Leading golf course software provider sets a course for digital transformation,
followed by a successful acquisition by NBC Sports
Golf is a social sport that offers an escape from the day-to-day routine. Its challenge is often a life-long quest for self-improvement.
NBC Sports GolfNow, a leading golf course management software provider, helps golf course operators digitize their booking processes, dynamically price their inventory, and ultimately increase revenue. Golfers experience a better, easier way to the sport and courses they love.
Upon collaborating with Forte Group, GolfNow’s signature product, a full-fledged golf course management suite, required major improvements for a better market position and wider reach. The goal was to push the envelope of GolfNow’s service offerings to allow its customers to focus on improving their golf experience through the power of data, analytics, and marketing capabilities.
Industry:
Hospitality and leisure
Website:
golfnow.com
Project duration:
Nov. 2018 — ongoing
Technology and Platforms:
.NET, PHP, Ruby, Angular, ReactNative, WinForms, MS SQL, MongoDB, SSRS, Apache Cordova (cross-platform)
Background
The main catalyst for change was the need to revamp an outdated platform and make it easier to fine-tune the platform with new features.
By establishing a software engineering partnership with Forte Group, GolfNow expanded its delivery team while staying within budget and enhancing its platform.
Results achieved
A tech stack upgrade and
a web application for the EZSuite SaaS system. The team used an advanced tech stack to redesign a golf course management system to enable smooth functioning of facility, inventory reservations, and employee time tracking.
Major updates for EZTee.
Forte team converted EZTee, a customer-facing tee sheets booking system, to an up-to-date PHP tech stack, taking full QA ownership. This enabled a more reliable platform by decreasing downtime and maintenance.
Updated EZEngage marketing suite
allowed golf courses/clubs to build and host their websites, launch targeted email campaigns, add features like dynamic pricing and promo codes. Using these options GolfNow’ clients increased their brand awareness and revenue.
A cross-platform TeeOff app.
Allowed golfers to find and book next rounds, input and track stats, as well as receive exclusive offers both on web and on mobile.
A relaunch for EZGolf,
an all-in-one mobile app for EZSuite.
The app supports white-labeling and covers reservations, scoring, notifications, social platform integrations, and tournament management.
“Forte Group resolved quality issues, causing the product to be more stable. They also rolled out several new features. Their team is communicative despite time zone differences and is incredibly knowledgable.
They’re dedicated and go above and beyond.”
Hoby Smith
Senior Software Engineer, EZLinks / GolfNow
The result is a faster modern platform that features a better golfing experience for everyone.
Now that the platform is much more flexible, a new tech stack facilitates improvements and integrations, empowering GolfNow customers to achieve impressive results.
The GolfNow platform is now more stable in terms of performance, thanks to Forte Group’s rigorous QA and testing.
Diligent software adaptation of GolfNow products and services allowed for successful market expansion to the UK region.
Through a major legacy turnover and QA implementation orchestrated by Forte Group, GolfNow garnered the attention of NBC Sports Group. Later, the media company expanded its digital portfolio by acquiring GolfNow.
Golfnow in numbers
36%
Revenue increase from
the clients’ websites
30M
People around the world
use the GolfNow app
