Cisco and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have announced a multiyear extension of their partnership, which began in 2018 and established the global technology leader as the Official Technology Partner of the USGA and its championships. Through the new term, the two organizations will leverage Cisco’s industry-leading solutions, innovation and expertise to strengthen the USGA’s technological infrastructure at their championships and foster continued innovation and inclusion in golf.
Over the past five years, Cisco and the USGA have implemented several innovations benefiting fans, media and event organizers, including debuting the first-ever “Connected Course” at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. That USGA championship marked the first launch of course-wide Wi-Fi. Cisco played a key role in the USGA’s ability to seamlessly and securely deploy virtual connectivity solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing Webex by Cisco to the forefront of both fan engagement and media operations. Additionally, Cisco powered the use of 4D technology as part of the broadcast experience of USGA championships, giving fans watching at home a new perspective on their favorite players’ swings.
New for 2023, the two organizations will debut USGA ShotCast Powered by Cisco, giving fans the ability to follow the action from both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open with 3D hole imagery and real-time radar data. Available via both the USGA’s mobile app and website, USGA ShotCast will also archive every televised golf shot and make them available to view in near real-time – a first for the U.S. Women’s Open and women’s golf.
“We are incredibly excited to extend our partnership with Cisco and further integrate cutting-edge technology to lead golf into the future,” said Jon Podany, USGA chief commercial officer. “Over the past five years, the USGA has benefited from Cisco’s industry leadership and expansive capabilities in elevating not only our championships, but the ways we serve recreational golfers, golf courses and the game.”
As Cisco and the USGA look ahead to a future of golf that is more connected and technology-driven than ever before, the partners will create an Innovation Committee composed of key industry stakeholders, executives and supporters that will meet regularly with the goal of generating initiatives toward the future improvement of the game. In addition, Cisco solutions will play an integral role in connecting and protecting Golf House Pinehurst, the USGA’s Southern campus slated to open at the end of 2023.
"When we embarked on a relationship with the USGA five years ago, it marked Cisco’s first official foray into the sport of golf,” said Mark Patterson, SVP and chief of staff to the Chair and CEO at Cisco. “Today, we are proud to have a robust portfolio of partners across the sport, including organizations, events and individual players who are all positively impacting the game. The renewal of this partnership marks another inflection point in Cisco's growing support of golf, and its commitment to a broader vision of a more inclusive future.”
Cisco’s ongoing support of the USGA furthers the company’s commitment to "Teeing Up Tomorrow” – fostering greater inclusion in golf and creating more opportunities for more people to engage with the game. At this year's U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, Cisco will provide members of its Networking Academy with opportunities to assist with the installation and servicing of the network leading up to and during the championships by creating Dream Teams at each event, including the first-ever all-female Dream Team at the U.S. Women’s Open. Since its inception in 1997, the Cisco Networking Academy has provided free IT educational courses and career growth opportunities for more than 17.5 million students around the world, while the prestigious Dream Team program provides promising, aspiring IT professionals with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to gain real, hands-on experience at some of the largest events in the world.
Additionally, Cisco will amplify its support of the USGA’s newest championship, the U.S. Adaptive Open, as part of the brand’s vision to make the sport more inclusive and accessible for all. Cisco will also continue to support USGA programs such as the Pathways Internship Program and LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, which strive to grow the game and drive career opportunities in golf for people with diverse backgrounds, as well as open more doors for youth and local community organizations to attend the championships.
The announcement builds upon Cisco’s ongoing investment in the game of golf, as seen through partnerships with leading organizations, such as the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour and Stephen Curry’s UNDERRATED Golf Tour; events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Cisco Million Dollar Hole-in-One for Charity, APGA Cisco Invitational and the APGA Billy Horschel Invitational presented by Cisco; and the diverse individuals on Team Cisco across the PGA, LPGA and APGA Tours.
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