KC startup lands six PGA partnerships, more on the way

Jason Gregory is feeling pretty confident his company will be the exclusive partner for at least half of the PGA American independent sections by next year.

CaddyX is a golf bag transportation company that takes the leg work out of golfer’s experience by letting them schedule pick up for their clubs with the click of an app. Their equipment is then delivered straight to the golf cart when the owner arrives at the green.

Think Uber for golf clubs.

Gregory has landed six of the independent sections of PGA American so far, with seven more in the pipeline. CaddyX’s existing partnerships include Connecticut and most recently, Tennessee, with most of the agreements set at three years long.

“The main focus of the PGA is to grow the game of golf,” Gregory said. “Creating more rounds played – that’s their metric. Each section then has a responsibility to that within their own (territory). But a big part of that golfer experience being more enjoyable is golf travel.”

With 70 percent of traveling golfers being over 55, Gregory said “there’s a real need for this type of service.” He said it boils down to taking out the hassle of bringing clubs through the airport when traveling to different courses around the country.

The founder and CEO says he’s learned about the importance of focusing on the client experience from past businesses, and that’s the top priority of CaddyX, which he said contributes to its success.

Something is working because Gregory has yet to hear no.

“As much hard work as it is, I’ve pinched myself a few times having these high-level meetings with the PGA and being so well received,” he said. “The thing I tell everybody is they say ‘golf is a gentleman’s game,’ but it’s a gentleman’s business as well. Everyone always emails or calls you back.”