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Alex Elias  After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019, Ben Griffin joined PGA Tour Canada and quickly earned Korn Ferry Tour status the following season. Less than two years later, however, Griffin made the difficult decision to step away from the game due to financial challenges. If not for Doug Sieg, Managing Partner of Jersey City-based investment firm Lord Abbett, who offered financial support, Griffin might never have had the chance to pursue his PGA Tour dream. While Griffin’s eventual success is inspiring, his earlier decision underscores the harsh reality that for many, the path to the PGA Tour is both long and costly.
Driven by a desire to address that challenge, Donnie Dotson founded Carry in 2021. “There are many golfers with the talent who have had to walk away from the game due to financial reasons,” said Dotson. “Additionally, countless players currently navigating the grind are saddled with credit card debt and don’t know how they’ll pay next month’s rent or afford a course to practice at.” As Carry raises money from “Fan Investors,” Dotson emphasized that it’s paramount these investors are fans first: “You have to love golf first and foremost. Even if all ten players go on to win, and it’s financially lucrative, you won’t get the most out of it.” With “Fan Investors” providing financial security, Dotson explained, “Players can be more aggressive. If they have a tough week or miss a cut, it isn’t the end of their season or career.” Beyond financial support, Dotson said the backing of “Fan Investors” offers something even more valuable—a community. “These players now have someone to talk with,” said Dotson. Ultimately, the hope is this leads to better play. “The biggest difference between a player playing well or not is confidence. Confidence comes from many areas, including knowing you have the finances to compete or that someone is celebrating your wins and there for you when you’re struggling,” said Dotson.
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Alex Elias  Co-founded by Zachary McCarthy, Club Capital Group is “a leading performance improvement consultancy specializing in cost management and strategic sourcing for golf clubs—from 9-hole municipal courses to elite private and resort clubs.” As Club Capital began out of a shared passion for high-end hospitality and the game of golf, McCarthy said, ‘We’re privileged to get up every day and have conversations with club managers and professionals.” Rooted in a relationship-based industry, McCarthy emphasized, “There’s no such thing as a cookie-cutter club. Each club has its own unique membership and circumstances. I want to understand a club’s pain points and deliver a tailored solution because each club matters to me.” He explained that much of their insight comes directly from personal experience and firsthand involvement in the club world, giving them the ability to see challenges from a member’s and manager’s perspective. “With my perspective as a member at a club and having worked closely with our management team, and Kevin [Kleinschmidt's] background—having been a member and also a leader in a private club—we have a very unique perspective. We can speak their language, understand their pain points, and enhance the member experience because we’ve lived it,” said McCarthy. Regarding the solutions Club Capital provides, McCarthy said, “With my background in purchasing and strategic consulting, we can help a club reduce costs on products they’re already buying or gain access to contracts with vendors that may have previously been out of reach.” “If we can help a club become more efficient, it allows them to reallocate those dollars to more strategic initiatives, whether it’s a clubhouse renovation, bunker work, or other improvements.”  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) As the benefits of working with Club Capital include “free Club Capital membership, access to more than 3,500 contracts, $130 billion+ in buying power, best-in-class pricing, reporting & analytics, complimentary cost analysis, vendor & distributor liaison, seamless onboarding & access,” numerous clubs have expressed their satisfaction.
Tim Muessle, General Manager & Chief Operating Officer at The Olympic Club, said, “We at The Olympic Club are very impressed with Club Capital's offerings. I am always skeptical when someone says they are going to save us money—but [they] were not kidding!” Ryan Kenny, General Manager at Philadelphia Country Club, added, “Club Capital's seamless onboarding process made joining a breeze. The best part was that there was virtually no change management required. Despite initial hesitations about mid-season changes, their program integrated effortlessly into our operations, bringing financial benefits without disruptions. It's the perfect solution for club managers who want results without the usual headaches of change.” In response, McCarthy said, “It’s a core reminder that what we’re doing is real. To see that we’re enhancing membership experiences by making positive change is very rewarding.” |
