FAQ

What is the ShotLink Intelligence Prize?
The competition challenges academics to find the best new application of ShotLink data to golf science.

Who is eligible?
The "ShotLink Intelligence Powered by CDW" program is available to anyone within the academic community interested in using the PGA TOUR's ShotLink data for advanced analysis. Generally participants in the program are professors or graduate students at higher education institutions across the world. Once in the program, participants have access to the PGA TOUR's structured dataset of golf shots collected at our professional events throughout the world. The data is available for analysis at any time and is updated weekly.

Those interested in becoming a participant in the program can find more details at http://www.pgatour.com/ShotLinkIntelligence or by e-mailing ShotLinkIntelligence@pgatourhq.com. Provide your name, contact information, academic institution, intentions for data analysis and/or publication and the PGA TOUR will respond shortly with steps to enroll you in the program.

How do I submit a paper for consideration and what is the deadline?
Once you are a member of the ShotLink Intelligence program, send an e-mail to ShotLinkIntelligence@pgatourhq.com with "ShotLink Intelligence Prize" in the subject line. We will respond with steps to submit your paper to the competition. Papers must be original research not previously published in order to be considered. Papers must submitted by November 1, 2012. Please respond with your interest prior to November 1, 2012 to start the process and ensure all submission steps may be completed.

Who is judging the competition and how will papers be judged?
The panel of judges includes Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia Business School; John Paul Newport, WSJ golf journalist; Steve Evans, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Information Systems; and CDW's Matthew Troka, Senior Vice President of Product and Partner Management. Participants will submit papers by November 1, 2012. Submissions will be judged by a four-member panel based on their contribution to golf science (broadly defined) using the PGA TOUR's ShotLink dataset. Examples of other papers that have utilized ShotLink data are available at http://www.pgatour.com/stats/academicdata/institutions.

When will the winners be announced and will the winning papers be published?
The winning submission will be announced no later than March 31, 2013. All papers may also be submitted to the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports (JQAS) for peer review and consideration in a special golf issue.

What prize will be awarded?
The winning entry will be awarded a $25,000 technology gift supplied by CDW to their designated institution.

What is the cost to participate in ShotLink Intelligence and the ShotLink Intelligence Prize?
There is no cost to participate in the program or to compete for the ShotLink Intelligence Prize.