How One Podcast Episode Uncovered Industry Shifts and Sparked Debate about Golf Operations Strategy

The Ripple Effect of a Single Podcast Episode

When we first spoke with Chad Pettingill, the General Manager at The Ledges of St. George in Utah, the goal was straightforward: explore the operational decisions and technology shifts he had implemented at his 18-hole facility. The Ledges isn’t just a golf course—it’s a full experience for visitors, featuring a popular bar and restaurant, plus over 160 lodging options that accommodate guests and groups taking advantage of their golf packages.

In our conversation, Chad shared a significant decision he made in 2022 to switch from foreUP to Lightspeed for his golf management software. Lightspeed provided Chad with more robust native functionality than foreUP, including a dynamic pricing tool and a restaurant-grade point-of-sale system. With these capabilities, Chad was able to simplify his tech stack by removing Sagacity Golf and reducing his expenses. He also brought in targeted third-party tools to address specific needs: Golf EMS for managing golf events and reservation-based functions like couples' nights and wine tastings, and Escapia, a lodging platform powered by Expedia.

Additionally, Chad adopted Metolius for outbound communication and reporting, a favorite among Lightspeed users that helps bridge the gap between restaurant and golf operations—a long-standing challenge with Lightspeed’s system. Golf EMS became invaluable when Chad realized it could split payments across members of golf packages, significantly cutting down the time needed to collect payments from guests booking group golf packages.

Beyond his technology upgrades, Chad also decided to pull his tee time inventory off third-party sites like GolfNow.com and DailyDeals.golf. With greater control over his inventory through Lightspeed, he can more easily accommodate the demands of his golf packages, providing a seamless experience for his guests and keeping bookings in-house.

By making these shifts, Chad demonstrated a strategic focus on strengthening his facility’s control over branding, enhancing customer experience, and streamlining operations. His story felt like part of a larger trend, so I began to investigate—and was surprised to discover that over 100 other golf courses had also left foreUP in the past year. This one conversation set off a cascade of insights and prompted a deeper look into the trends reshaping golf course management. What began as a single podcast episode ultimately sparked more news, conversations, and content than we ever anticipated, offering a unique glimpse into the shifting priorities of the industry.

Surprising Discoveries Post-Episode

After recording the episode with Chad, I found myself intrigued by his decision to leave foreUP and adopt Lightspeed. Chad’s insights into the impact of these changes on his operation—simplified vendor management, native functionality for dynamic pricing, and increased control over inventory—prompted a question: Was his shift part of a larger movement?

To answer this, I dove into research, reaching out to other course operators and digging through industry reports. What I found was eye-opening: in the past year, over 100 golf courses had also chosen to leave foreUP. This trend pointed to a deeper issue, one that went beyond just Chad’s experiences. I started to hear from foreUP customers actively seeking new software solutions, sharing their own challenges and frustrations with limitations in functionality or compatibility with other systems.

Realizing there was more to uncover, I decided to reach out to foreUP directly to better understand the situation. They provided feedback on the technology issues they were working to resolve, acknowledging the challenges some of their customers were experiencing. With this context, I published “Why Are Golf Courses Leaving foreUP?” on smbGOLF.com, diving into the reasons driving so many operators to look elsewhere for solutions.

The response was immediate and overwhelming. Our smbGOLF website, which usually sees an average of around 20 visitors daily, spiked to over 2,000 visitors the day the article went live. It was clear that this story had resonated with operators across the industry. What had started as a single conversation with Chad was quickly turning into a larger industry dialogue, one that highlighted the shifting landscape of golf course management technology.

Dynamic Pricing and Prepay Debate

Before we even started recording, I knew The Ledges had been using Sagacity Golf to implement dynamic pricing. In my consulting business, smbGOLF, we track vendor usage data for over 20,000 golf courses, maintaining a history of their technology choices, so I was curious to see if The Ledges was still working with Sagacity. When I asked Chad if he was still using dynamic pricing, he confirmed that he absolutely was—and had fully transitioned to using the native pricing features in Lightspeed. Chad’s enthusiasm for dynamic pricing was clear, and when I asked him to estimate its value to his business, he replied: “$200,000 annually.” I was thrilled to see the positive impact it had on his bottom line.

Chad emphasized that two elements were essential to The Ledges’ success: dynamic pricing and requiring prepayment of tee times. He saw these as game-changers that helped his facility maximize revenue and manage demand effectively. This sparked a deeper discussion on the podcast about the broader impact of prepay, which led me to mention MemberSports, a company founded by Nick Anderson that has technology specifically designed to improve the prepay experience.

Following the episode, Nick reached out and shared a two-page white paper on the benefits of prepay tee times. He highlighted how prepay simplifies transactions, reduces no-shows, and ultimately aligns with customer preferences in an increasingly digital world. I published Nick’s insights on this website, which opened up even more conversation. Aaron Gleason, founder of Golf Geek Software, weighed in with a different perspective, questioning whether prepay is truly the best fit for all golf facilities and whether it aligns with the traditional golf experience golfers expect.

What began as a podcast episode turned into a lively industry debate, with perspectives from operators, consultants, and tech providers, all focused on how dynamic pricing and prepay are shaping the future of golf course management. The discussion underscored the importance of these tools and revealed how diverse opinions can be on their role in improving the golf experience.

Deer Ridge Golf Course Case Study

In the research that followed my conversation with Chad Pettingill, I stumbled upon another fascinating case to study: Deer Ridge Golf Course in Ohio. Deer Ridge had recently left foreUP in the summer of 2024 and had implemented Quick18—a booking engine and tee sheet software within Sagacity Golf—while also integrating Toast as their point-of-sale system for the restaurant. This setup caught my attention as it marked an innovative first in the industry: a seamless integration connecting the Sagacity tee sheet to the Toast POS!!

To confirm this, I reached out to Chad Wright, the manager and owner of Deer Ridge, who verified the details and shared insights into how this integration has improved operations. Chad Wright will be a guest on an upcoming episode of the Tech Caddie podcast, a testament to the ripple effect of that initial conversation with Chad Pettingill.

The significance of Deer Ridge’s integration goes beyond simple convenience. By linking the golf tee sheet directly to a powerful restaurant-grade POS like Toast, Deer Ridge has established a streamlined system that simplifies workflows across different aspects of their operation. This integration allows staff to manage reservations, payments, and dining experiences more cohesively, potentially signaling a future trend for golf course management. Facilities that offer robust food and beverage services may see the advantages of pairing a specialized tee sheet system like Sagacity’s Quick18 with a POS designed for high-traffic, restaurant-style service.

The Deer Ridge setup represents a shift in thinking—one that moves toward unifying golf operations with dining and hospitality in ways that elevate both the customer experience and operational efficiency. As more golf courses consider ways to optimize their technology stacks, this case could serve as a valuable model for those looking to blend golf and restaurant management seamlessly.

A Conversation That Sparked Incredible Interest

What began as a single podcast episode with Chad Pettingill has turned into an unexpected journey through the evolving landscape of golf course technology. From Chad’s story at The Ledges—where strategic changes in management software, dynamic pricing, and prepay helped streamline operations and enhance guest experiences—to discovering new tech integrations like the one at Deer Ridge, each insight has underscored the growing importance of adaptable and robust technology solutions in golf course management.

The episode opened the door to discussions and debates within the industry, with players like MemberSports and Golf Geek Software weighing in on critical topics like prepay tee times, dynamic pricing, and operational efficiency. The incredible response to the article on foreUP defections, the surge in our website traffic, and the ongoing conversations with operators across the country highlight that these issues resonate with golf course professionals who are actively seeking ways to improve and future-proof their businesses. As we continue these conversations, the goal remains clear: help golf courses and golf tech companies find each other and connect when the need, costs and features are well aligned. With the community of engaged professionals sharing their insights and experiences, there’s no doubt that the ripple effect of this single conversation will continue, influencing trends and inspiring innovation in the golf course industry.