Case Studies
USGA: Macadamian makes the rules of golf more portable with a mobile app for Android and Blackberry
Services: Android and Blackberry
Domains: Mobile
You may remember the case of Tiger vs. the Boulder during the 1999 US Open: After Tiger Woods hit his tee shot, the ball landed in-bounds but near a boulder that would hamper his next swing. Tiger asked the official if the boulder, which weighed nearly a ton but could still be moved, was considered a “loose impediment” under the Rules of Golf. The official deemed it was, and after some heavy lifting from members of the gallery, the boulder was moved and Tiger had a clear shot at the green.
For the rest of us, who don’t know the rulebook like a pro, the USGA publishes its Rules of Golf handbook in print and on the web, with revised copies released on an annual basis. Golfers and spectators alike are known to tote a copy of the Rules of Golf with them on the course to answer the many “What now?” questions that arise during a game of golf.
Carrying around the rulebook can be cumbersome, and with the proliferation of mobile applications, the USGA saw an opportunity to provide an easily accessible and more portable version of the Rules of Golf. The golfer’s experience becomes seamless when he can pull out his phone anywhere on the course and access a mobile app featuring intelligently searchable and linked content that references the most current rules.
With an iPhone application already available, the USGA wanted to extend its mobile rulebook to golfers using Android and BlackBerry devices in time for the 2010 US Open. Given less than a month to design, build and launch the mobile app for two distinct platforms, Macadamian was selected not only for our expertise in designing and developing Android and BlackBerry applications, but also for our process maturity, essential when working under tight deadlines. We delivered Android and BlackBerry mobile apps that preserved the native user experience, all while taking advantage of the unique features of these devices and maintaining the brand of the USGA iPhone app.
COMPANY PROFILE: The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system for golfers, conducts 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open, and tests golf equipment for conformity with regulations.
