A Simple Solution for a Complex Game
David Clark didn’t set out to build a business; he set out to solve a puzzle. As a developer passionate about tackling tough programming problems, he was drawn to the complexity of managing tee times for golf courses. What started as a hobby project quickly grew into something much more.
“When I work on hobby projects, I often look for interesting technical problems. A golf course reservation system that could handle all the complexities, like different rates for weekends and holidays, and tracking memberships, seemed like a fascinating problem to solve.”
Easy Tee Golf has since grown into a full-fledged SaaS company that helps public golf courses across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK manage their bookings with ease. The software offers a full suite of tools: online tee time reservations, a dynamic scheduling and pricing engine, secure payment processing, and customer data management.
And while many early customers were entirely new to online bookings, an increasing number are experienced course managers switching from legacy systems, frustrated by rigid contracts, poor usability, or outdated tools.
Building From Curiosity, and Listening Closely
The idea wasn’t born in a boardroom. It came from genuine curiosity and a love for building.
After finishing a first, simple version of the platform, David put up a simple website, just to see if anyone might be interested.
“The initial version of Easy Tee Golf was a true minimum viable product. What it lacked in features, it made up for by being really easy to use and being really good at two things: scheduling and pricing. To my surprise, within just a couple of weeks, multiple courses reached out, eager to try it out!”
That early traction wasn’t wasted. David committed to a full year of close collaboration with early users, learning from their pain points and rapidly implementing their feedback. That period shaped Easy Tee Golf’s identity as a product deeply grounded in what golf courses actually need, and stripped of what they don’t.
“It became clear that there was a significant need for an easy-to-use and easy-to-adopt tee sheet in the market.”
From there, growth followed, not from flashy ad campaigns, but through a combination of relevance, quality, and satisfied customers spreading the word.
Solving What Others Overlooked
The problem David set out to solve wasn’t just about features; it was about philosophy. Existing systems in the golf management space had become bloated, expensive, and opaque.
“Most of our competitors make it difficult to even get a price quote, often requiring a direct contact. They also typically don't offer self-service sign-up, and many still insist on lengthy 2–3 year contracts.”
David took a radically different approach: make everything transparent, accessible, and customer-friendly. Pricing is clearly listed on the website. Golf courses can sign up and get started entirely on their own. There’s a 30-day free trial, no credit card required, and no contracts. The results speak for themselves.
“We believe in earning their business every month, so we don't require any contracts, allowing customers to cancel anytime (though cancellations are extremely rare).”
The emphasis on usability and honesty hasn’t just built trust, it’s built advocacy.
Growth Through Satisfaction, Not Spend
One of the most striking things about Easy Tee Golf’s success is how little it relies on traditional marketing.
“In our near 5-year history, we've spent less than $100 in total on advertising.”
Instead, they’ve grown organically through word of mouth and direct search. That might sound like luck, but it's backed by relentless customer support and a product that works.
“Every single review written by our customers has been a perfect 5 stars.”
This kind of growth is rare in SaaS, and it highlights just how underserved golf courses have been when it comes to user-friendly software. David’s team filled that gap, and their customers responded with loyalty and praise.
Challenges: Growing Without Losing Touch
Success brings its own set of problems. For Easy Tee Golf, the main challenge today is one of balance: how to keep growing without losing the personal, responsive support that early users loved.
“Because we operate very lean, we're constantly working to acquire new customers while ensuring we're also addressing the ongoing feedback and requirements of our current users.”
Maintaining that equilibrium requires focus and discipline. It also means continuing to listen, improve, and deliver, without adding unnecessary complexity or weight to the platform.
Hard Lessons from the Startup Trenches
Like many technical founders, David learned an important truth the hard way: building something great isn’t enough.
“There's a common myth among founders, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ but in reality, that rarely, if ever, happens.”
After its initial traction, continued growth was slow for the next couple of years. For Easy Tee Golf, marketing was the missing piece that unlocked real growth. Understanding how to reach customers, tell a compelling story, and guide people to the solution made all the difference.
“A great product, even one that perfectly solves user problems, will rarely find its audience without great marketing.”
It’s a lesson many SaaS founders learn too late, but David took it in stride and changed course. We developed competency at marketing and growth really began to take off.
What’s Next for Easy Tee Golf
As Easy Tee Golf continues to grow, the mission remains simple: keep things easy, fair, and powerful for golf courses everywhere. The team is focused on scaling while staying true to the principles that made them successful: clear communication, transparent pricing, and total commitment to customer satisfaction.
If you're a public golf course looking for a smarter way to manage your bookings, or if you’ve been burned by long contracts and clunky systems, David and the Easy Tee Golf team are ready to help.
“We’re here to make it simple.”
You can explore more and sign up at easyteegolf.com, or connect with David Clark directly on LinkedIn.