The biggest event in the golfing calendar is almost upon us and what better time to have a look in how it will be integrating the latest technology.

There are a number of ways in which you will be able to stay in touch with the latest developments aside from being there on the day or watching on TV.  These include the use of Facebook, Twitter and iPhone apps to enhance the stay at home (or work) viewer.

Website

If you are at work during the event, as I will be for the first 2 days, and don’t have a TV in your office then you can still keep up-to-date. 

There is live coverage through the Ryder Cup website as well as the usual access to pre-event videos, interviews, photos, leaderboards, stats, etc, etc.  It does look pretty good and the IBM powered site should function pretty well too.

I’m hoping the TV element is as good as the BBC iPlayer and not some of the other ones available that we saw during the World Cup (which I gave up trying to watch).

Facebook

The US PGA (www.facebook.com/PGAcom) has turned their Facebook page over to the Ryder Cup for the week thus making use of its 80,000 strong support.  Here you can show your support on the wall and gain access to the latest news and videos.

There is a Ryder Cup/Show Your Support tab on the Team USA and Team Europe Facebook pages which ask if you support Europe or the US, when clicking on it then takes you to their Facebook page.

The Europeans have made use of the Ryder Cup page name with www.facebook.com/therydercup. Shame they didnt check the spelling on the Welcome on the left hand side.  Can you spot it? (ed – this has now been corrected by the organisers)

Twitter

Again Europe have been quick off the mark and claimed the @RyderCup handle.  The US have again taken a different approach and made use of the existing @PGA_com and 7,000 followers to ensure their fans stay in touch with what is happening on the course.

This shows two very different approaches with Europe going for an emphasis on the tournament whilst the US has just used their current accounts.  Be interesting to see what happens to the European one post-event, will it become obsolete?

Phone Apps

If you cannot get to a computer and don’t find just using twitter/facebook from your phone too remote then this week saw the launch of an iPhone app that you can access latest scores, video, radio commentary, leaderboards, chat and much more.  It has the usual premium upgrade to get the full video element.

This is only on the apple products (as usual) so if you have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad you are in luck.  The large number with Android. Nokia and Blackberry will again by left to use the WAP service by going to www.PGA.com.

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The main news ahead of the Ryder Cup, to be held in Wales next week, has been about the players ban on using social media before or during the event.

To the likes of Ian Poulter, Stewart Cink, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Zach John and Bubba Watson this may be a hard thing to achieve due to their love affair, particularly with Twitter.

It has been taken by both team captains that players will concentrate just on the golf for the event and be allowed to get back to their digital ways immediatley afterwards.

“Tweeting and social network sites can get one into trouble,” said Montgomerie

“The team has come to a consensus not to do it,” said fellow tweeter Pavin on the temporary ban, “it can be a little bit distracting sometimes, and I think it is important to focus on the Ryder Cup and playing in the matches.  We’ve decided to not tweet this week, but a week today I am sure tweeting will be all over the place.”

Montgomerie added: “It’s not a ban as such, we’ve just asked the players not to and they agreed.  Pieterson’s error led me to change my view on players tweeting.”

A very cautious approach that is not ideal from a social media pureists point of view but perhaps sensible given the heated affairs of previous Ryder Cups (the early celebrations by the US team last time out to name just one).

This does not mean there will be no social media activity, god no.  The BBC and other news agencies will be there in force making sure Twitter is jammed with the latest scores, gossip and movements.  I’m the Ryder Cup itself will have social media integrated into it to make it a great consumer experience.

What do you think of the approach taken by the teams?