UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio – The Ohio Golf Course Owners Association (OGCOA) has announced a landmark partnership with Yards Golf, a pioneering mobile application designed to foster deeper golfer engagement, enhance course profitability, and provide direct support to Ohio’s vibrant golf industry.
This collaboration, brokered with assistance from smbGOLF, marks a significant step forward in building a sustainable and rewarding ecosystem for golfers and course operators alike.
Learn more by visiting this link: https://ohiogolfcourseowners.com/yards-supports-ohio-golf-course-owners-association
Yards Golf is the only golfer app endorsed by the OGCOA, and offers a refreshing alternative to traditional discount booking platforms.
“Yards is built to serve the golf course first. Our partnership with the OGCOA exemplifies what’s possible when technology aligns with the interests of operators, not just aggregators. Together, we’re creating a model where loyalty, revenue, and control stay local – and golfers get a more rewarding experience in the process.” said Brett Darrow, CEO and Co-Founder at Sagacity Golf.
The OGCOA-Yards agreement is built on a model that drives revenue directly to the Association, ensuring funds are reinvested into OGCOA programs and initiatives that benefit members and the broader golf community across the state.
“This partnership is a breakthrough for Ohio golf,” said Mike Hendrix, representative for the OGCOA and a key facilitator in bringing this agreement to fruition through smbGOLF. “Yards is more than just a tee time booking app; it’s a modern, mobile platform that makes golf more rewarding for players and more profitable for courses. It allows our members to embrace innovation without sacrificing control, fostering direct relationships with their golfers while generating new revenue streams.
“Furthermore, Sagacity Golf’s commitment to funding association membership dues for their Ohio partners is a welcome addition, which will strengthen our presence in the Ohio legislature and across business verticals in the Ohio golf industry.”
Key Benefits of the OGCOA-Yards Partnership:
- Free Course Connection: OGCOA member courses can connect to Yards at no cost, integrating seamlessly with existing supported tee sheets including Club Caddie, Club Prophet, foreUP, Lightspeed, and Quick 18.
- Complimentary Tee Sheet: For courses utilizing non-integrated or manual tee sheets, Sagacity Golf (Yards’ parent company) will provide a digital tee sheet at no charge, ensuring all Ohio courses can participate.
- Enhanced Golfer Engagement: Courses can leverage Yards’ built-in social feed (similar to Instagram/Facebook, but golf-focused), run giveaways, promote events, and list tee times, driving increased interaction.
- Direct Revenue for Courses: Participating courses earn $10 every time a golfer subscribes to the annual Yards+ plan using their unique smart code, creating a direct referral revenue stream.
- Golfer Perks & Community Support: Golfers benefit from in-app games, GPS, digital scorecards, contests, and real prizes. An upgrade to Yards+ for perks like early booking windows and no booking fees if available. Crucially, their Yards+ subscription directly supports the OGCOA, contributing to a healthier future for Ohio golf.
This unique model flips the script on traditional third-party marketplace relationships. Instead of charging golf courses access or participation fees, Yards strengthens the golfer-course relationship and ensures that financial contributions from Ohio golfers are reinvested locally into advocacy, education, and resources that help OGCOA members succeed.
“We believe this is a truly collaborative approach that empowers golf course owners,” added Hendrix. “We encourage all Ohio course operators, business partners, and vendors to learn more about how Yards can help them connect with Ohio’s most engaged golfers and contribute to our collective success.”
OGCOA and the Yards team are actively onboarding courses now, with setup taking less than 10 minutes for integrated tee sheets.