Deemples co-founders David Wong (L) and Ahmad Daleen
A passionate golfer, David Wong often found himself struggling to find available golfing companions whenever he had the time to play. This is because the game demands a significant time commitment—approximately 8-9 hours, including travel, preparation, and post-game activities. This proved challenging for many.
Coordinating with fellow busy professionals, who often had conflicting schedules, was nearly impossible. This frustration led Wong to conceive Deemples, an innovative solution akin to the Uber model, where one doesn’t need to know the driver personally but can rely on the availability of many.
Also Read: Malaysian golf course booking platform Deemples nets US$2M from V Ventures
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Deemples was envisioned as the “Uber for golfers,” facilitating connections among golfers to ensure that a game could always be arranged regardless of individual schedules.
The name “Deemples” is a clever play on the word “dimples.”
“In the world of golf, dimples on a golf ball are essential for its flight; without them, the ball wouldn’t travel as it should due to aerodynamic principles. Much like these dimples vital for the ball’s flight, Deemples aims to bring together the necessary “dimples”—golfers—so that the game can take off smoothly,” Wong tells e27.
The company was founded in 2017 by Wong, who comes with extensive experience in sales and management within the advertising industry, and Ahmad Daleen (CTO), a self-taught full-stack developer with keen business acumen who previously founded and exited FoodTime to Fave.
A seamless experience for golfers
The Deemples platform is a comprehensive ecosystem for golfers. Users can browse through a vast array of available golf games, join games, interact with fellow golfers, make payments, and leave reviews for both the courses and other players.
For those who don’t find a suitable game, the platform allows them to create their own, attracting other golfers to join. According to Wong, this marketplace model, where Deemples takes a small fee from golf courses for every successful transaction, has been highly effective.
Deemples recently secured US$2 million in funding from Singaporean VC firm V Ventures to expand its presence across Southeast Asia, targeting major golfing markets like Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
“Understanding the unique golfing cultures and nuances of each market is crucial for our success. To facilitate this, we plan to allocate significant marketing resources and establish strong local teams in each new market,” he adds.
The investment will also be strategically used to enhance marketing efforts, product upgrades, and overall user experience. Deemples aims to enrich the golfing experience through technological innovations, such as more efficient user interfaces and advanced matchmaking algorithms, ensuring golfers can connect and book games with greater ease.
Building community and expanding partnerships
Engaging with the golfing community and attracting new users is at the core of Deemples’s strategy. Upcoming outreach programmes, golf events, referral schemes, and partnerships with numerous golf courses will play a pivotal role.
“The platform has already seen a surge in new golfers, thanks to golf coaches offering lessons through Deemples. This inclusive approach makes golf more accessible, allowing novices to book affordable lessons easily,” Wong continues.
Also Read: FC Barcelona looks to score big in Asia’s sports-tech arena through its innovation hub
Partnerships with golf courses are fundamental to Deemples’s operations. These collaborations provide golf courses with a consistent sales channel, securing payments upfront and reducing risks associated with last-minute cancellations. Integrating Deemples’s digital capabilities into golf courses’ websites enhances their reach and revenue without requiring separate management systems.
Since its establishment seven years ago, Deemples claims to have demonstrated remarkable growth. Initially functioning solely as a matchmaking service for golfers, the platform expanded in 2020 to include partnerships with golf courses, allowing them to post available tee times.
This integration has led to a doubling of transaction values each year since 2020, reflecting the platform’s growing influence and success, he reveals.
Transformative impact on golf courses
According to the CEO, Deemples has had a profound positive impact on golf courses in Malaysia. By enabling easy and immediate bookings, the platform has significantly boosted revenue and player engagement.
“Some partner golf courses have reported up to 40 per cent of their total sales being generated through our platform. Our technology and growth strategy continue to provide exciting golfing experiences, creative marketing campaigns, and effective monetization of unsold inventories, ensuring a win-win situation for both golfers and golf courses,” he boasts.
In essence, Deemples aims to transform how golf is played and enjoyed. With its innovative approach, the startup is set to make golfing more accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts across Southeast Asia and beyond.
—
Image Credit: Deemples.
The post Deemples, the ‘Uber for Golfers’, aims to make tee times effortless in Southeast Asia appeared first on e27.