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GOLFTEC expands with Square's unified commerce platform at over 200 locations. April 21, 2026 In a bold move aimed at enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency, GOLFTEC, the world's leading provider of golf lessons and club fittings, has partnered with Square to overhaul its payment and commerce systems across more than 200 locations in the United States. This transition is set to leverage advanced technology to streamline services while allowing GOLFTEC to maintain its reputation for precision and personalization in golf coaching. GOLFTEC, which has helped over 1.8 million golfers improve their game through more than 20 million lessons, utilizes state-of-the-art tools like 3D motion capture and AI-driven coaching plans. These innovations not only enhance the quality of lessons but have also led to students lowering their scores by an average of seven strokes. With such a strong technology focus, the company required a commerce platform that matched its forward-thinking approach. Discover more Virtual assistant services Inventory management software Chris Koske, GOLFTEC's Chief Marketing Officer, expressed the importance of this alignment: "As one of the most technologically advanced experiences in sports training, everything we do is designed to drive our mission of helping people play better golf. We needed a commerce platform that could keep up." The previous payment systems hindered GOLFTEC's operational efficiency, with coaches often left to wrestle with payment issues instead of focusing on instruction. Joe Calabria, GOLFTEC's Senior Vice President of Accounting and Finance, elaborated on the challenges: "If we want to be a data-driven company, we need to be a data-driven company everywhere," emphasizing that the cumbersome process of manual reconciliation distracted from essential operations. Square's unified commerce platform stands out by integrating seamlessly with GOLFTEC's current business tools, allowing for quick implementation without disrupting daily operations. The new system enables mobile-friendly payments across various channels, immediate visibility into customer activity, and streamlined transaction management. This shift is more than just cosmetic; it's transformative. Discover more Small business accounting software Business insurance plans Small business loan providers For GOLFTEC's coaches, the impact of the new platform has been immediate and significant. Coaches can now complete transactions quickly, allowing them to devote attention back to what they do best - teaching. Koske noted, "Square gives them the freedom to keep their attention where it should be: on fixing swings and helping players enjoy the game more." Time savings and operational efficiencies have been notably remarkable. GOLFTEC has projected a reduction of approximately 10,000 hours of administrative work tied to payments and refunds. Additionally, the financial close process is now two days faster, providing leadership teams access to timely performance data, which in turn supports more informed decision-making. Notably, GOLFTEC expects to save $100,000 through improved handling of disputes and chargebacks, showcasing how proactive management can create substantial financial benefits. The partnership with Square not only enhances GOLFTEC's internal operations but also positions the company for continued innovation in customer service and engagement. This future-focused foundation allows for an expansion of payment options, including the increasingly popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, further accommodating customer preferences. Nick Molnar, Global Head of Sales and Marketing at Block, commented on the collaboration's positive implications: "When two innovators come together with a shared commitment to driving excellence, this is what's possible," highlighting the synergy between GOLFTEC's advanced training methods and Square's adaptable technology. Discover more Tech news subscription Handmade business kits Business formation services For small business owners, this shift emphasizes the importance of selecting the right technology partners. Square's quick integration method highlights how operational improvements often lead to significant time and cost savings. The need for responsive financial systems in today's fast-paced business environment cannot be overstated, particularly as competition increases and consumer expectations evolve. As GOLFTEC continues to set standards in the golf instruction domain, the integration of Square's technology provides a fascinating case study for smaller businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The focus on blending high-quality service with cutting-edge technology could serve as an inspiration for other industries aiming to modernize in a competitive landscape. Image Via BizSugar Elizabeth White is a retail strategist and writer specializing in small business success. With over a decade of experience in retail management and merchandising, Elizabeth has helped countless entrepreneurs optimize their store layouts, improve inventory management, and boost customer engagement. Her insights cover everything from in-store marketing tactics to e-commerce integration. Elizabeth's practical advice empowers small business retailers to thrive in competitive markets. When she's not exploring retail trends, Elizabeth enjoys visiting local boutiques and curating her ever-growing book collection.

Square's latest processing win is on the golf course. Golftec LLC, a provider of golf lessons and club fittings, has partnered with Square, Block Inc.'s point-of-sale payments unit, to provide payment processing across its more than 260 locations in the United States. The deal with Square is expected to bring greater efficiency to Golftec's payment-acceptance processes by reducing the need for manual reconciliation of problematic transactions and by providing greater visibility into chargebacks, the parties say. Square, which recently announced a deal with AI-based restaurant-technology platform provider MarketMan to launch an inventory-management application for restaurants, will also provide Golftec with data the company can use to smooth the customer experience, according to the parties. Prior to the deal, Golftec personnel, especially instructors, spent a substantial amount of time troubleshooting payment issues, which took away from instruction time, according to Square. Founded in 1995, Golftec employs more than 1,000 instructors. Square's platform will enable Golftec to support mobile payments acceptance, gain real-time visibility into payments across all training centers, retail locations, and e-commerce channels, speed refunds, transaction reconciliation, and dispute management, and support new payment options, such as buy now pay later. The integration of Square's platform into its technology stack has so far saved Golftec personnel 10,000 hours in administrative work linked to payments and refunds and saved the company $100,000 through improved dispute and chargeback handling. Square says it worked with Golftec to reduce chargebacks by tightening customer contracts and accelerating response times for disputed transactions. Transactions are also closing two days faster, on average, allowing Golftec to access customer data sooner, Square says. "Our coaches want to devote their energy to their students, not wrestling with payment processing," Chris Koske, chief marketing officer for GOLFTEC says in a statement. "Square gives them the freedom to keep their attention where it should be: on fixing swings and helping players enjoy the game more."

GOLFTEC hires Golf Digest veteran Matthew Rudy to lead content strategy for the world's largest golf instruction company. March 17, 2026 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Matthew Rudy, one of golf's most prolific and versatile writers and a specialist in conceiving and producing content for elite coaches and major sports brands, has joined GOLFTEC as Senior Director of Content and Communications. Rudy takes on a broad portfolio at GOLFTEC, overseeing content strategy and production across the GOLFTEC and SKYTRAK digital and social channels along with external communications and internal and investor relations for the world's largest golf instruction company. "We want to meet golfers wherever they are, and the conversations we have with players about the way they swing, the equipment they use and the way they practice is a fundamental part of that goal. There's nobody more qualified than Matt to help GOLFTEC do that," said Chris Koske, GOLFTEC's Chief Marketing Officer. "He's spent his entire career working with media companies, elite coaches, thought leaders and established brands translating complex concepts into content that people not only want to consume but can actually use every day. That's a rare skill, and we're excited to have him on our team." Rudy spent more than 20 years at Golf Digest as a senior writer, where he collaborated with coaches and players like Scottie Scheffler, Phil Mickelson, Mark Blackburn and Randy Smith to produce more than 30 cover stories and dozens of premium video and branded content series. In addition to creating and overseeing Golf Digest's 50 Best Teachers in America/Best Teachers in Your State franchise, Rudy also covered the business of golf, writing sophisticated analysis pieces on subjects ranging from tour golf structure to name-image-likeness (NIL) to the game's only comprehensive on- and off-course money list. Helping tell GOLFTEC's instruction and SKYTRAK's swing analysis stories is a particularly good fit for Rudy. He became one of the game's most sought-after collaborators for elite teachers who wanted to translate sophisticated instruction concepts into books, video series and digital and social content for highly targeted audiences. That list includes Blackburn (Golf Digest's No. 1 Teacher in America and the PGA's 2020 National Teacher of the Year), Bernie Najar (the current PGA National Teacher & Coach of the Year) and Michael Jacobs (the 2025 PGA National Professional Development Award Winner). Beyond golf, Rudy has written books and developed content for subject matter experts as varied as Navy SEALs, branding agency founders, personal finance influencers and mental performance consultants for NFL and Major League Baseball teams. As a consultant, he has worked with clients like DICK'S Sporting Goods on content strategy, campaign development and verbal identity, drawing on both his creative experience and academic credentials. "Matt isn't just a golf writer. He understands how high-quality content functions as a business asset," Koske said. "It expands reach, builds trust and, ultimately, keeps customers coming back. It's more than just telling our story effectively. It's about helping our players navigate the golf world and get the most out of it while they do." About GOLFTEC. GOLFTEC stands as the world leader in golf improvement, with a global presence of more than 260 locations worldwide and a dedicated team of more than 1,000 Certified Personal Coaches. Founded in 1995, GOLFTEC has been unwavering in its mission to help individuals play better golf. Through the fusion of world-class golf instructors and cutting-edge teaching systems, GOLFTEC has been instrumental in guiding hundreds of thousands of golfers toward achieving their goals. In 2025, the company continued its momentum by providing more than 1.9 million golf lessons, and integrating SKYTRAK software into the in-bay experience.