Short Game Gains

Short Game Gains is a Golf Practice Aid company that specializes in tools to help you improve faster. The SGG products are tested and used by some of the best players and coaches in the world. Not only do their unique products help a player to improve their technique, but also make practice more effective and enjoyable.

Co-founders Fredrik Lindblom and Hannah Gregg both had successful college careers with aspirations to play the game professionally. They operate their business out of Phoenix, Arizona and spend time working on their games, and caddying for each other in competitive events and qualifiers.

Over the last year, professional golfers, social media influencers and power couple Hannah Gregg and Fredrik Lindblom have been working hard to grow a line of training aides to help the average amateur improve their golf game.

Their hard work is paying off.

The duo gathered data from players on the PGA Tour, Symetra, Korn Ferry and other mini tours to create a line of products called Short Game Gains. Their mission was to take the tools that they loved and saw frequently in the bags of other pros, and upgrade them- creating a super powered line of golf training tools that would actually make players better.

For any entrepreneur, it is important to take your idea and create something that solves a problem. According to Lindblom, this is why Short Game Gains has been so helpful to amateurs and pros alike. “You will notice that our product offerings are simple, easy to understand and efficient. That’s the point; we are trying to offer aids that improve skill and provide feedback without gimmicks or confusion,” he said.

At the heart of the brand, the products designed to help players with the three core skills of putting; speed, consistency of stroke, and start line (or read). Included in the Strokes Gained Bundle are the Accurate Aim Kit, the Putting Mirror, Ghost Holes, Start Line String, and Cup Reducers.

“Each one of these is designed to help golfer develop better fundamentals, whether it’s green reading, speed and start lines, or aim. These are the core elements of putting and we know that they help players reduce scores” said Lindblom.

There is very good science to back this up. Researchers have demonstrated that practice is about spacing and adding contextual feedback to deliberate practice to create better practice. According to Hannah, “Short Game skills are learned. These tools give you instant feedback on things like clubface at address, at impact, and after impact. We added features to like the Start Line Ruler because these tools are designed to teach you what your tendencies are instantly, and then to help you fix them.”

Anyone who follows Lindblom or Gregg on social media know that they’re REALLY working hard. Photos show them packing and shipping products on their own.

Anyone interested in learning more about individual products or ordering one, visit www.shortgamegains.com.

Gateway Home Loans

GolfSuites allowing players to invest in their game

In our October 2019 issue, we wrote about the growth of driving ranges and entertainment centers, especially facilities like Topgolf. Now, a new company is positioning itself to take a piece of that alternative golf market with a chain of golf and entertainment facilities.

When Tampa-based ERC Homes founders Jerry Ellenburg and Ryan Koenig saw that a Topgolf location was being built next to their offices, the developer/builders were curious. They watched construction be completed and the facility open to massive crowds. Not long after they called in golf enthusiast and customer experience designer, John Galvin, to join them and form what was to become the GolfSuites brand.

“We’re very much a competitor to Topgolf,” said GolfSuites chairman Jerry Ellenburg. “These types of facilities make healthy amounts of money and we think we can provide a superior product that guests will really enjoy.”

GolfSuites will bring together the most realistic golf entertainment and game improvement experience, including a 250+ yard driving range, simulated green sites and hazards, professional quality golf balls and equipment, swing and golf fitness coaching, restaurants, bars, multiple types of video and live music entertainment all under one roof. The facilities will be designed with differing levels of amenities for avid and recreational golfers, as well as space for corporate and team building events, fundraisers, family celebrations, and amateur and professional events.

GolfSuites will also pair with top instructors and technologies to provide game improvement for guests both in-person and virtually. The idea behind GolfSuites is a holistic one, giving players the chance to have a great time and improve their swing and game.

 “Our first location in Tulsa, Oklahoma was taken over last fall and we’re in the process of converting it to a full GolfSuites facility. Our plan is to be a nationwide company, and we’re actively looking for the right pieces of property in the right markets,” said Ellenburg. 

How did GolfSuites develop its next-level experience? Ellenburg said the key to success is the company’s management team. Nick Flanagan (President and Chief Operating Officer) spent years in charge of operations at The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store chain and has been instrumental in developing the food and beverage program and all other senior operational aspects; Scott McCurry (Vice President of Operations) came from Topgolf and has used his expertise to fine-tune the national expansion of GolfSuites; and Kyle Morris (Golf Director) has developed the golf experience from the ground up using his experience as a professional player and teacher. John Galvin (Marketing Director) has designed overall brand concepts and Ryan Koenig (Development Director) has overseen all initial facility design and is in charge of national site selection. Larson Architects and ROWE Creative Union in Columbus have been engaged for all design aspects of the brand and facilities.

As you can probably imagine, building a GolfSuites facility isn’t cheap. Ellenburg said the company estimates the cost between $35 and $40 million each for full-sized 100-bay configurations. To get started, GolfSuites is offering investors the opportunity to buy preferred stock in a Reg A offering and is concurrently procuring institutional and private equity funding.

“We’re pleased with ongoing fund raising efforts to date,” added Ellenburg. “Now we’re just making sure we research potential markets and find the best possible locations for our facilities. We’re confident that GolfSuites will be successful in the locations in which we choose to open.”

 To learn more about GolfSuites and the company’s investment opportunities, visit www.golfsuites.com.