Course Record Show

Jeehae Lee returns to The Course Record Show five years after her first appearance to talk about the evolution of SportsBox AI, how the entrepreneurial journey compares to playing pro golf, and the company’s recent acquisition by Bryson DeChambeau’s investment fund.

Roberto talks Day 1 at Aronimink, then dives into the connectivity required to power the PGA Championship. Kevin Lawson explains how T-Mobile’s 5G network supports broadcast, operations, ticketing, point of sale, IoT devices, and more across a temporary venue and how that same approach could extend well beyond sports.

Quick observations from a day 1 at Aronimink, followed by a conversation with Ryan Decker from CapTech on how he’s working with the PGA to use live data and AI to “produce” the fan experience. Personalized itineraries, IoT cameras, and instant alerting are helping manage crowds, concessions, safety, and operations across the entire event.

Kyle Porter is the founder of Normal Sport - an old school media company for golf's new era. We talk about why he regularly updates his readers on how his business is doing, why he started Normal Sport, how things take time to become what they are, and why stories and meaningful outcomes are so impactful. Links Referenced in Our Conversation: Latest Update on Normal Sport Biz: https://www.normalsport.com/newsletter/our-book-has-made-0-which-is-a-thrillLeaving CBS - The Difficulty of Concurrent Dreams: https://www.normalsport.com/newsletter/the-difficulty-of-concurrent-dreams100124Kevin Kelly - 1,000 True Fans: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ Changing Behavior even with a 10X better product: https://x.com/davidcummings/status/2045495064906854418?s=20LIV Golf is Dying of Boredom: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/liv-golf-is-dying-of-boredom?Golf Digest on TGL S2: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tgl-year-2-wrap-wins-losses-future-tiger-woods-2026

David Southworth has been developing luxury golf communities since the early 90’s when he and Paul Fireman started with a property in Cape Cod. Their motto through booms and busts: “Do What Makes Sense” Since then David has built communities in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Scotland, Bahamas and more - with a focus on two things: Creating an experience that excites people and motivates them to invest in a community and building a company focused on caring for customers and each other.

Thomas McHardy, VP of Team Marketing and Business Operations at TGL, talks about the different strategies TGL teams have used to establish an identity, acquire fans, and build franchises from scratch. He shares lessons learned from his time working on global expansion at the NFL, and the common trait he sees among successful Sports franchise owners.

AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen describes how the AJGA has focused on long-tenured leadership, stable governance, and commitment to a clear mission. Only one‑third of revenue comes from it’s 10K+ member families and the remainder from sponsors and donations. AJGA has distributed close to $10M in grants. Etzen emphasizes the AJGA’s commitment to championship‑level tournaments, high player standards, and data‑driven recruiting tools that support both golfers and college coaches.

In this episode we connect with Jamie Ledford, President of Golf Pride. We discuss the golf grip industry, how the product is positioned for golfers, supply chain issues and Jamie's unique career trajectory. You'll likely think differently about your golf grip after hearing Jamie speak. Enjoy, tell a friend and subscribe for future content!

Michael Jolly is Director of Tour Operations for Cleveland/Srixon Golf. In our conversation, we cover a lot of what goes on behind the scenes at every TOUR stop, how OEMs spot players to contract as ambassadors and the role that professional golf plays in reaching the general golfing public. Enjoy!

In this episode, Chad Mumm joins Roberto for an in-depth conversation. Chad shares some behind the curtains views of Full Swing (where he is the Executive Producer), the development of his company Pro Shop and how he sees the opportunity for golf entertainment for the years ahead.Full Swing season 3 drops on Netflix on February 25, 2025.

Roberto speaks to Joe Assell, Founder and CEO of Golftec. Joe shares his journey from PGA Professional to Founder, the expansion of Golftec, how digital plays a role in the company's future plans and more. Enjoy!

In this episode, we cover the renovation at East Lake Golf Club and the implications for the TOUR Championship. Chad Parker (GM and President, East Lake Golf Club) and Alex Urban (Executive Director, TOUR Championship) give us their views on how the renovation impacts the club operations, what to look out for when watching the TOUR Championship and what clubs should think about when undergoing such a project. Enjoy!