Upper Arlington, OH — As golf professionals head toward the PGA Show and operators across colder climates begin planning for the season ahead, three recent episodes of the Tech Caddie podcast offer a timely snapshot of where golf technology is evolving — and where meaningful work remains.
The new episodes can be found at https://www.golfcoursetechnologyreviews.org/podcast and are also available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Guests featured in the recent conversations include Rusty Grimm, Vache Hagopian, Mike Dickoff, and Jason Patronas. Brands and platforms discussed during the episodes include Jonas Synergy, TenFore Golf, Club Caddie, Golf EMS, Lightspeed, foreUP, Chronogolf, GolfNow, Jonas Club Software, Primo Tee Times, ChatGPT, and Apparation.
The episodes feature conversations with a multi-course golf owner, a senior leader from one of the largest technology companies in golf, and two entrepreneurs challenging long-standing norms around tee time aggregation. Together, they provide a rare, balanced view of the golf industry from three critical perspectives: operator, enterprise technology, and innovation.
One clear theme emerged across two conversations: AI is gaining traction among innovators and technology leaders, but it has not yet become part of the everyday planning language for golf course operators — even as evidence of its benefits continues to grow.
In the episode featuring Rustic Golf Properties founder Rusty Grimm, a six-course owner actively managing acquisitions, staffing, and operations, AI was never mentioned. The discussion focused instead on execution, system fit, and the realities of running golf facilities at scale. That absence stood in contrast to the other episodes, where AI and data-driven discovery were central to how entrepreneurs and technology leaders are thinking about the future of golf.
“These conversations don’t show resistance to AI from operators,” said Mike Hendrix, host of Tech Caddie. “They show a translation gap. Operators are focused on time, staffing, revenue, and guest experience. Until AI is clearly framed as a tool that directly supports those priorities, it will remain secondary in planning discussions.”
That translation challenge is underscored by recent survey data to be presented by Hendrix at the PGA Show. In a survey of golf facilities using CourseRev’s AI telephone management, 100% of respondents reported measurable weekly time savings, with:
- 60% saving an estimated 4–6 staff hours per week
- 40% saving 1–3 staff hours per week
Notably, no facility reported zero impact. The time savings came not from replacing staff, but from AI absorbing routine phone interruptions — answering common questions, handling basic requests, and reducing disruptions to in-person service.
“These results are important because they reflect real operator outcomes,” Hendrix added. “AI didn’t replace staff. It absorbed interruptions. And that distinction matters when we talk about adoption.”
As AI’s benefits around time recovery and golf course discovery become more defined — including new ways golfers find and book tee times — the next challenge for the industry is clear: helping operators see AI not as a concept, but as a practical tool aligned with their goals.
The three episodes are available now and make for thoughtful listening while traveling to the PGA Show, reviewing 2026 strategies, or passing time until winter gives way to the golf season.
Featured Episodes:
- Rustic Golf Properties Founder Rusty Grimm
- Jonas Launches Jonas Synergy with GM Vache Hagopian
- Tee Times Hitting ChatGPT — It’s Primo!
All episodes can be found at GolfCourseTechnologyReviews.org.
About Tech Caddie
Tech Caddie is a podcast hosted by Mike Hendrix that explores the intersection of golf operations, technology, and data through candid conversations with operators, executives, and innovators shaping the future of the game.
Media Contact:
Mike Hendrix
Upper Arlington, OH
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