Downgrain Labs

Most B2B data platforms fail in golf. Not because they’re bad. Because golf doesn’t behave like a normal industry. • No LinkedIn presence • Fragmented decision-makers • Weak digital footprint We had to rethink everything. Here’s what we learned 👇 https://lnkd.in/gU66DZ_Q

Simulators are no longer just an off-course story. They are becoming a meaningful part of the on-site experience at golf courses. We break down where adoption is already happening across 1,400+ green grass facilities and where it is lagging. https://lnkd.in/ghVk2sjx

Market sizing in most industries is straightforward. In golf, it’s deceptively complex. Multi-course facilities inflate counts. Closed clubs stay in databases for decades. Rebrands create duplicate accounts. The result is that many companies are building strategy on flawed market assumptions. We break down four structural reasons golf companies miscalculate their TAM. https://lnkd.in/g_mz5AQg

We're headed to Orlando and excited to be talking about data at the PGA of America Show from Tuesday to Thursday. We're meeting with anyone who wants to streamline their B2B go-to-market motion in golf. Reach out to set up a meeting with our Founder & CEO Derek M. Smith!

Golf gets cast as an exclusive, gated-off sport… but when we classified every single U.S. facility by public accessibility, the real picture was far more nuanced. Some regions are incredibly welcoming to everyday golfers. Others? Not even close. The patterns we found challenge a lot of assumptions about how accessible golf really is. Where does your state rank on publicly accessible golf? https://lnkd.in/gFg8ZsuD

Pop Quiz: What do Goodyear, Pernod Ricard, and MetLife have in common? Answer: They all own golf courses in the United States. Across America, golf is quietly owned by companies you would never expect. Some of the names on this list will make you do a double take. After all, who would imagine your kitchen faucet company, your car tire brand, and the people who make your favorite whiskey all belong in the golf business? Here is the official countdown of the top ten most surprising companies that own golf courses in the United States. https://lnkd.in/gef5GPzS

If you put all of the golf course owners in America in one room, what would it look like? You might be surprised by what you'd see. Gather, an insights-agency focused on the golf industry, stepped inside that room and offered thoughts on what it means for golf in America. Plenty more collaborations are coming between Downgrain Labs and Gather | Ready for intelligence-driven decision making? Stay tuned! https://lnkd.in/ghQCZiBP

We’re pleased to welcome Andrea S. as our new Manager of Research & Data. Andrea previously worked at ZoomInfo for ten years in the Research department and brings a wealth of experience in maintaining and cleansing B2B data. We feel lucky to have her on board.

🎃 THE 10 SPOOKIEST GOLF COURSES IN AMERICA (ACCORDING TO THE DATA) At DownGrain Labs, we live for the details, and sometimes those details get a little eerie. To celebrate Halloween, we combed our national database of more than 14,000 golf facilities to uncover the spookiest names in the game. These are places where “hazards” might mean more than bunkers and water. 10. SCARECROW COURSE at Gamble Sands – Brewster, WA Owner: The Gebber Family | Operator: Troon Named not for fear but for farming. The course honors the property’s agricultural roots. 9. SPIDER LAKE GOLF RESORT – Hayward, WI Owner: Moose Lake Company The lake’s many “legs” inspired its name, referring to narrow channels that branch off the main body of water. 8. SPOOKY BROOK GOLF COURSE – Somerset, NJ Owner: Somerset County Park Commission Local lore tells of a ghost that haunts the brook running through the property. 7. WITCH GOLF COURSE at Firefox Resort + RV Park – Lisle, NY Owner: Robert Hodges The name channels the resort’s brand of upstate mystery and Adirondack-style woods. 6. COFFIN GOLF CLUB – Indianapolis, IN Owner: City of Indianapolis Not as grim as it sounds. Named after Charles Coffin, an influential real estate developer in the 1920s. 5. SKULL ISLAND Driving Range – Yarmouth, MA Owner: Lou Nickinello Skull Island is named for its skull-like shape when seen from the water, with jagged cliffs and rocky peaks. 4. GHOST CREEK at Pumpkin Ridge – North Plains, OR Owner & Operator: Escalante Golf Built on an old pumpkin patch, Ghost Creek (and sister course Witch Hollow) have become Oregon golf legends. 3. MONSTER GOLF CLUB – Monticello, NY Owner: Resorts World | Operator: Troon The nickname “Monster” dates back to the 1960s, when Gene Sarazen called one of its holes “a true monster.” 2. THE NIGHTMARE – West Branch, MI Owners: Tom and Dan Courtemanche A tongue-in-cheek counterpart to its sister course, The Dream, just a mile away. 1. GRAVEYARD NINE at Bent Brook Golf Course – Bessemer, AL Owner: Jimmy Lee Named for the small cemetery still visible on the property, dating back to the early 1900s. DownGrain Labs is building the most complete, data-rich view of golf facilities in America. From ownership and operations to leadership changes and technology stacks, we track it all — even the spooky stuff.

New feature alert: a Tournaments tab that displays upcoming golf tournaments at facilities across the U.S. It started as a beta tester request last week — now it’s live. If you sell tournament software or promotional products to golf clubs, get in touch to join our beta program before our November launch.