and make decisions. This partnership shows how emerging technologies can be seamlessly woven into industries with tradition—and unlock a whole new level of opportunity. "This partnership with is the start of what I believe to be a long road in using AI within Emajin Golf to enhance the business networking experience. We are introducing it in many ways throughout our business, including an AI-powered matching tool to connect members based on business size, scale, operations and industry." ( is pioneering the next era of golf technology, leveraging artificial intelligence to make the game smarter, more accessible, and deeply personalised. By combining advanced data analytics with real-time insights, empowers golfers to make better decisions on and off the course. With a commitment to continuous innovation, is shaping the future of the sport. For more information, visit Emajin Golf ( is the largest and fastest growing business networking community across the eastern seaboard, providing members with access to exclusive and top tier golf courses, learning opportunities from senior keynote speakers such as listed CEOs and Sporting Personalities and provide opportunities for members to connect with one another and build business networks both on the course and via our members app. View original content: SOURCE Sign in to access your portfolio
