TeeTime Golf Pass

Tee Time Golf Pass is a family-owned business started in 1993. It began marketing 22 courses in five counties in Pennsylania. Now it provides marketing services at more than 850 courses in 14 states. Tee Time Golf Pass was founded by Sue and Jim Curtis. The couple had recently moved to rural Pennsylvania and Sue was looking for a part-time job. Jim... worked as editor of the News-Chronicle in Shippensburg and was toying with the idea of starting a golf publication. He added in the concept of a discount golf card to make the project more profitable. Together they went to golf courses in five counties in south central Pennsylvania and signed up 22 courses for what was then known as the Southern Pennsylvania Golf Card. Much to their surprise, their golf card was well received by golfers and course operators. By 1997, Sue expanded the program to 100 courses. It became obvious the name of the product needed to change when golf pros near Philadelphia asked, "Where's southern Pennsylvania? Tee Time Golf Pass was born that year. The learning curve was steep in those first years. Sue was a novice golfer and felt odd sometimes talking with and convincing golf pros and owners to participate. Once a pro asked what she shot. "Oh, two or three over," she responded and was puzzled by the pros startled expression. She came home and told her husband about the incident. "Why are you laughing so hard? she asked. Sue was telling the truth. Yes, she normally shot two or three over par - on each hole! Jim left the newspaper business in 1997 and began working for the company full-time. Much of the company's success was based on Sue's philosophy of growing the game of golf by incentivizing golfers to try new courses. Golfers can get in a rut of only playing courses in their town. Tee Time Golf Pass allows them to travel and play many different and new courses in their region. The corporation added a valuable player to its team in 2001 when Bud Key signed on as an independent contractor. Bud worked 12 years as the publisher of ...Read More