The sports-media–tech provider is distributing content to 30 displays and 650 TVs
By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director, SVG
Friday, June 14, 2024 – 10:30 am
Continuing a partnership with the United States Golf Association (USGA), SMT is delivering on-course digital displays and video-production services for the U.S. Open Media Center at the 124th U.S. Open Championship, at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2 in Pinehurst, NC.
The 2024 U.S. Open marks SMT’s 17th year providing innovative technology to enhance the fan experience at this prestigious event. The company’s cutting-edge scoring and digital solutions have revolutionized golf majors, setting new standards for live sports technology.
PRACTICE-ROUND SERVICES: During practice rounds June 10-12, SMT managed player registration and delivered live player tracking and data directly to USGA digital platforms and onsite digital displays. Additionally, the company recorded drive resting-location data to assist the Rules Committee in planning and preparation for the championship.
DISPLAY SERVICES: New for 2024, SMT has introduced a double Monsterboard, featuring two 13.7-ft.-tall x 49-ft.-wide screens; the display, located adjacent to the 18th green, spans 112 ft. The right-hand screen displays a hole-by-hole leaderboard; the left one shows group information, player stats, and distance-related information. Live video will be shown before play reaches the hole and at the end of the day on Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, SMT has installed three digital scoreboard displays at Hole 18 and the 11th and 15th greens.
Production services extend to 11 PGA TOUR–provided scoreboards. SMT is also showcasing two large, curved, double-sided LED displays installed as the centerpiece of Fan Central and displaying live video, scoring, and informational content. Additional displays are located at the practice range, media center, main entrance, food court, American Express Card Member Club, the Garden, and hospitality suites at the 1895 Club and Champions Pavilion. SMT Creative Studio provided updated USGA branding for this year’s tournament.
TIPS (TOURNAMENT IPTV PLATFORM & SERVICE): SMT continues to provide TIPS, an IPTV fiber network with a multichannel lineup — featuring live feeds, custom tournament messaging, and sponsor graphics — to more than 650 TVs in corporate hospitality suites and throughout the grounds.
U.S. OPEN MEDIA CENTER: SMT’s Content Management System handles practice-round groupings, group locations on the course, an alphabetical and top-15 leaderboard, tournament-statistics scroll, custom messages by media officials, a live video feed, and a main-interview-room video feed.
Ryan McDonald, VP, business development, SMT, leads the U.S. Open team, bringing experience from numerous high-level sports events.
“SMT has supported the USGA since 2008, delivering scoring services to the U.S. Open Men’s, Women’s, and Senior Championships,” he says. “This year is the largest digital-display delivery in the history of this U.S. Championship. We are providing content to over 30 displays and hundreds of TVs across the grounds of Pinehurst No. 2 to help fans receive all data related to championship play. We are pleased to continue our support of the USGA and its championships.”