Two golf management companies merged on Thursday.
GreatLife Golf & Fitness, a 38-year-old company based in Topeka, Kansas has merged with Brown Golf, an 11-year-old Hampden Township-based company, which manages golf courses in Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Missouri.
GreatLife Golf’s portfolio now includes 53 golf courses and five gyms located in nine states under the GreatLife Golf brand. In addition, GreatLife Golf & Fitness of South Dakota, a lifestyle brand, will continue to operate under the GreatLife umbrella with seven golf facilities, 10 affiliate golf courses, 20 gyms and one bowling center. Collectively, the GreatLife brand represents 70 golf courses, 25 gyms and one bowling center. The company also owns, GolfBack, a golf booking engine.
John Brown, co-founder and CEO of Brown Golf, will assume the role of GreatLife Golf CEO, and Jason Harshbarger, co-owner and CFO of Brown Golf, will assume the role of GreatLife Golf CFO. The main office for the newly merged company will be in Hampden Township.
“Both our organizations have thrived the last several years,” Brown said in a news release. “We did not accept status quo. We’ve both pushed ourselves to invent better solutions – solutions that are better for our customers, and our bottom line.”
John Brown (Photo provided)
“Brown Golf has the infrastructure for success and GreatLife Golf & Fitness has created a great brand and portfolio that we look forward to carrying forward via this merger under the GreatLife name,” Rick Farrant, founder of GreatLife Golf & Fitness, said in the news release. “Now, we want to expand our portfolio and help more courses realize their potential.”
The newly merged company plans to acquire more golf courses.
“We want to find the right properties to join our network of clubs and we are excited this merger has escalated our ability to do so,” Brown said.