Golf Business Technology Conference
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Golf Business Technology Conference 2025 Why you should attend
2025 Conference Speakers
Jay Karen
CEO, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)
Jay Karen
CEO, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)
Jay Karen is the CEO of National Golf Course Owners Association, where he leads the golf industry’s trade association and initiatives to support the success of the $102B golf industry. In his role at NGCOA, he has chaired the board of the American Golf Industry Council, and served on the Golf USA Tee Time Coalition board, a joint initiative with the PGA of America, and the advisory board of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CBS Radio, New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and many others call upon Jay for his insights on the golf industry. Jay has also served as CEO of two associations in the lodging and hospitality industry, and he is a certified association executive by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Jay currently serves on the board of directors of ASAE and the US Travel Association. Golf Inc. Magazine named Jay among the top 25 most powerful people in golf. Jay has been an Honorary Commander for the Joint Military Base in Charleston, is a member of the Golf Writers Association of American and is an Associate Member of the PGA of America.
DJ Flanders
Executive Vice President, Troon International
DJ Flanders
Executive Vice President, Troon International
DJ Flanders, a dedicated Member of the PGA of America, has been a vital part of Troon since 1999, bringing over 25 years of extensive experience in the golf industry. Throughout his illustrious career with Troon, Flanders has successfully managed properties across the globe, including in the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Flanders’ unwavering commitment to excellence has earned him numerous accolades, including Troon’s Facility of the Year awards in 2000 and 2013, Most Improved Facility awards in 2001 and 2010, Turnaround Facility of the Year in 2007, the Ambassador Award in 2006, and the General Manager of the Year award in 2007. Additionally, he was recognized by Golf Inc. Magazine as one of the “Top 20 Most Admired Operators in Golf” in 2008.
Since 2019, Flanders has been serving as the Senior Vice President for Troon International. In this role, he has spearheaded Troon’s expansion into numerous countries, overseeing prestigious projects such as the Solheim Cup host venue Finca Cortesin in Spain, the relaunch of Muscat Hills as LA VIE CLUB in Oman, and the acclaimed Vattanac Golf Resort in Cambodia. His leadership and vision have propelled these venues to notable success, garnering multiple accolades.
In August 2023, Flanders was promoted to Executive Vice President of Troon’s International division, further solidifying his impact and leadership within the organization.
Beyond his professional achievements, Flanders is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in golf. As a dedicated board member of Troon’s DE&I Council, he actively works to make the game of golf more inclusive and accessible to all communities.
Devon Fox
Senior Director, Media PMO & QA, PGA TOUR
Devon Fox
Senior Director, Media PMO & QA, PGA TOUR
Devon Fox is an award-winning leader in the sports technology and media space. She believes exceptional leagues, teams, and players lean into new and innovative ways of doing things while acknowledging the history and heritage of their sport. With a focus on the fan, she leads the technology change management efforts for the PGA TOUR and is the founder of PRISM, the LGBTQ+ and Allies employee resource group at the PGA TOUR.
Before joining the TOUR in 2016, she built a global IT & Digital Operations organization at Nike, built the Digital Operations department at NASCAR from the ground up, and spent time working in ecommerce and the financial sector in her early career.
Devon serves as a SXSW Pitch Advisory Board member since 2021, as a Board Member for the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub since 2019, and recently signed on to serve as an Advisor to ayana Foundation.
Devon graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Information Science with minors in Computer Science and Philosophy and earned an MBA from Drexel University with a concentration in Marketing. Devon also holds Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.
Fiona Hampton
NBC Sports Next – Vice President, Golf International
Fiona Hampton
NBC Sports Next – Vice President, Golf International
Fiona Hampton is the Vice President of NBC Sports Next’s International Golf Businesses, where she has been instrumental in driving business development and fostering strong commercial relationships since 2019. With a deep commitment to customer success, Fiona has played a key role in delivering consistent growth for GolfNow and BRS Golf club partners. She initially joined the company as Director of Sales and Customer Success, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous role as Head of Sales and Marketing at Ulster Rugby.
Passionate about leadership and team development, Fiona is dedicated to building high-performing teams that align with the company's strategic objectives. As part of NBC Sports Next's upcoming workshop at The Golf Business Technology Conference in Belfast in May 2025, Fiona will deliver a keynote address, offering insights into the NBC Sports Next’s international business, golf-specific products, and customer-centric approach.
Oskar Asgard
Senior Manager, Product Management & Marketing at Toptracer
Oskar Asgard
Senior Manager, Product Management & Marketing at Toptracer
Oskar Asgard is a seasoned product marketing professional with a deep passion for golf. Currently, he plays a key role at Toptracer, shaping the brand's product strategies and ensuring successful launches across its portfolio. Previously, Oskar was Editor in Chief at Svensk Golf and publisher of Golf Digest Sweden, where he led teams and delivered impactful content. With a background in media, PR, and holding a Master of Law degree from Stockholm University, Oskar brings a unique blend of marketing expertise and leadership to his work, driving Toptracer’s continued success in the golf industry.
Jonathan Smith
Executive Director and Founder, Geo Foundation
Jonathan Smith
Executive Director and Founder, Geo Foundation
As founder and executive director of GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, Jonathan has been a pioneer in the golf and sustainability movement for two decades. He brings a positive vision, progressive strategic direction, collaborative ethos and a genuine passion to help usher all parts of the industry to the forefront of sustainability. The Foundation is now a trusted advocate and solution provider for golf’s sustainability and climate action in 75 countries, collaborating with more than 50 golf associations spanning greenkeeping to Professional Tours and national governing bodies.
Joe Russell
General Manager at Trump International Golf Links® & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg
Joe Russell
General Manager at Trump International Golf Links® & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg
Joe Russell is an accomplished hospitality executive with over three decades of experience in the luxury hotel and resort industry. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland, a position he has held since April 2003. In this role, Joe has overseen all aspects of the business, from the initial development and building program of the facility to the expansion of operations, including membership and real estate services. His leadership has been instrumental in establishing the resort as a premier destination in Ireland.
Before joining Trump International, Joe served as the General Manager of The Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin from 1999 to 2003, where he was responsible for the overall operation of this prestigious property, including the management of an extensive refurbishment program that led the property into The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Before that, he had various roles as Deputy General Manager at Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin and several senior roles with the Thistle Hotel Group in London.<
Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in hospitality management, leading teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences while driving business growth. His extensive experience and passion in both the hotel and golf industry have made him a respected leader in the field.
Jac Callan
Senior Sustainability & Impact Manager at Visit Belfast
Jac Callan
Senior Sustainability & Impact Manager at Visit Belfast
Senior Sustainability & Impact Manager at Visit Belfast, Jac Callan has more than 15 years’ experience in tourism and events. Working alongside Belfast City Council, tourism stakeholders, communities and other global networks she supports Belfast on its journey to become a leading sustainable tourism and events destination. Through a Sustainable Event Framework and social initiatives such as Changing The Menu. For Good, she works with incoming conferences to make their events more sustainable and positively impact the destination. As part of her work to accelerate sustainable performance across the tourism & events industry, Jac has been responsible for supporting hotels and other tourism businesses to gain a sustainability accreditation through a partnership with Green Tourism.
Michael Malone
VP Sales EMEA at TrackMan
Michael Malone
VP Sales EMEA at TrackMan
As the VP Sales EMEA at TrackMan, Michael oversees the sales and distribution of the world's leading ball flight measurement technology for sports, especially golf. specializing in ball-flight theory, hardware and software training, product demos, and educational workshops.
Tiffany Cherry
Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability Strategist
Tiffany Cherry
Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability Strategist
Appointed Head of Women and Girls Engagement for Golf Australia in 2021, Tiffany was responsible for re-writing Australian Golf’s Women and Girls’ Engagement Strategy. During her two years in the role, Tiffany devised and executed a number of initiatives with significant increases in new markets, while supercharging existing ones. An upturn in key metrics, including junior and teenage girls, women in decision making roles, converting alternate golfers into members, and introducing sustainability measures as a key value proposition for younger markets, punctuated her impact.
Additionally, Tiffany was one of Australia’s leading sports presenters and producers, with a media career spanning three decades and three continents across television, film, radio, print and digital media. She has been nominated for and won a number of awards as a producer and presenter, and is an in-demand keynote speaker, emcee and facilitator.
An MBA graduate on Innovation and Leadership, and qualified physiotherapist who operated her own practice, Tiffany was the first woman AFL (football) TV commentator and was co-host of the 2012 Summer, 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Commonwealth Games. Tiffany also hosted ESPN’s SportsCenter from her US base in Connecticut, covering many of the biggest sporting events in the world, and was an international reporter for CNN.
Morten Bisgaard
CEO & Co-Founder of Players 1st
Morten Bisgaard
CEO & Co-Founder of Players 1st
As the CEO & Co-Founder of Players 1st, Morten led the creation of an innovative business, positioning the company as a global leader in customer experience solutions for golf clubs. Players 1st excels on delivering survey solutions to shape the future of golf and with extensive expertise, Players 1st seeks to understand the challenges experienced by any golf club
James Wright
President of GOLF+
James Wright
President of GOLF+
James Wright has been President of GOLF+ since February 2022, intent on growing golf by making it more accessible.
James has a degree in Mathematics and Theology from Georgetown University and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. His first job was as a caddie at Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford, NY, which sparked a broader passion for the sport. James spent eight years on the trading floor at Goldman Sachs before moving to Austin, Texas to pursue an MBA. James worked as a Venture Fellow at S3 Ventures in Austin during business school, where he met a company called WIN Reality during a diligence process. James joined WIN Reality to help scale their VR baseball training solution for a year prior to meeting the founding team of GOLF+.
Over the past two years, James has led business and partnership efforts at GOLF+. James spearheaded a Series Seed fundraiser led by Breyer Capital, with participation from Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, and Mike Trout. He has helped expand the course portfolio of GOLF+ to include iconic venues like The Old Course at St Andrews, Pebble Beach, and Pinehurst No. 2. In January 2023, GOLF+ initiated a partnership with the PGA TOUR that allows GOLF+ players around the world to participate in live professional tournaments like the PLAYERS Championship from the comfort of their homes.
James Cronk
President of Cronk Group
James Cronk
President of Cronk Group
James Cronk is a club industry leader with over 30 years of experience in the golf and service industry. He has presented keynote sessions and workshop seminars at major golf industry events around the world, including the NGCOA Canada National Conference (18 times), the Asia Pacific Golf Summit (6 times including India in November 2019), the European Golf Business Conference (3 times including Portugal 2020), the CMAA World Conference (twice) and many more. In 2022 he was the keynote speaker at the Australian Club Managers Conference in Melbourne.
A former golf professional and club manager, James’s has real life experience in the industry, and his success as a leader is evident in the recognitions bestowed upon himself and his teams, including his facility being recognized by Golf Digest as having the ‘5th Best Customer Service in North America’ and being rated by BC Business Magazine as one of British Columbia’s ‘Top Ten Employers’.
His company CRONK GROUP helps clubs and organizations achieve their goals and increase their profits by improving their systems, their service, and their people. In 2022 James and his business partner Scott Masse launched GOLF INDUSTRY GURU, a global on-line training platform for golf clubs featuring tools, tips, templates, videos, and blogs from many of the world’s leading golf and hospitality industry gurus.
Gareth Macklin
Founder and CEO of Obbi
Gareth Macklin
Founder and CEO of Obbi
Gareth Macklin, Founder and CEO of Obbi, has played a pivotal role in managing a workforce of over 650 employees over the last 2 decades. Faced with a need for tailored software solutions within the Macklin Group, Gareth spearheaded the development of Obbi, a comprehensive platform designed to streamline business processes in safety, compliance, and training, particularly tailored for clubs. Obbi, the culmination of Gareth's entrepreneurial spirit and industry knowledge, empowers clubs to have enhanced productivity, reduced costs, and improved compliance and risk management for its users.
James Wilkinson
Founder of Albatross
James Wilkinson
Founder of Albatross
James Wilkinson is the founder of Albatross. Albatross is a golf and sport marketing agency who help solve brands greatest challenges by bringing game changing digital ideas to life.
Graeme Browne
Business Events Account Manager at Visit Belfast
Graeme Browne
Business Events Account Manager at Visit Belfast
Graeme's mission is to showcase the unique culture, history, and innovation of Belfast and Northern Ireland, and to create memorable experiences for clients and delegates.
Working closely with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local venues, suppliers, academics, and industry leaders, Graeme develops and delivers bespoke proposals and bids that highlight the competitive advantages and strengths of Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Graeme attends trade shows, networking events, and familiarization trips to build and maintain strong relationships with potential and existing clients, and to keep abreast of the latest trends and developments in the business events sector.
Ian Blunt
Marketing Manager of Inrange
Ian Blunt
Marketing Manager of Inrange
In his professional career, Ian has worked with companies such as BDO, Panasonic, Coca-Cola and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He also spent 5 years traveling the world working in the cruise ship industry. The common thread between the many roles he has fulfilled along the way is his focus on the customer. Within Inrange, Ian has helped build out the customer and player journeys, as well as create a brand vision for what the next generation of off-course golf venues will look like. His expertise lies in identifying the win-win-win situations within the market where the player, range owner and Inrange business are all involved in the success of any campaign, activation or event.
Alastair Sinclair
CEO of PlayMoreGolf
Alastair Sinclair
CEO of PlayMoreGolf
Alastair Sinclair, the CEO of PlayMoreGolf, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. Prior to embarking on his journey in the golf industry over a decade ago, he spent over 20 years in Banking in London. This covered Mergers and Acquisitions through to restructuring large corporates businesses including multi national golf operators.
In August 2014, Alastair Sinclair took on the role of CEO at PlayMoreGolf, where his leadership and vision have propelled the company to new heights.
In addition to his professional and family commitments, Alastair is a passionate rugby and outdoor pursuits fan ranging from sailing through to gun dog training.
Gavin Robinson
Gavin Robinson BSc CMDip PGA, CMAE Operations Manager
Gavin Robinson
Gavin Robinson BSc CMDip PGA, CMAE Operations Manager
Colin Weston
Creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast
Colin Weston
Creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast
Colin Weston is the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube Channel, where since 2017 he speaks with the innovators, entrepreneurs, visionaries and influencers who are shaping the future of golf.
As a sport experience event designer, Colin has worked with organizations such as Topgolf, Golf Canada and The PGA of America. His professional background in architecture, product and human-centred design helps organizations envision and execute a gamified, fun, engaging event activation that is welcoming to everyone.
Samantha Kelly
Social Media Trainer | Author | TEDxSpeaker
Samantha Kelly
Social Media Trainer | Author | TEDxSpeaker
Samantha Kelly is one of the top Twitter (X) experts and is also proficient in LinkedIn and all elements related to social media strategy. With an engaged following of over 70k, Samantha helps businesses stand out online and build communities around their brand.
Author of 'The Little Book of Twitter Magic', global keynote speaker and multi-award winning business woman, Samantha understands entrepreneurship and small business and understands the challenges business owners face and how people buy from people.
TJ Schier
CEO of Immersive Golf Holdco, LLC
TJ Schier
CEO of Immersive Golf Holdco, LLC
TJ Schier has walked many miles in operators’ and owners’ shoes. TJ has cracked the code on what it takes to ignite a team of top performers focused on delivering amazing guest service. He currently consults in the golf entertainment and competitive socializing space as President and founder of SMART Restaurant Group
TJ is the former Chief Operating Officer of BigShots Golf owned by ClubCorp/Invited. BigShots Golf was the second largest player in the golf-entertainment venue space and grew quickly under his watch before being sold to the largest competitor in the space.
Prior to that, he spent two decades as a leading speaker and consultant in the guest service, employee retention and franchise space, delivering hundreds of speeches to operators, owners, GMs and industry associations. TJ also built dozens of guest service and employee/manager training programs for quick-service, contract feeder, casual and fine dining brands.
During that time, he was also a multi-unit franchise owner Which Wich Superior Sandwiches for over a dozen years. His group won numerous industry awards and recognition for their unique approach to hiring and training. Prior to starting his speaking and consulting business, he spent 18 years at Chuck E Cheese’s, leaving as VP of Field Support.
He has written numerous books used by thousands of business leaders and over 100 articles on guest service and motivating today’s generation and has a BBA and MBA from the University of Texas.
Graham Curry
Founder, Handicaddie
Graham Curry
Founder, Handicaddie
Damien Connolly
Director of Consulting Services, mygolfGroup Club Consulting
Damien Connolly
Director of Consulting Services, mygolfGroup Club Consulting
With over 18 years in the golf industry, Damien is Director of Consulting Services at mygolfGroup Club Consulting, a leading provider of bespoke consulting services for golf clubs across Ireland.
Damien oversees company operations and works closely with member-owned and proprietary clubs to drive growth in areas like sales, membership, operations, change management, and strategic planning. He is responsible for sharing best practices and creating resources to guide clubs toward proven business improvements.
A dedicated student of golf’s business side, Damien holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from UCD. He further honed his expertise through the CMAE, earning a Diploma in Club Management and, in 2024, achieving the esteemed Certificate of Club Management (CCM) from the CMAE & CMAA, one of only 78 in Europe to hold this qualification.
His mission is to help clubs improve at the business of golf and to provide effective solutions to their challenges. Passionate about his work, he is focused on bringing valuable service and growth opportunities to partners and the wider golf industry.
Venue
The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
16 Skipper St, Belfast BT1 2DZ
