Squid Pro Quo

The site with the odd name is taking over the way people plan golf events

Colorado AvidGolfer

Golfsquid.com President and CEO Gary Robinson (pictured above) says a marine mollusk perfectly captures his golf event management company. “Not only is it memorable; it’s accurate,” he explains. “Our cloud-based software has multiple tentacles within each category that help you manage your tournament.”

Robinson’s enterprise also shares another quality with the cephalopod. Propelling themselves at 25 mph through the water and often into the air, squid also happen to be among the swiftest creatures in the sea. And Golfsquid, which projects a nationwide client base between 10,000 and 12,000 tournaments this year, is one of the fastest-growing companies in the golf business.

The venture started last spring, when Robinson teamed up with software entrepreneur Michael Kranitz, who had developed the event-management site eventsquid.com. After customizing and fine-tuning the interface for golf, they showed it to 13-time PGA Tour winner and Golf Channel analyst David Duval, who signed on as a partner and spokesman.

Golfsquid then inked a deal to become the Preferred Online Tournament Services Partner of Golfsmith, in which the world’s largest specialty golf retailer can provide tournament hosts discounts on hard goods like clubs, balls and gift bag items, and soft goods such as logoed shirts, towels and hats.

Other strategic business alliances have followed. Among them: Clubhub.com (custom club rentals), Qdoba (catering), Hole-In-One U.S.A. (hole-in-one insurance) and Signs Now (course signage). Robinson has also recently set up a nationwide network of 12 representatives to build market share and alliances in different regions.

The power and proficiency of the Golfsquid platform have fueled its phenomenal growth. Its intuitive and easily navigable site has become increasingly more so since launching. It automates every aspect of tournament management—recruiting and registering players, promoting events, processing fees, managing sponsors, organizing exhibitors, coordinating volunteers, scheduling programs, printing badges and cart signs, generating revenue details and maintaining a participant database.

Golfsquid’s Event Builder lets you set up an attractive and interactive microsite that serves as the online hub for your event. Thanks to a recently added course search engine, you can upload a map of the host golf course, and once a company signs on as a sponsor, you can drag and drop its logo onto the specific area of the course (tee, hole, putting green, range, etc.) the company is sponsoring.

Not only can golfers, sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers all register online, but every event an organizer creates instantly generates a mobile app through which attendees can communicate with each other and the organizer, vote on questions (scramble or shamble?) and more.

“We’ve also introduced a forum for users to share best practices and provide feedback,” Robinson says. “A lot of them start with, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if…’”

Frankly, everything’s cool about Golfsquid.It even handholds tournament virgins with the “Easy Path,” a ten-click process that registers the tournament. Veterans can take the
“Power Path.”

“Most tournament organizers think they’re running an event,” Robinson reasons, “but the event is running them. Golfsquid evolves the method, saving you countless hours. The best part is, when it’s time for the next event, one click recreates it. You hit ‘Duplicate,’ and everything’s stored. You can change anything you need to, but basically the whole tournament is saved.”

After what he calls a brisk “beta” year, Robinson anticipates an “astronomical” jump in customers. Although he’s invested in constantly upgrading and simplifying the user experience, forging those strategic alliances and providing added value with bundle packages for sponsors, Robinson has not increased his rate of $2.99 per player.

For less work, more golfers and more revenue, the price is definitely right for you.

More info: Golfsquid.com

---

More from the 2016 Tournament Planners Guide presented by GolfSquid.com:

How to Create a Can't-Miss Golf Event

Squid Pro Quo – The site with the odd name is taking over the way people plan golf events.

Keeping it Fresh – When participants see your commitment to making the event fun, they'll come back year after year!

A Course in Charity – As the Sanctuary nears $100 in money raised, here's a list of 2016 tournaments

Long Live the ROI – At the end of the day, how to get the most for your charity from your golf tournament

12 Planning Pitfalls of Golf Tournaments – Avoid these 12 costly mistakes with your next tournament

Register Your Tournament with Colorado AvidGolfer

---

Read the full digital version of our Tournament Guide presented by GolfSquid.

---

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.