Working on a golf app! Is this something you think people would use?

[onephenom]

I'm working on a golf app to make it easy for people to meet up with people to play with... I saw the http://thesandtrap.com/t/64653/do-you-like-to-play-with-new-people thread, and it makes me really think this could work. I named it Golf Buddy Up (or just Buddy Up, not sure). But basically, I want to have a medium for people to find someone else to play with. You (or someone else) posts a time/day/course/area they would be interested in playing with someone new. If you like playing with a certain level of handicap, you can specify (or as most people tend to like, play with any handicap). Also, if more experienced golfers don't mind helping out a noob, and a noob wouldn't mind some advice, that could be an option. I want it to be a free app with ads, and available pay version.

Really, I would like any feedback/advice/criticism. What would you like in an app like this? What features would make this app stand out? ANYTHING constructive is very welcome. Very early stages, don't have any funding yet, but I am very excited to get started planning everything out.

Also, please don't steal my idea ;)

[saturday]

Honestly, I can see this being real hit or miss. It would probably help if you paired similar handicappers together. cant be worse than Christian mingle hahahaha

[onephenom]

Honestly, I can see this being real hit or miss. It would probably help if you paired similar handicappers together. cant be worse than Christian mingle hahahaha

That would one of the features to put under specifying handicaps "pair me with someone with a similar handicap" good idea! Thanks

[indyvai]

Sounds like a good idea, but no intellectual property that I can see. You take the time to build a market, and someone with registered users will just adapt it. Golfnow.com comes to mind... it would be easy for them to add the feature... they could even allow bookings to be searched so you can find groups to join...

[bluecollar01]

There is a Golf Buddy and Golf Buddies app in the iTunes store.  One is a scorecard/gps/rules/etc. app and the other is a social network for golfers.  So, as far as naming you may want to find something more unique.

Also, I think it may work better as a Facebook app for quick adoption and as the primary data-set.  The mobile app would be a crucial part but may not allow the adoption rate you need to secure funding, etc.

You may want to look at The Lean Startup Methodology - it offers some great advice for startup tech companies.

[onephenom]

Sounds like a good idea, but no intellectual property that I can see. You take the time to build a market, and someone with registered users will just adapt it. Golfnow.com comes to mind... it would be easy for them to add the feature... they could even allow bookings to be searched so you can find groups to join...

I don't see that as a problem. If I do a good job, I could merge with golfnow or something like that. There isn't really an app like this... I don't have to have registered users to start. It doesn't have to be the most successful app ever, but with no competition it would be a good market to work on. But yes, I see what you mean. I don't think its a reason to not do the app though.

[ndb8fxe]

I almost always head to the course alone.  I would use it.

[teed off]

Why not join a golf club and meet real people?

[onephenom]

Originally Posted by teed off

Why not join a golf club and meet real people?

Clubs aren't the only place to meet real people. Not everyone wants to be in a club.

[Beachcomber]

Not everyone can afford 'club dues'.  I think it's an interesting idea... I read about a similar app/web start-up a few years back.  Not sure what happened to it?  You should do some market research/competitive analysis before you go and spend a lot of time trying to create it.

[Beachcomber]

Here is the startup that I read about... http://500.co/startup-profiles/cadee/  Looks like they aren't doing exactly what you are talking about.  But similar.

[Wisguy]

Originally Posted by teed off

Why not join a golf club and meet real people?

OK Marie, S'ils n'ont pas de pain, qu'ils mangent de la brioche.

Or maybe the idea of spending more than 50%, maybe more than 80-90% of my golf time on the same course, week after week, sounds a bit boring.

Just curious, exactly what sort of people do you think one would meet and play with if connected via an app like the one the OP is considering, imaginary, ephemeral, invisible, hypothetical, fictional, etc...?

Yes, I would use this app.  All of my old golf buddies have become running nerds who haven't touched a club in years and my several current golf pals either live some distance away, and/or have demanding spouses who are very restrictive with their weekend time, or, in the case of one of them, is a young guy who is very popular with the ladies and sometimes doesn't want to toss the previous night's catch overboard/out-the-door and hit a golf course early on a Saturday or Sunday morning.  So I sometimes do find myself without a tee time and not enough incentive to go walk on someplace by myself.

[Golfingdad]

Sounds interesting, perhaps. Sort of like a facebook/social media site where all of your "friends" are golfers as well.

Of course, TST kind of works well in that aspect too!  Am I right Beachcomber, Pakoh, Golfswine, (et. al. Socal-ers + Erik ;)) ???