Clubessential

Corporate Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio

Website: https://www.clubessential.com/

Category: Media and Technology

LEADERSHIP

Scott Strong, President

Randy Eckels, CEO of Clubessential Holdings

Donna Laudenslager, VP of Sales and Customer Success

Ryan Hall, Director of Product Development

Company Overview

Clubessential is the leading provider of full-suite membership and club management solutions to country, golf, city, yacht, and other private clubs. With more than 20 years of experience, the company delivers website, tee times, mobile apps, accounting, POS, CRM, and other software solutions to over 1,300 private clubs. Operating under Clubessential Holdings alongside sister company foreUP, the company specializes in helping clubs make data-driven decisions and deliver exceptional member experiences.

Key Facts:

• Serves over 1,300 private clubs nationwide
• Backed by Battery Ventures
• Provides integrated technology and embedded payment solutions
• Offers comprehensive business intelligence tools
• First provider of location-based marketing suite in the private club industry

Strategic Vision

“In the growing experience economy, providers must increasingly modernize their technology to capture consumer spend and attention,” said Randy Eckels, CEO of Clubessential Holdings. “We strive to empower customers in the recreation management industry with solutions that attract, engage, and delight community patrons.”

Key Programs and Services:

• Full-suite membership management solutions
• Location-based marketing suite with geofencing capabilities
• Mobile applications and CRM systems
• Single-source payment processing
• Tournament management software
• Golf course maintenance software

Recent Developments

In 2024, Clubessential made two significant acquisitions:

• RecDesk, a leader in SaaS software for recreation management
• ASB taskTracker, intuitive golf course maintenance software

In 2022, the company:

• Launched the Private Club Industry’s first location-based marketing suite
• Acquired BlueGolf, establishing new standards for tournament registration and management
• Formed its Golf and Club Technology business unit

Business Model Innovation

Clubessential’s innovative business model centers on empowering clients through integrated technology solutions that create highly connected, data-informed relationships with their membership base. The company has revolutionized the private club industry by introducing sophisticated data analytics and personalization capabilities that were previously unavailable to club operators. Through their integrated technology platform, clubs can now deliver precisely targeted communications and services to members at the right time and place, significantly enhancing the member experience. This approach has proven particularly effective in improving member retention and engagement, as clubs can better anticipate and respond to member needs and preferences. The platform’s ability to track and attribute audience insights also enables clubs to continuously refine their offerings and communication strategies, creating a virtuous cycle of improved service and member satisfaction.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Clubessential continues to innovate and expand its technology offerings through strategic acquisitions and new product development. The company’s focus on data-driven solutions and member experience positions it as a leader in private club technology solutions. Their recent expansion into recreation management and golf course maintenance software demonstrates their commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for the entire club ecosystem.