From Paper Scorecards to Real Progress: Inside GolfHero's Data Driven Approach to the Game
Every golfer knows the feeling of leaving the course without really understanding why the round went the way it did. For GolfHero founder Keila Doyle, that frustration was the whole point of origin. A beginner golfer with no reliable way to track her progress, she found herself relying on paper scorecards and guesswork, the same problem her coach told her nearly every one of his students faced.
That gap became GolfHero, a UAE founded golf technology platform built to turn scorecards into real performance insight. In this conversation, Keila talks about what changed in her own practice once she could finally see the data behind her game, why short game weaknesses so often go unnoticed even with a coach watching closely, and how she sees AI and coaching working together rather than competing. She also shares her honest take on the data apps that came before GolfHero, and why keeping things simple has stayed at the center of how she wants the platform to grow.
1. What was the specific moment that made you decide to build GolfHero?
GolfHero is a UAE founded golf technology platform created to help players track progress, improve performance, and connect with other golfers. I built it because I experienced a problem which I felt needed a solution. As a beginner golfer, I wanted to track my progress, but golf still heavily relies on paper scorecards. When my coach told me all his students faced the same issue, I knew there was an opportunity to build a smarter, more connected way for golfers to improve using the help of technology. GolfHero, therefore, transforms traditional paper scorecards into clear performance insights through simple scanning and data analysis. GolfHero aims to make golf more accessible, social, and easier to understand for players at every level.
2. Walk us through what your practice routine actually looked like before versus after using it.
Before GolfHero, I’d go to the driving range and just hit balls without much purpose. I didn’t really know where my game was lacking, so my practice wasn’t very focused. Now I can see exactly which parts of my game need work, so every practice session has intention. Instead of just hitting balls, I’m working on the areas that will actually help me lower my scores.
3. Why do you think that short-game weakness stayed hidden for so long even with a coach watching you play?
A coach can guide you, but they can’t be with you 24/7 or watch every shot you hit on the golf course. As a beginner, you often have a feeling about what’s going wrong, but you don’t actually know. The data we provide in the GolfHero app gives you evidence. Instead of guessing, you can clearly see where you’re losing shots, which makes it much easier to practice the right things and improve faster.
4. Where does the coach's job end and the AI's job begin in your training now?
For me, the AI and the coach play different but complementary roles. I use the data to identify my patterns, track my progress, and understand exactly where I’m losing shots. My coach then helps me fix those problems with the right drills, technique, and guidance. The combination of AI and a great coach is incredibly powerful as it turns guesswork into meaningful improvement.
5. What did the coach push back on or correct while you were training the AI?
To be very honest, we didn’t experience any pushback. Coaches quickly recognised that AI isn’t there to replace them, it’s there to support them. AI can analyse large amounts of performance data and identify patterns, but it can’t replace a coach’s experience, judgment, or ability to teach. The best results come from combining both. The AI highlights the opportunities for improvement, and the coach provides the expertise to help the golfer improve.
6. What would you say to a golfer who's tried data apps before and found them too generic?
I completely understand because I was one of those golfers. I’d tried data apps before, but they were full of statistics I didn’t understand and were difficult to use. That’s exactly why we built GolfHero differently. We keep it simple and focus on what golfers really want to know: Am I improving or not? Then we show you the areas that will have the biggest impact on lowering your scores, without overwhelming you with data.
7. What's actually different about how Golf Hero figures out what to work on next versus just tracking stats?
For us, tracking stats is just the starting point. As you log more rounds, GolfHero begins to identify patterns where you’re consistently losing shots, which holes you struggle on, and how your game is changing over time. Once we have enough data, we can create a personalised improvement journey. So instead of just showing you numbers, we help you understand what to work on next and how to improve.
8. What would you like Golf Hero to be able to tell a player in two or three years that it can't today?
My goal isn’t to build a more complicated app in two or three years, it’s actually the opposite. I want GolfHero to stay simple and easy to use. Our focus has always been helping everyday golfers improve, and we’re already seeing significant improvements from users who consistently track their data. We’re incredibly proud of that. Looking ahead, I hope we can bring that same simplicity and meaningful improvement to golfers at every level, including professionals.