The History of Golf Management Software:
You Need A Scorecard to Tell the Players Apart
JJ Keegan – jjkeegan@jjkeegan.com
Harvey Silverman – harvey@silverbackgolf.com
(C) All rights reserved, 2022
The summary presented below is a high overview of the firms that have had considerable influence in the golf industry, principally in North America, over the past 50 years. We are confident that some firms that may been involved in golf software have been inadvertently omittted.
Given the fluid nature of the industry and that the vast majority of these firms were privately held, we believe that the list fairly states in all significant and material ways those companies that may have had a considerable influence in the golf industry.
Though every reasonable attempt has been made to confirm the information herein, no representations are made, however, that the list is accurate. If you see data that should be updated, we would appreciate it if you would email me at jjkeegan@jjkeegan.com with the name of the software firm overlooked, the date of their incorporation, and whether they were sold, liquidated or remain active in the golf industry.
We want to ensure that, in time, the list will be more accurately reflect the history of the golf software industry.
In the interim, we accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies contained herein. The reader accepts complete and sole responsibility in reliance on the data presented below.
The key is as follows:
BLACK – The firm was sold
RED – The firm appears to have closed.
GREEN – The firm is active in the golf industry.
ORANGE – The firms are active though they may no longer be involved in the golf industry.
1950’s Smyth Systems
1968 Handicomp
1970 Aptech
1970’s Country Club Systems
1970’s Micros
1970’s Ticketmaster
1980’s Diamond Management Systems
1980’s GolfNet
1981 Abacus 21
1985 Computer Golf Software
1986 Vermont Systems
1987 Chelsea Reservations
1989 Fairway Systems
1991 T-Links
1991 Jonas Software
1991 IBS
1993 Pro-ShopKeeper (ClubProphet)
1994 Fore! Reservations
1994 NetCaddy
1994 American West Tee Times
1995 EZLinks Golf
1995 Double Eagle Systems
1996 Golf Digest Information Systems
1996 Club Essential
1996 Ready Golf Reservations
1996 Teemaster
1997 Talbot & Association (TAI Club Management)
1997 Crescent Systems
1998 T-Links (GDIS Systems renamed)
1998 Active
1998 Jencess
1998 Epani
1998 GolfSwitch, renamed e2e Golf Solutions in 1999
1998 Book4Golf (Reporrted to have lost 28.1 million)
1999 GolfGateway.com (renamed Greens.com) Lost $35 million
2000’s LastMinute Golfer
2000’s BRS Golf
2000’s Golf10.com
2000’s Starplan
2000 Szen
2000 Global Golf Marketing
2000 Open Time Times Online
2001 Spectrum Golf
2001 CyberGolf
2001 Tee Time King
2001 GoGoWatch (renamed TeeTimeWatch)
2001 GolfGopher
2002 CourseTrends (Distinct Golf Software Solutions)
2002 ForeTees
2002 Click4teetimes
2002 Cypress Golf Solutions
2003 Northstar Club Management
2004 Golf Hero
2004 Golf18Network
2005 Teeconnect
2006 Active Golf Solutions
2006 W5Golf
2007 Strackaline
2007 Agilesys
2009 GolfPipeline
2011 Quick18
2011 Gallus Golf
2011 Supreme Golf
2011 GolfEMS
2012 Chronogolf
2012 ForeUp
2013 TeeSnap
2013 OpenTee
2014 Golfer
2014 GolfSmash
2015 GolfPay
2016 Lightspeed
2016 Orca Report
2016 Digital Golf Pass
2016 SmartGopher
2019 ClubCaddie
2019 Sagacity Golf
2019 Metolius
2020 Battery Ventures Partners/Club Essential
2020 Birrdie
2021 Links DAO
2021 Teleo Capital/Telesnap
2021 Heard Hospitality
2022 Golf Unity
CREDITS
In preparing this list, a great deal of appreciation is extended to Harvey Silverman (Silverback Golf Marketing), Jim Fedigan (Jonas), Devin Meister (Club Essential), and Tom Robshaw (Club Prophet) and Alan Fisher.
