Seoul, Korea: SmartScore, a leading global golf IT platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with the operator of Vietnam’s official golf handicap service, authorised by the Vietnam Golf Association. This collaboration aims to digitise the Vietnamese golf industry and strengthen the digital golf eco-system between Korea and Vietnam.

The partnership, signed in Hanoi, focuses on the seamless integration of official handicap data and providing advanced digital support for tournament operations. Through this agreement, both companies plan to phase in a wide range of digital services based on verified data across the Vietnamese market.

Real-Time Handicap Synchronisation: A key highlight of this partnership is the automation of score reporting. Golfers playing at any of SmartScore’s partner courses in Vietnam will no longer need to manually input their scores to update their official handicap. Once a round is completed via the SmartScore solution, data is synchronised in real-time with the official Vietnamese handicap system. This integration maximises player convenience while ensuring the accuracy and public trust of handicap records by eliminating manual entry errors.

Enhanced Tournament Management with Live Scoring: SmartScore will also bring its expertise in live scoring to Vietnamese golf tournaments. By implementing SmartScore’s real-time leaderboard system, tournament organisers and participants can monitor scores and rankings via mobile devices. This digital shift is expected to significantly elevate the operational efficiency and overall quality of golf events in the region.

Building a Foundation for Global Golf Exchange: Beyond technical integration, this partnership serves as a cornerstone for expanding golf exchange between Korea and Vietnam. By establishing a data-driven environment, SmartScore aims to contribute to the overall transparency and growth of the Vietnamese golf industry.

Yeom In-wook, CEO of SmartScore, said: “This partnership is more than just a cross-border score management initiative; it is a powerful validation of SmartScore’s technological leadership and platform capabilities on the global stage.

“It marks a definitive milestone in establishing a truly borderless ‘Global golf eco-system’. Moving forward, SmartScore will continue to connect golfers worldwide through our ‘Open Platform’ strategy, working alongside leading international partners to define the new global standard for golf culture.”

With solutions already deployed at over 500 golf courses worldwide, SmartScore processes nearly 100,000 rounds of golf daily. The company plans to leverage this massive data infrastructure to further enhance the reliability of official handicap systems globally.

Market Presence and Future Plans: SmartScore currently provides its IT solutions to 40% of all golf courses in Vietnam, including full ERP system support for key venues. This month, the company is launching the ‘SmartScore App 5.0’ in Vietnam. This new version will feature the ‘Golf Life’ service and ‘Everyone’s Yardage’ function, marking a major expansion of its B2C offerings for Vietnamese golfers.

*SmartScore is a member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.