Acquisition of Albatros Datenservice and Digital Golf Solutions Allows NBC Sports Next to Expand Golf Operations into Mainland Europe and South Africa
BELFAST, Northern Ireland – BRS Golf, the world leader in tee-time management software, has acquired Europe’s foremost golf technology providers, Albatros Datenservice and Digital Golf Solutions. Today’s acquisition represents a major step in the growth strategy of BRS Golf’s parent company, NBC Sports Next, expanding its golf operations into mainland Europe and South Africa.
BRS Golf, Albatros Datenservice and Digital Golf Solutions’s closely aligned products and services, combined with a shared focus on continued product development and customer support, will bring benefits to golf course partners and golfers across all territories.
The acquisition will see the creation of an expanded Product & Technology team for NBC Sports Next’s international golf businesses, innovating for customers across the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, South Africa, and Australia. As early as 2024, BRS Golf anticipates bringing Albatros technology solutions to its customers in the UK, Ireland, and Australia, providing a complete golf operations solution including reservations, point-of-sale, CRM, accountancy and hotel integrations, and competition management software with full World Handicap (WHS) integration.
BRS Golf, which was acquired by NBCUniversal in 2013, will retain its Belfast offices as the company’s international headquarters. Its core products that have been delivering for customers since 2003 will continue to be go-forward systems and a critical part of the NBC Sports Next golf portfolio.
Albatros Datenservice operates from both Karlsruhe, Germany, and Cape Town, South Africa, working with 1,500 golf clubs worldwide. Digital Golf Solutions, which distributes Albatros software solutions and operates the online tee-time platform, Mygreenfee, has offices in Paris, France. The Mygreenfee website and app closely aligns with NBC Sports Next’s tee-time booking platform, GolfNow, and allows golfers across Europe to book tee times at more than 320 course partners in France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Brian Smith, Co-Founder of BRS Golf and Head of International Growth & Acquisition for NBC Sports Next Golf, says: “The acquisition of Albatros and Digital Golf Solutions is an incredibly exciting development for BRS Golf. To think that the company my brother Rory and I started from home in 2003 has become a key part of the NBC Sports business, spearheading growth into new international markets, is a source of immense pride.”
Smith further commented: “The synergies between BRS Golf and Albatros, and GolfNow and Mygreenfee extend beyond products to strategy, culture, and customer experience. The acquisition is a closely aligned partnership that enhances our mission to continue to develop golf operations systems built specifically for the ever-changing golf market. It will combine the knowledge and culture of our people to continue to deliver excellence for our course partners and our golfers. Through this acquisition we plan to grow the international golf business in the years ahead, offering new products and services to current markets, as well as expanding the team in mainland Europe.”
Volker Schorp, Founder of Albatros Datenservice, and also assuming the title of International VP of Product & Technology for NBC Sports Next Golf, says: “I am proud and happy that in BRS Golf and NBC Sports Next, we have found a strong, international, and golf-savvy partner who will strengthen Albatros and the new software package “Albatros 9” and take it to the next level. Together we can accelerate development and enter new areas in addition to the existing markets in which we will expand our position.
“The integration of Albatros into an organization of this size gives us the opportunity to develop further fields of activity in addition to the already highly successful ones. In addition to golf courses, our long-standing customers also include numerous golf associations who rely on web and cloud-based solutions from Albatros in central handicap or tournament solutions in the context of the World Handicap System.”
Schorp continued: “We plan not only to maintain the locations in Karlsruhe, Paris and Cape Town, but also to expand them further to become even stronger in development, as well as in customer service and sales. Personally, I look forward to continuing to actively shape this process of growth for Albatros together with NBC Sports Next in the coming years and will, of course, continue to be personally available at Albatros for our partners and customers.”
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
About BRS Golf and GolfNow
BRS Golf is the leading provider of tee time management and online booking technology in the world. Its best-in-class tee sheet is trusted by over 3,500 golf clubs across 14 countries, and in the UK & Ireland alone, 675,000 registered members use BRS Golf to book their tee times. In additional to its powerful tee sheet and member booking technology, BRS Golf offers a range of flexible software solutions designed to help clubs manage all aspects of their facility efficiently in one place, including Membership Management, Visitor Booking, Online Payments, and integration with Golf Genius Competitions & Handicapping software.
Founded in 2003 by Northern Irish golf fanatics and IT experts Brian and Rory Smith, BRS Golf was acquired by GolfNow in June 2013. GolfNow is the world’s largest online tee time platform, offering technology, support, and marketing services to more than 9,000 golf courses in 24 countries around the world. BRS Golf and GolfNow are part of NBC Sports Next, which has offices in Orlando, Florida, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
About Albatros Datenservice and Digital Golf Solutions
Albatros Datenservice provides technology solutions to golf clubs, mainly in Europe and South Africa, under the brand Albatros, working with 1,500 club partners in 10 countries globally. Albatros’ modular technology offers comprehensive member administration, tournament management, point-of-sale solutions and more. Digital Golf Solutions also owns the Mygreenfee tee time distribution platform. The Mygreenfee website and app allows golfers across Europe to book tee times at course partners across Europe.
Albatros is based in Karlsruhe, Germany, with an office in Cape Town, South Africa. Digital Golf Solutions is located in the suburbs of Paris, France.
Find out more about BRS Golf
www.brsgolf.com
TW @brsgolf
FB /brsgolf
Find out more about Albatros Datenservice
www.albatros.net
TW @albatros
FB /AlbatrosSoftware
Find out more about Digital Golf Solutions
https://www.dgsgolf.com/
If you would like to receive more information or arrange an interview with Brian Smith, Head of International Growth & Acquisition for NBC Sports Next, please contact:
Karen Moss
Karen.moss@golfnow.co.uk
07956 745 083
