Pro Shop acquisition of GolfWRX

[TiScape]

I can see now why my posts were being scrutinized more than usual by the brass. Can’t have TS’s nonsense messin’ w/that bag 💰!! 

 

 

easyyy added... Locked this thread and started a new one... (LINK)...

 

 

 

Edited July 26 by easyyy
Added links o new thread

[BTee]

All depends on how the new owners plan to monetize the site for their ROI…. Only time will tell 🤞🏼

[txbadger]

21 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

 

They’re VC backed and also have investment from the PGA Tour.  Sounds like they’re trying to do for golf media what they did for broader media at Vox.  Vox has done pretty well.

"VC backed" is a mixed bag, especially if referring to PE subset of VC where the goal is to pump in short term cash with plans to exit/sell off.    As far as Vox, they haven't really done well.   They have had financial issues since 2018 with more recently two rounds of layoffs in 2023 and in 2024.  

 

Will there be any impact to WRX?  Who knows, but it is hard to believe they acquired it without having plans to monetize it further.    Maybe that just means bringing more eyes to the site and increasing revenue through more ads... or maybe it means paid membership needed to access certain parts of the forum, maybe both.  Time will tell. 

 

 

[WesternRacing]

46 minutes ago, txbadger said:

"VC backed" is a mixed bag, especially if referring to PE subset of VC where the goal is to pump in short term cash with plans to exit/sell off.    As far as Vox, they haven't really done well.   They have had financial issues since 2018 with more recently two rounds of layoffs in 2023 and in 2024.  

 

Will there be any impact to WRX?  Who knows, but it is hard to believe they acquired it without having plans to monetize it further.    Maybe that just means bringing more eyes to the site and increasing revenue through more ads... or maybe it means paid membership needed to access certain parts of the forum, maybe both.  Time will tell. 

 

 

 

Their lead investor is Powerhouse, which is not a pump and dump PE firm.  They’re a media and entertainment venture investor.  And the Pro Shop investor pool is fairly broad and includes a lot of golf related investors, in addition to the PGA Tour and EP Golf (which is jointly owned by the PGA of America).  Hardly the type of investors that are looking to do the vulture PE pump and dump.

 

As far as Vox goes, they have a solid media portfolio and have done very well since inception, the last few years largely impacted by the Hollywood labor issues.   Pretty much the entire media industry has been laying off people  and/or dumping properties over the past few years.  It’s a tough business to make money in at the current time and it’s critical to be adding new properties as others age.

[golfortennis]

3 hours ago, txbadger said:

"VC backed" is a mixed bag, especially if referring to PE subset of VC where the goal is to pump in short term cash with plans to exit/sell off.    As far as Vox, they haven't really done well.   They have had financial issues since 2018 with more recently two rounds of layoffs in 2023 and in 2024.  

 

Will there be any impact to WRX?  Who knows, but it is hard to believe they acquired it without having plans to monetize it further.    Maybe that just means bringing more eyes to the site and increasing revenue through more ads... or maybe it means paid membership needed to access certain parts of the forum, maybe both.  Time will tell. 

 

 

 

That would be a huge mistake, imo.  While there is value in the name, this community could easily and quickly migrate somewhere else.  Those who are paying for ClubWrx may stay, but even that is dicey.  Those of us who don't, aren't about to start now.  The contacts I have made through this site are great, but I also have their contact info so I wouldn't need the site to get in touch.  Sure there would be some loss of "this place is in crap condition right now", but ultimately, if this place becomes too cumbersome to remain a part of, someone will start a new one.  Although I would be curious if there is monetization opportunities with the instructors who seem to have gained a ton of clients on here.  No idea how you would do it, but....

 

From the ownership perspective, I hope they didn't overvalue the "PGA Tour access", because, and this may just be me, I don't see a ton of value in it.  So you can do a what's in the bag.  That info can be gathered fairly easily.  The value to me comes from people giving their feedback on different things, be it courses, equipment, or strategies to play or deal with heat.  As you say time till tell.

[golfortennis]

6 hours ago, hwwong said:

 

"That lead me to believe that I was in the wrong place and needed to find a place that wasn’t motivated by profit but was motivated by the simple objective to create a place that was for the golfers well being and no other reason. Due to the lack of options out there we started GolfWRX. It was built for golfers by golfers. The owners all have day jobs and careers that do not lean on proceeds from GolfWRX. All the money GolfWRX has made to date has gladly been reinvested in to the site to make it better for the members. We do not sell equipment and will not do so in fear of spinning reviews and opinions.

 

...

 

Let me say this again. I (and many others) didn’t dedicate the last 8 years on this site to make money. This place is not a business as much as it is a sacred place we have built for golfers. We have this special place here that will always stay clean and unbiased. I am fortunate that I don’t need the money that we could make here. Money that we have generated here has all gone back to the company to make it better and better. Wait and see what we are going to do next for 2011! I have a career and have always been very lucky and fortunate in my business life. I started WRX not make a buck, but to have a special place were we can be proud to support and be a member."

 

 

 

How long ago was that written?  Lots of things change.  One of the people may have found out his wife has a year to live, and wanted to put all his time into her.  Maybe they are 70 years old now.  At some point, if nothing else, they were going to die, and new ownership would have to take over.  I'm not going to rake them over the coals because a 15 year old post was not lived up to.

[Gxgolfer]

We will be posting something soon officially but at this point nothing much will change. As the press release stated, the GolfWRX family is joining a much bigger group that continues our partnership with world class partners, like the PGA Tour and other well known VCs.
 

The delay to the forums communication involves some other business notifications that internally need to be done and consideration for employees.
 

We were always going to respond to post by membership, as this is a membership driven forum, and post something official as things sorted out but the weekend came into play as well as some world premieres we hope you all are watching.

 

Richard and I are still here but now as part of a bigger organization and it is intended the team will remain intact and grow.
 

More to come in future posts.  We may eventually lock this one so that the new team can post more updates and what's coming down the line that will really cement the GolfWRX legacy.
 

Hope everyone is enjoying Happy Gilmore 2. 
 

 

[bobfoster]

1 hour ago, Gxgolfer said:

We will be posting something soon officially but at this point nothing much will change. As the press release stated, the GolfWRX family is joining a much bigger group that continues our partnership with world class partners, like the PGA Tour and other well known VCs.
 

The delay to the forums communication involves some other business notifications that internally need to be done and consideration for employees.
 

We were always going to respond to post by membership, as this is a membership driven forum, and post something official as things sorted out but the weekend came into play as well as some world premieres we hope you all are watching.

 

Richard and I are still here but now as part of a bigger organization and it is intended the team will remain intact and grow.
 

More to come in future posts.  We may eventually lock this one so that the new team can post more updates and what's coming down the line that will really cement the GolfWRX legacy.
 

Hope everyone is enjoying Happy Gilmore 2. 
 

 

thank you for this. 

[Gxgolfer]