The Range
Whether you're a seasoned golfer, a budding entrepreneur, or simply passionate about the business of the sport, The Range takes you behind the scenes with the innovators, risk-takers, and game-changers in the golf industry.
Each episode, we dive into the stories of those who have transformed their love for golf into successful ventures, exploring their journeys, challenges, and the secrets to their success.
The Range
The Range Ep. 15 - Old Tom Capital
What happens when two seasoned operators team up to transform how golf startups get funded? In this episode, Ari sits down with Matt Erley, co-founder of Old Tom Capital, to talk about the growing investment landscape in golf—from simulator tech to agronomy innovation.
Matt shares how his background at Drizly and Havenly, combined with his partner Evan Roosevelt's experience at Random Golf Club, led them to launch one of the first golf-focused investment firms. Together, they’re identifying high-growth opportunities in the “golf curious” space and bringing venture capital to parts of the sport that are redefining accessibility, sustainability, and the future of play.
Whether you’re a founder building in golf, an investor curious about the space, or just love the game—this episode is full of real talk on what it takes to build and back a winning golf business.
🎯 Topics covered:
– The rise of golf-focused venture capital
– Why the sport’s off-course formats are booming
– What Old Tom looks for in a pitch deck
– Why founders need to remove their “golf goggles”
– The difference between passion and practicality in entrepreneurship
🎧 Listen now and find out why the next wave of golf innovation might not happen on a course at all.
