The traditional golf rules exam no longer matched the sport's modern, inclusive image. Paper-based tests, outdated imagery, and inconvenient scheduling created unnecessary barriers for new players. NGF approached iO to reimagine this essential gateway to the game: a digital learning experience that fits today's golfers, whenever and wherever they want to learn. Together we delivered an AI-driven digital learning platform that makes passing the rules exam as accessible as picking up a club.
AI-driven digital learning platform in the Golf.nl app
270+ modern, inclusive visuals created with AI
Strategy, design, and custom development on OutSystems
Seamless integration with existing member database
Mobile-first approach for learning on the go
The challenge
An outdated golf rules exam with dated visuals that no longer matched the sport's inclusive, modern character.
The solution
An AI-driven digital learning platform within the Golf.nl app, featuring 270+ modern visuals and flexible, mobile-first exam functionality.
NGF x iO: building the digital future of golf in the Netherlands together
The Royal Dutch Golf Federation (NGF) has championed amateur golf in the Netherlands since 1914, committed to making the sport more attractive and accessible. With over 350,000 active users, the Golf.nl app is the digital heartbeat of Dutch golf.
Since 2016, iO has been NGF's trusted digital partner. Our collaboration goes beyond individual projects: we think strategically alongside them, ask the critical questions, and help NGF stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape. This case highlights one milestone in that ongoing partnership.
Why the old exam no longer fit the modern game
Golf has changed. The sport now welcomes players of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Yet the rules exam remained stuck in the past: paper-based, classroom-bound, and illustrated with dated images of golfers in collared shirts and slacks. For new players eager to get on the course, this felt like an unnecessary hurdle rather than a warm introduction.
NGF realised the exam needed more than a digital refresh. It called for a fundamental rethink: accessible on any device, available whenever it suits the player, and visually aligned with the inclusive spirit of modern golf.
Experimenting with AI for inclusive visuals
Creating 270+ new illustrations within budget seemed impossible using traditional methods. We explored AI as a solution, but early experiments revealed the challenge: generative tools sometimes took creative liberties that compromised accuracy. Golf rules require precise visual scenarios: the green must look exactly right, with bunkers and water hazards in specific positions.
After 10,000+ prompts and extensive iteration, we found the right approach. By combining AI tools like Midjourney with traditional platforms such as Blender, Adobe After Effects, and Photoshop, we built a complete library of modern visuals. Mini characters, imaginative 3D landscapes, and depth-of-field effects now represent golfers of different ages, genders, and cultures.
From classroom to mobile: the AI-driven digital learning platform
The digitised exam lives within the Golf.nl app, built on the OutSystems low-code platform. Players log in with their Golf Service Number and answer 30 randomly selected questions about rules and etiquette at their own pace. They can pause to look something up, resume when ready, and see their result instantly in the app.
For golf clubs, the transformation means less administrative burden: no more scheduling exam sessions, managing paper tests, or manually registering results. The club receives automatic confirmation when a member passes.
Technical foundation: OutSystems, Sitecore, and AI in harmony
The 270 exam questions and images are fed from Sitecore into the OutSystems-built database, which connects to individual golf clubs. This architecture ensures consistency, scalability, and easy content updates. The AI-generated visual library provides a foundation that can grow alongside future learning modules.
When I look at where we are now, how much faster we're building and how we're leading the way in our industry, I think working with iO is the best choice we've ever made.
The numbers
1%+
of all golfers in the Netherlands use the Golf.nl app
1
active app users
1%
fewer support queries from active golfers over 4 years
1
exams completed via the app within 4 months of launch
1
modern visuals created with AI
Outcome: a digital gateway that matches modern golf's inclusive spirit
The new exam does more than digitise an old process: it removes barriers and reflects the sport's evolving identity. New players now experience a welcoming, flexible introduction to the rules of golf, on their own terms. Clubs save time and resources while maintaining quality assurance. And NGF has a scalable foundation for future digital learning experiences, from personalised coaching to advanced training modules. Together, we continue exploring how the Golf.nl app can guide every golfer's journey, from first swing to seasoned player.
