The first seven companies spanning club fitting, content, gamified golf, AI revenue management, golfer engagement, and tee time booking have been selected for the national accelerator and showcase in the Golf Capital of the World®
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — eMYRge, the nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) based at the HTC Aspire Hub in Myrtle Beach, today announced the first seven companies selected to participate in the inaugural eMYRge Golf Tech Accelerator Challenge (GTAC), a national event designed to identify and elevate companies shaping the future of golf while advancing innovation in the Golf Capital of the World®.
The program is supported by Play Golf Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University, and Golfweek, and is made possible through a Relentless Challenge grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
The three-day in-person accelerator and showcase will take place October 6-8 at the HTC Aspire Hub in downtown Myrtle Beach, bringing the selected companies together with investors, industry leaders, students, and media for a curated program of mentorship, industry dialogue, and investor connections, culminating in a pitch showcase.
Selected from a national pool, this year’s cohort reflects the breadth of innovation moving through the game, from equipment and content technology to course operations, booking, and the business of golf itself. The cohort includes:
- Groove Golf: Tech-driven club fitting that uses proprietary Apple Watch and iPhone software to deliver a precise, tour-quality fitting in about five swings, with no launch monitor or dedicated fitting bay required.
- Coursecast: Autonomous, solar-powered AI cameras built into the course that capture broadcast-quality video and shot data of everyday golf, turning signature holes into shareable highlights for players and branded content for clubs.
- Smash Swing: A multiplayer, multi-ball tracking platform that projects gamified golf onto massive immersive screens, reinventing the indoor range and simulator as a social entertainment experience.
- CourseRev.ai: Courserev.ai is the golf industry’s leading AI revenue platform—combining 24/7 autonomous voice/chat booking, smart yield management, and seamless tee-sheet integrations to maximize course profitability and streamline pro-shop operations.
- Clubhaus: A golfer engagement platform that connects rounds, F&B ordering, tee times, loyalty, and payments into one golfer identity, helping operators understand their golfers, drive revenue, and bring them back to the course.
- Golf District: A prepaid tee time platform with a first-of-its-kind secondary marketplace, letting golfers resell times they can’t use while helping courses lock in revenue and eliminate no-shows.
- Leaderboard Golf: A USGA-connected platform for golfers and clubs to track on-course games and wagers, handle invites and RSVPs, manage a Handicap Index, and build stats and history with AI-powered insights.
Additional participating companies may be announced in the coming weeks as planning continues.
“This cohort shows exactly why we built GTAC,” said Jenny Halstead, Executive Director, eMYRge. “These are companies creating new value for the golf industry, and bringing them to Myrtle Beach connects them with the resources and relationships that turn a promising idea into a lasting business which benefits our entire region over the long run.”
Play Golf Myrtle Beach, owned and operated by Golf Tourism Solutions (GTS), is the official content platform representing Myrtle Beach golf and the Myrtle Beach golf lifestyle. GTS is providing technical expertise and helping integrate the regional golf ecosystem into GTAC programming.
“There is no better place to showcase the future of golf than the Golf Capital of the World®, where these companies can put their technology in front of the courses and operators who deliver the golf experience every day,” said Ryan Cannon, Executive Director, Golf Tourism Solutions. “This inaugural cohort brings real momentum to GTAC, and we’re proud to help connect these innovators to our region’s golf ecosystem in ways that strengthen both the industry and our local economy.”
Coastal Carolina University will play an active role in the program, connecting students with the participating companies through programming, networking, and hands-on exposure to the technologies and business models shaping the future of golf.
Golfweek serves as the event’s production and media partner, helping deliver national editorial coverage before, during, and after the event.
“Elevating innovators like these is core to what we do,” said Kendra Leopold, Golfweek’s Director of Strategic Partnerships. “We’re proud to help tell their stories and reinforce Golfweek’s commitment to driving the game forward.”
The selected companies will convene in Myrtle Beach October 6-8, concluding with a pitch showcase where they present solutions aimed at advancing the next generation of golf experiences. While GTAC is an invitation-only program, the innovation coming out of it is meant to be seen.
Watch for national coverage from Golfweek and program updates before, during, and after the event at www.emyrge.org/gtac.
About eMYRge:
eMYRge is a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization located at the HTC Aspire Hub in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The organization supports entrepreneurs and growth-stage companies through programming, mentorship, and ecosystem partnerships designed to accelerate innovation and economic opportunity across the region. For more information, visit www.emyrge.org or follow on LinkedIn.
About Play Golf Myrtle Beach:
Play Golf Myrtle Beach, the official content platform of the Myrtle Beach area golf community, is owned and produced by Golf Tourism Solutions (GTS). It serves as the definitive resource for The Golf Capital of the World®. For more information, visit PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com and follow our socials: @PlayGolfMB on X; @playgolfmyrtlebeach on Instagram; and Play Golf Myrtle Beach on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
About Coastal Carolina:
Located in Conway, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina University is a premier public institution recognized for its dedication to student success, vibrant campus community, and championship-winning NCAA Division I athletics. A designated Sea Grant and Space Grant university, CCU drives innovation through specialized initiatives like South Carolina’s first space satellite program and the state’s only accredited Professional Golf Management program – one of just 16 such programs in the nation. Explore CCU’s bold commitment to academic excellence at coastal.edu.
About Golfweek:
Golfweek is a trusted golf media brand with more than 50 years dedicated to covering all aspects of the sport, including professional tours, amateur and college golf, equipment innovation, golf course rankings, business trends and more. Part of USA TODAY Co., the Golfweek brand encompasses Golfweek.com, Golfweek Events, Golfweek magazine, and Golfweek Custom Media.
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