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Holovis’s 360Golf is on the rise with the company set to debut its largest-ever installation in the GCC region later this year. James Lodder, head of product at Holovis, speaks to Planet Attractions
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 10 May 2024
360Golf reinvents minigolf by utilising Holovis’s HoloTrac technology Credit: Level X
Since debuting its 360Golf concept at the 2021 edition of IAAPA Expo, the product has been received extremely well by both the public and attractions operators.
A ‘reinvention’ of the game of mini-golf, 360Golf offers seamless tracking and automated stroke-counting technology inside players’ golf balls, with the technology gamified to deliver a fun experience as they advance around the course. Developed in partnership with Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS), the product combines AGS’s 30-plus years of mini-golf design expertise with Holovis’ high-tech capabilities.
“We looked at the game of mini golf and recognised an amazing opportunity for exciting, tech-driven courses,” explains James Lodder, head of product at Holovis, speaking to Planet Attractions.
“We knew we could combine our extensive engineering and software capabilities from our long history in the entertainment industry to create a product that’s both exciting and game-changing, all while keeping the guest experience at the forefront.”
Combined with the technology, sensors trigger special effects around the course if players make a certain shot. Special ‘supershot’ bonuses and penalties are also designed into the experience to add to the challenge.
“Each ball is packed with our proprietary HoloTrac technology that allows us to know who each individual ball belongs to,” says Lodder.
“When combined with our smart tees and cups, we know when players start to play, when they complete a hole, and how many strokes it has taken them. This is then fed to our 360Golf system, which tracks players' progress through the entire course.”
Installed at a number of locations globally, 360Golf is already available to play at two Level X sites in the UK in Glasgow and Middlesbrough. The product is also set to have a major impact on the GCC region, with its largest ever set to open there later this year - the first of 11 planned openings. According to Holovis, the sheer scope and ambition of the course designs are “unlike anything the game has seen before”. For would-be clients, an extensive catalogue of designs exists, while custom options are also available.
“We’re constantly evolving the technology, creating bigger, more exciting and more challenging courses,” says Lodder.
“We’re also working to create a number of off-the-shelf courses that clients can quickly customise to match any theme, space or budget, so our clients can have access to this amazing technology. We’re very excited to open our biggest courses to date later this year, and are working with a number of different clients to develop courses of all sizes across the globe.”
“We’re excited to be first to market with next-gen features including dynamically reactive courses to improve accessibility for low-skill players while also challenging the pros.”
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Hole in One: How Holovis is changing the game with 360Golf
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