A woman-owned startup is giving golf enthusiasts an easy-to-use tool to connect like-minded golfers by matching them by similar personality traits rather than a score or golf course pairing.
Kat Ramirez, a disabled Air Force veteran and golfer for more than 20 years, created Golfing Buddy — an innovative app that is revolutionizing how golfers of every level, gender, and ability find their perfect golf match, in 2021.
Teeing off together was a pastime that Ramirez and her partner often enjoyed. But on one weather-perfect day that was packed with projects and deadlines, she had to turn him down. “Surely you can find a buddy,” Ramirez told him. She was later surprised to hear that everyone declined. After some thought, Ramirez saw an opportunity to create a solution for those challenged with finding a like-minded golf buddy.
“Think of all the other people who don’t want to play by themselves,” she said.
Ramirez grew up as one of five kids in a very traditional and “sheltered” Hispanic family in Texas.
“You turn 18, you either get married or get out,” she said.
Becoming a sergeant in the Air Force was her path out. After serving four years, she had her college degree and tools that prepared her for a 27-year-long career in major media.
Much like her experience with leadership in corporate America, she found golf to be male dominated. According to the National Golfers Foundation, more than 75% of golfers are males.
After successfully climbing the corporate ladder, things changed when she hit the glass ceiling.
“I was in the good ole boy system, and the next position would have been the highest position I could get.”
Being denied a promotion five times was her sign to get out, leading Ramirez to entrepreneurship. She’d officially joined ranks with the roughly 5% of veterans who start new businesses annually – a number that has gradually decreased.
Ramirez desired to create a digital space that would go beyond providing a friend to golf with, by also helping women and minorities feel included. Within a year of developing the concept for Golfing Buddy, she’d hired a developer who completed the app.
“We didn’t launch [immediately] because we were in COVID.” Social restrictions kept golf courses closed during that time, so in 2021, it officially launched.
Golfing Buddy broadens the sport’s accessibility, making it more welcoming and diverse, Ramirez said, and here’s how.
Tee-time pairings are like “sitting at a dinner table with two strangers,” she said, because there’s no rhyme or reason for group matching. “It’s all about getting as many bodies out there as they can.”
However, it can lead to frustration and anxiety. Ramirez says finding other golfers usually involves joining an organization that can be strictly female or other segmented groups.
“There’s nothing universal out there,” she added.
On the other hand, Golfing Buddy creates a pool that everyone can dive into to find their fit.
“When someone signs up, they’ll be matched with the geofences around them,” Ramirez said. Users can post events, blogs, videos, and more. “It’s very much like any other social network.” People profile themselves to easily link with people they want to meet on the green and forge diverse connections.
For example, when groups like adaptive golfers, parents with juniors, or beginners use the app, they can discover others who share their backgrounds. This option can prevent two to four hours of discomfort, and golfers no longer have to play with strangers they share no commonalities with.
Since its launch in 2021, the free app has gained more than 2,000 organic active users, and its Facebook community has 22,000+ members who constantly interact and exchange resources.
Interactions on Golfing Buddy platforms reflect the need to bring golfers together.
“There are more people out there than I anticipated who are looking for golfing buddies. I guess the conclusion is that it validates it.”
Visit the Golfing Buddy website to learn more.
