One of the hardest things in golf is finding a club or community that precisely fits a person’s needs. Especially for those seeking to retire or relocate to the Sun Belt. It can be harder than hitting a 1-iron, or trying to putt wildly undulating greens that are running 12 or 13 on the Stimpmeter. But the folks at a company called Golf Life Navigators say that with their help, the process can be managed.
“Our company fills a void that has been missing in the marketplace for far too long, and that is helping golfers find the place that best fits their needs and the lifestyle they desire,†says company founder and chief executive officer Jason Becker. “We do that by using a proprietary online ProGuide questionnaire to match people with golf club and community options in Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, California, Texas and Georgia.
“We describe ourselves as eHarmony meets Zillow for golf.â€
Golf Life Navigators was born from a project that Becker undertook in graduate school that examined how golfers who moved to southwest Florida figured out where they would live.
“There were 157 golf communities in the area I covered,†said Becker, who is a PGA of America professional. “And I wondered how they sorted out all the options. Then, I started considering how the clubs and communities found the right members for their associations.â€
What started as a school project soon became a business, with Becker launching Golf Life Navigators in summer 2014, basing it in Naples, Fla.
“There’s no fee to the consumers, and all they have to do is fill out a questionnaire,†he said. “As for the clubs, they foot the bill and put in their own data as to what they have to offer and the sort of member they are looking for. Then, we identify the best matches and put the consumers and clubs together.â€
