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Planning golf tournament services is Kevin Dogen's passion, and now it's his small business niche.
Planning golf tournament and other golf events was a major headache for Kevin—a busy golf tournament director. He rightly suspected that planning a tournament was a hassle for other directors, too.
With this target market in mind, Kevin created Golf Fusion LLC—the premier provider of online "planning golf tournament services." Kevin has graciously agreed to share his entrepreneurial "secrets of success."
What is the name of your small business?
Golf Fusion LLC
What services does your business provide?
Golf Fusion provides Golf Clubs with a pre-designed web site to manage their tournaments and members.
While many clubs have considered a web site to support these functions, they either do not have the expertise to develop one themselves, or cannot justify the time or expense to have one built.
Golf Fusion offers the ideal solution, by licensing a pre-designed site that can be customized and launched within 48 hours
Golf Fusion's appeal is due to three key product ingredients. First, we develop a world class web site, for our clients, that provides members with instant information and powerful on-line tools. Second, our automated administrative tools reduce tournament and club management by 75%. Third, our annual license fee is very affordable—only $5 to $10 per member per year. That's less than most clubs spend on printing and postage.
What is your position with the firm?
Co-founder and CEO
Tell us about your background. What led to you doing what you are doing now?
I have been in the High Tech Marketplace for the past 25 years, and started up my own dot.com back in 1999. Although the timing was bad (no kidding !) to launch a B2C solution back then, I have waited patiently until the appropriate concept came to me... and I believe I have found it in the web enablement of Golf Club management.
As the Tournament Director for two golf clubs in recent years, I was overwhelmed with the manual, time consuming tasks associated with running a tournament, and how difficult it was to provide members with real-time information.
I decided that web enabling these functions would serve the members well, and automating many of the the administrative tasks would greatly reduce the time required to manage a tournament from start to finish.
What makes you unique? How are you and your business different from the competition?
To my knowledge, Golf Fusion is the first company to offer an e-licensing solution to Golf Clubs with the host of on-line tools for both members and administrators.
The site also contains a Club Directory with a state of the art search engine (so that members can find playing partners), a comprehensive Bulletin Board (Buy and Sell used equipment), and a direct link to the local Pro Shop to view discounted tee times and sales on equipment.
While there are a few players in this space who offer a broader range of "Member Management" tools, no other company other the Golf Fusion offers a solution focused on the Golf Club environment.
What is your target market? Who are the people that are most helped by you?
Any club, of any size. It could be a Men's Club at a semi-private or private course, or an organized group of 50 golfers who play a weekly tournament. In either case, Golf Fusion enables them to communicate through one portal to share information and co-ordinate their activities, via an extremely cost effective solution.
Why do people like doing business with you? What is the key to your success?
As noted earlier, virtually every club we have spoken to could not justify the time or money to develop a site such as ours, despite their desire to have one. To be able to license such a robust site, for less than they were paying on printing and postage alone, was beyond their wildest dreams.
The members of the clubs are thrilled because their club has now caught up with the times, and the web site is extremely user friendly. The administrators are equally thrilled because they now spend 75% less time handling the tasks associated with tournament and membership management. It's simply a win-win for everyone. And our post sales Customer Support is extremely responsive and efficient in resolving queries.
Tell us something about your personal life that makes you interesting, such as: volunteer work for a good cause; an exciting hobby; past achievements, etc.
I have had the rare privilege of having a hole in one in golf, a perfect 300 game in bowling and a no-hitter in baseball. So I've felt the thrill (and pressure) of those three experiences.
Otherwise, I have always had the desire to create something that would have a positive impact and influence on a large number of people. I believe that Golf Fusion is just such a creation, that can enhance the CLUB experience for millions of Golfers.
If you could change one thing about the world we live in, what would it be?
Less anger... more empathy. People are quick to jump on the negative, or perceived negative, and run with it as far as they can.
If only they took a step back, and first tried to understand / appreciate where the other person was coming from, and better understand what they're dealing with.
How do people get in touch with you?
They can contact me through email for a brochure. Or they can call me by phone at 650-599-3262—or by cell phone, 650-269-7587.
Golf tournament planning can be a fun and financially rewarding small business idea. Here are additional resources, if you're considering a career in the golf tournament planning industry.
Provides a forum for education, networking, and marketing opportunities for the golf tournament industry. Administers certification programs for tournament directors of business, foundation, celebrity and charity golf tournaments.
Professional golf association, providing educational programs, industry publications, and career development assistance in the golf course management industry.