14 Years of the Hole19 Company: A Chat with Founder & CEO

1. First day at work: what do you remember?

"I don't remember the first day because we had been working on it for a while before we officially started the company, but I remember May 3rd, which is when we took that step - the first thing I did was call my dad and told him 'Daddy, I got my own company.'"

That phone call marked the beginning of what would become one of the golf industry's most innovative technology companies. Starting Hole19 was more than launching a business - it was the realization of a vision to transform how golfers experience the game.

2. Describe our company in exactly three words.

"Never give up."

These three words have become the unofficial motto at Hole19, representing our resilience through the challenges of building a global golf platform. This persistence has helped us navigate the competitive landscape of golf tech, overcome obstacles, and continually enhance our offering for golfers worldwide.

3. Biggest risk we took that paid off?

"I think the biggest risk that we took that paid off was when we decided to rebuild our entire app and go free and launch on the 9th of April in 2014."

This pivotal decision completely transformed Hole19's trajectory in the golf space. Moving to a freemium model opened our platform to millions of golfers who might never have discovered us otherwise. It was a bold move that required rebuilding from the ground up, but it established Hole19 as a leader in the golf app space and created the foundation for the community we have today.

4. Coffee or tea to start your workday?

"Depends, if I go to the gym I will have a protein shake, if not, coffee."

Even CEOs need their morning fuel! Anthony's balanced approach to starting the day reflects the work-life integration that's part of Hole19's company culture.

5. What's one tool you couldn't work without?

"I'm ashamed to say but it's email."

In a world of innovative productivity tools, sometimes the classics remain irreplaceable. Email continues to be the backbone of business communication at Hole19, helping us stay connected with our global team, partners, and one of the largest community of active golfers in the world.

6. Most unexpected business lesson learned?

"The most unexpected business lesson was: make faster decisions and don't worry about them."

This insight has become central to Hole19's agile approach to business development. Rather than getting caught in analysis paralysis, we've learned to make decisive moves and adapt quickly - a philosophy that's helped us stay responsive to our users' evolving needs and the rapidly changing golf technology landscape.

7. Your workday productivity hack?

"Well I've said that email is my favorite tool so managing email really well which gives me time for more strategic thinking."

Effective email management creates space for the big-picture thinking needed to guide a company like Hole19. Anthony's focus on efficient communication enables the strategic vision that has helped our platform evolve from a simple GPS app to a comprehensive golf companion.

8. Proudest company moment in 10 seconds or less?

"The proudest company moment is definitely when we first reached profitability in 2019."

Achieving profitability represented a crucial milestone in Hole19's growth story. It validated our business model and proved that our commitment to enhancing the golfing experience could translate into a sustainable company. This financial stability has allowed us to invest more deeply in developing features that truly improve golfers' games.

9. What's changed the most in 14 years?

"I think what's changed the most is that we've matured and we have thicker skin."

The evolution from startup to established golf technology company has brought greater resilience and perspective. This maturity has enabled us to navigate market fluctuations, competition, and technological changes while maintaining our core mission of helping golfers play better and enjoy the game more.

10. Early morning or night owl for getting work done?

"I used to be a night owl, but now it's about the early morning."

Anthony's shift to morning productivity reflects the disciplined approach that has helped Hole19 grow consistently over the years. Early mornings now power the innovation that golfers see in each new app update and feature release.

11. What hasn't changed since day one?

"I think the way we treat each other and our customers."

Through all the growth and evolution, Hole19's commitment to respectful, supportive relationships has remained constant. This customer-first approach has built the trust that makes golfers choose Hole19 as their on-course companion round after round.

12. One word to describe our team culture?

"Care."

This single word encapsulates what makes Hole19 special as a company. The culture of care extends from how team members support each other to how we approach product development - always with genuine attention to what will truly help golfers improve their experience on the course.

13. Secret skill most employees don't know you have?

"I'd probably say that I speak nearly six languages but I can curse in a lot more."

This multilingual ability has subtly influenced Hole19's global perspective and helped us create an app that resonates with golfers across different countries and cultures. It's also a reminder of the diverse talents that make up our team beyond just technical skills.

14. Your ambition/hope for the company at year 28?

"I don't think that far ahead but I'm hoping our people and our customers will continue to love Hole19 and we continue to be a growth machine."

While avoiding overly specific long-term predictions, Anthony's vision centers on sustaining the relationship between Hole19, our team, and our golf community. This focus on continuous improvement and meaningful connections rather than rigid long-term plans allows us to remain adaptable in the ever-changing technology landscape.

Hole19: Built on Passion, Driven by Innovation

As we reflect on 14 years of Hole19, Anthony's responses highlight the values that have guided our growth: resilience, customer focus, and a culture that genuinely cares about improving the golfing experience.

The decision to rebuild our app and make it free in 2014 stands as a testament to our willingness to take calculated risks to serve our users better. Reaching profitability in 2019 marked a critical milestone in our evolution as a sustainable business that can continue investing in innovative features.

Today, as we celebrate our 14th anniversary, Hole19 remains committed to being your trusted partner on the course. Our comprehensive golf app offers features ranging from accurate GPS distances to advanced performance tracking, all designed to help you make better decisions and improve your game.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Hole19 journey so far - our dedicated team, our passionate community of golfers, and all the partners who have supported us. Here's to the next 14 years of innovation, growth, and great golf!

Have you tried Hole19 yet? Download our free app today and join the millions of golfers who trust us as their on-course companion.