David Hyland - Co-Founder, Business in Golf

David Hyland is the co-founder of Business in Golf, a media and recognition platform dedicated to covering the commercial side of the global golf industry. Based just outside Dublin just five minutes from the K Club, the former Ryder Cup venue, David launched Business in Golf with his co-founder and partner, Leanne, in late 2024, shortly after the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. The catalyst was simple: a frustration at not being able to find the business-side coverage he was looking for. Rather than wait for someone else to fill that gap, he built it himself. Business in Golf now publishes a free weekly newsletter every Friday, delivering editorial analysis, proprietary research, and a commercial lens on the stories shaping the game. They go a layer deeper than the headlines to explore why news is happening, what the ramifications might be, and why it matters to people across the industry.

With over 20 years of experience in commercial and innovation roles outside of golf, David brings what he calls an "external macro perspective" to an industry he openly admits he didn't come from. He and Leanne have never worked in golf and they've turned that into a superpower. By applying lessons from other sectors and asking questions the golf industry might not think to ask, they've carved out a distinctive voice in golf business media, one that complements rather than competes with established outlets. Their coverage spans the full breadth of golf's intersections - travel, hospitality, apparel, technology, entertainment, longevity, and fitness - reflecting how the sport now touches so many other industries.

David is also the driving force behind The Business in Golf 100, a fully independent initiative to recognize 100 of the most inspiring individuals shaping the future of the global golf industry. Chaired by former R&A CEO Martin Slumbers, with a judging panel that includes Rick Shiels, Katrina Matthew, Vicky Cuming, Jared Solomon, Sal Sayed, and Steve Skinner, The 100 List celebrates contribution over profile - founders, innovators, creators, operators, executives, and community leaders whose impact may not receive widespread recognition. David is a passionate advocate for bringing outside perspectives into golf, for measuring the sport's growth beyond rounds played, and for the idea that golf's future depends on both industry veterans and newcomers working in harmony. He believes the game has room for everyone - and that the people growing it deserve to be seen.