LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (Thursday, 29 October 2026) – The International Golf Federation (IGF) today announced a technology partnership with GOLFZON, the global leader in golf simulator technology, to bring its simulator to golf’s Engagement Activation in Dakar, Senegal.

Inside a dedicated tent on the city’s West Corniche, GOLFZON technology will allow young people and the public to hit their first golf shots and play virtual holes – with no golf course, equipment of their own or previous experience required.

Golf is one of ten Engagement Sports at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games; the first Olympic sporting event held on African soil. Rather than awarding medals, Engagement Sports introduce young people and the wider public in Senegal to new disciplines through hands-on activities. Golf’s activation will run daily on Dakar’s West Corniche from 1 to 13 November 2026, with a special Golf Focus Day on 6 November.

The GOLFZON simulator will sit at the heart of golf’s activation, complementing the short-game and putting stations. Guided by the GOLFZON team, visitors will take a full swing with a real club and ball, watch their shot fly down the fairway on a large screen and see instantly how far and how straight it went. Within minutes, beginners will be playing virtual versions of renowned golf courses from around the world – without leaving Dakar.

Growing the Game Without Limits

For many people in Senegal and across Africa, the biggest obstacle to golf is not a lack of interest but a lack of access. Simulator technology offers a different way into the game: a GOLFZON simulator needs only the footprint of a room, works in any weather and can be installed in a school, community centre or sports hall – bringing golf to places where people live, study and gather.

What GOLFZON technology brings to the golf activation in Dakar:

• Open to All: Free GOLFZON Leadbetter Academy coach-led sessions for students during the day and the general public in the evening, with all equipment provided and no previous experience required.
• No Course Required: A complete golf experience – from the tee shot to the final putt – in the heart of the city.
• Flexible, All-Weather Play: An indoor simulator that allows golf to be played regardless of outdoor conditions.
• Instant Feedback: High-precision sensors measure each shot – ball speed, launch angle, spin and distance – and display the results on screen, helping first-time players understand the technology behind the game and track their progress within minutes.
• Founded in 2000 with a mission to make golf more fun and accessible, GOLFZON has simulators at nearly 9,000 locations worldwide, where golfers hit more than 7 billion shots a year. The company is the Official Indoor Golf Simulator of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.

A lasting legacy for golf in Senegal

For the IGF, the partnership extends beyond the event itself. Simulator technology can support golf development at every level, from grassroots to elite: introducing beginners to the game, helping coaches analyse and refine technique with precise data and allowing talented players to train and progress regardless of conditions.

GOLFZON has also offered to donate the simulator following the Games so it can continue introducing new players to golf and supporting local coaching and player development. The IGF is working with its partners to identify a permanent home for the simulator, allowing it to benefit golfers in Senegal for years to come.

IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon stated:

"In Dakar, we're creating an environment where young athletes can easily discover and enjoy golf. Many of the students who visit us during the day, and the families and adults who join us in the evening, will never have held a club. With GOLFZON, they can take a full swing, watch the ball fly and feel the excitement of the game within minutes. Just as importantly, this technology shows what golf development can look like in Senegal and across Africa and how easy it can be to learn or to fall in love with the game. That is a strong message, and we are grateful to GOLFZON for sharing it with us – and for its generous offer to keep the simulator working for golf long after the event."

Sean Pyun, Head of GOLFZON’s Global Business Division and CEO of GOLFZON America, said:

"GOLFZON was founded on the belief that golf should be fun and accessible to everyone, wherever they live. Our technology brings the full experience of the game into the heart of a city – no course and no special conditions, just a club, a ball, and a screen. We are proud to partner with the International Golf Federation to bring that experience to Dakar, and to show people of all ages in Senegal that golf can be their game too. If that first swing sparks a lifelong passion for even a few of them, it will have been well worth it."

Media and the public are invited to follow golf’s activation in Dakar, including the GOLFZON simulator experience, via the IGF’s social media channels.

For more information, please also visit the IGF website.

About the International Golf Federation (IGF)

The International Golf Federation (IGF) was founded in 1958 and is the recognised International Federation within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The headquarters of the IGF is located by the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.

About GOLFZON

GOLFZON is a global leader in golf simulator technology. Founded in South Korea in 2000, the company develops simulators, software and indoor golf experiences enjoyed by players in more than 60 countries and is committed to making the game more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit golfzongolf.com.