The ModGolf Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Women Entrepreneurs”

How a BA in Psychology is This Tech Entrepreneur's Secret Sauce - Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark

ModSport Media Inc. — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:30:00 -0700

"You get launched over a barrier and now you're running. Everybody's yelling and you just have to get there."

What happens when a psychology grad who grew up in tank tops and sundresses - and didn't own a single collared shirt - walks into a golf pro shop for the first time? She sees a disconnected, convoluted ecosystem and spends the next 19 years building the commerce layer that connects it all. In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark, the B2B wholesale commerce platform powering golf and outdoor lifestyle brands. From ordering 50 custom-logoed polos across 10 colorways to predicting what's trending in the market before orders are even placed, Meghann shares how she turned a sales rep's pad-and-paper problem into the platform the PGA of America calls "the commerce layer of golf." Whether you're a brand founder, a green grass buyer, or just golf-curious, this conversation is a masterclass in grit, empathy, and building infrastructure that makes everyone's life easier.

3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. Psychology is the ultimate entrepreneur's superpower
Meghann's BA in Psychology and Communications from Vanderbilt didn't lead her away from tech - it led her through it. From listening to customer pain points to building the right team, she credits her liberal arts background as the differentiator that helps her understand what people need, how they say it, and how to translate that into solutions. "I've actually used my psychology degree more than anything else."

2. Mass customization is the hardest problem in golf apparel - and RepSpark solved it
It's not an e-commerce site where you put your name on a water bottle. It's 50 polos, 10 colorways, club logos on the correct side, correct colors, correct sizes - or the whole order comes back unsellable. Meghann explains how RepSpark spent years mastering this nuanced complexity, making it easy for sales reps and buyers alike to get it right the first time.

3. The future of golf commerce is predictive, intelligent, and inclusive
With 9 million new golfers and brands like Lululemon and Fabletics entering the space, the game is expanding beyond traditional 18-hole courses. Meghann shares how AI is transforming RepSpark - from predictive ordering and order organization to auto-generated templates - and why the platform is leveling the playing field for up-and-coming brands to present a modern front as big as the enterprise players.

💬 3 Inspiring Quotes from Meghann Butcher

"You have to be really gritty. Nothing can get you down. Someone can say something and you just have to either have the self-confidence to say, 'I don't really care what that person said,' but also the humility to listen, to understand what they're saying, and take that to heart too."

"You get launched over a barrier and now you're running and everybody's yelling. You just have to get there and you have to tune it out. You have a path and you just have to keep going."
...on how running the bulls in Pamplona is like entrepreneurship and running a business

"Don't be afraid of risk. Do not be risk averse. That's not going to work. But having a background in psychology has helped me more than anything else."

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Meghann on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Season 20, Episode 4 + Thanking new sponsor Big Swing Media
01:27 Introducing Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark
02:10 Meghann's first golf experience: dating her now-husband, no collared shirt, and Valentine's Day golf shoes
03:48 How women's golf apparel has evolved over 22 years
05:41 The fundamental problem RepSpark solves: a disconnected ecosystem
08:32 The two-sided marketplace explained
09:08 Starting in action sports: from WebRep to RepSpark
11:38 Mass customization: why getting logos right is incredibly complex
13:54 Three tiers: enterprise brands, up-and-comers, and microsites
16:10 The marketplace as a discovery engine (80% of AGM buyers find new brands on RepSpark)
18:29 "Not too small - but you need a wholesale strategy"
19:28 Success story: Johnny O's 744% B2B order growth
21:59 Backend data, ERP integration, and the three layers of business logic
25:03 Psychology degree as entrepreneurial superpower
27:46 PGA Show presence and strategic alignment with PGA of America
29:40 AI, predictive ordering, and the future of commerce
35:02 Hard goods, club configuration, and pickleball
36:15 Advice for fledgling entrepreneurs, especially women
37:05 The Pamplona bull run analogy for entrepreneurship
38:50 The origin of the name "RepSpark" (and "Rep Sparkle")
40:02 How to connect with RepSpark

We want to thank Big Swing Media for presenting this episode and supporting Season 20 of The ModGolf Podcast!

Anyone can tell you what happened in golf. The Big Swing Golf Business Intelligence Brief tells you why it matters, and what’s coming next. Twice a week, Big Swing delivers original reporting and expert analysis of the money, trends, technology and personalities reshaping the game. It’s essential reading for anyone who works in, invests in or cares about the future of golf. ModGolf listeners receive a special first-year rate with code MODGOLF26. Visit BigSwingMedia.news to subscribe.

About The ModGolf Podcast: Host Colin Weston speaks with entrepreneurs, innovators, disruptors, and influencers shaping the future of the game and business of golf. Now in Season 20 with nearly 300 episodes produced since 2017.

Join the ModGolf Community

Subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen in.
Become a Patron!: Join our ModGolf Patreon community at patreon.com/ModGolf for exclusive content and entry in our ModGolf Giveaway contests.

**🔗 Connect with RepSpark:

repspark.com | Request a demo or contact the team today

Special Guest: Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark.

Elegantly Empowering Women Both On and Off The Golf Course - Paras and Bryan Gore, Co-Founders of Golf She and Swing Sports

ModSport Media Inc. — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0700

"So as a woman, we have been identified as "the fairer sex". And to me, that's not something negative. Women are elegant. Women are beautiful. Women are strong. Women are capable. There are more women in the world than there are men. And so, we deserve something that speaks to that elegance, that speaks to that femininity, that speaks to that strength, that speaks to us being above and beyond."... Paras Gore, Co-Founder of Swing Sports and Golf She

On this inspiring episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Paras and Bryan Gore, the visionary co-founders of Swing Sports and Golf She. Together, they discuss their journey in the golf industry, the challenges they faced, and their mission to empower women both on and off the golf course.

During this episode you will discover these inspiring takeaways:
The AHA Moment:
Paras shares the pivotal experience at Golf Galaxy that ignited her passion for creating stylish and functional golf accessories for women.

Innovative Products:
Learn about the unique products offered by Golf She, including multifunctional head covers and stylish handbags that cater to the needs of female golfers.

Community and Inclusion:
The Gores discuss their vision for a more inclusive golf community and their plans to support underserved youth through a future foundation.

Marketing Strategies:
Discover how they are leveraging social media and user-generated content to spread awareness about their brand and products.
Future Aspirations: Paras and Bryan share their goals for the future, including expanding their product line and fostering a supportive community for women in golf.

Episode Highlights
• Paras's journey from frustration to entrepreneurship
• The value of elegance and functionality in golf accessories
• Insights into the challenges of breaking into the golf industry
• The couple's commitment to empowering women through their brand

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then enjoy our video with Paras and Bryan Gore on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below as they extend their podcast conversation as Paras shows off some of her fashionable and functional accessory designs.

Want to connect with Paras? Check out her bio page to make that happen!
Paras Gore's bio >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/paras-gore

Care to check out the luxury golf accessories Paras has designed for golf-loving ladies? Then visit the Swing Sports website or click on the image below.

Follow Golf She / Swing Sports on social media:
• Instagram: @swngsports
• Facebook: Swing Sports
• TikTok: @swngsports

We want to thank Golf Genius Software for supporting The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!
Are you a golf course owner, manager or operator looking to increase both your profit margins and on-course experience?

Golf Genius powers tournament management at over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, resorts, golf associations, and tours in over 60 countries. So if you’re a golf professional or course operator who wants to save time, deliver exceptional golfer experiences, and generate more revenue, check them out online at golfgenius.com.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Paras Gore - Co-Founder of Swing Sports and Golf She.

Breaking The Grass Ceiling - A Mother/Daughter Duo Who Are Changing The Golf Leadership Landscape

ModSport Media Inc. — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:00:00 -0800

"When I was offered the position as the NGCOA Canada President I took it because they believed I was the right person for the job and I just happen to be female."... Lesley McMahon - General Manager, Balmoral Golf Course

"I want to see golf as a safer place for women where they truly feel that they are equals in this industry and it's not just a man's game anymore." Clare McMahon - MBA Grad and Golf Teaching Professional

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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

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"I have always preached that we are in the entertainment business and golf just happens to be the plate we serve it up on. That's it. If you don't have that joyful feeling with your staff and make it fun, then they're not going to then ooze fun to your customers. If things go sideways, we know what we're going to do. But the rest of time, let's have some fun, sell some beer, play some golf and bring joy into people. With COVID, golf was a respite for people. We got people back into the game that had left and new golfers in. We're in such a good position right now that the sky's the limit and we need to really start capitalizing on that."

Episode Chapters
[02:20] Lesley opens by describing Balmoral Golf Course in Red Deer Alberta, which her farming family has owned since her grandfather built and opened it in 1963.
[04:30] Clare talks about growing up in a “golf family” and her early days as a junior competitive player.
[06:40] Lesley discusses the number of women in golf industry leadership positions and the work that needs to be done to make it more equitable.
[08:30] Clare describes the unfortunately negative experience she had to endure at the golf course she worked at after graduating from college.
[11:55] Lesley shares the positive outcomes from The NGCOA Canada conference and the conversations around customer and staff engagement.
[16:10] Clare tells us about her next steps as a golf teaching professional and the positive changes the club she works at has made to improve the culture and work environment.
[21:10] Lesley talks about her path to becoming the first female president of NGCOA Canada and the value of organization provides for course owners.
[29:40] Lesley shares the golf startups venture she is developing that helps improve the experience for women golfers and industry workers.
[33:20] Colin talks about company culture and the Simon Senek video shown at the conference that demonstrates the impact of poor leadership on staff members.
[35:45] Lesley talks about how they create a positive, inclusive culture and work environment at Balmoral Golf Course to improve staff engagement.
[28:32] Nick shares how and why Twilight Golf Association became part of Golf Genius Software and the value of this partnership.
[39:45] Both Clare and Lesley share their future vision of where the golf industry needs to evolve in order to be more inclusive and equitable.

You can also connect with Lesley and Clare on their bio pages, along with checking out the Balmoral Golf Course website.

Special Guests: Clare McMahon - MBA graduate and Golf Teaching Professional and Lesley McMahon - Past President at NGCOA Canada / GM at Balmoral Golf Course.

Connecting Golfers With Likeminded Playing Partners - Kat Ramirez, Founder of Golfing Buddy

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:30:00 -0800

"They did not make me feel like I was part of our foursome. I felt like the outsider who wasn't good enough. It's bad enough that women already feel like they're not worthy in the golf world. If you have one bad experience, you're never gonna go back. You're not." - Kat Ramirez, Founder of Golfing Buddy
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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

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"Why would you allow yourself to be compromised or up against something like that? Golf is a great game to get to know people. That's why people go on the golf course and get to know other people and spend four hours with that person. It's because they want to get to know them and really have a good time, not to be feeling like you're not good enough. So Golfing Buddy was created to empower people to find other people just like them to go play golf with."

Golfing Buddy was created for a couple of reasons:

• to help Women, Minorities, Veterans and Juniors play more golf without feeling intimidated at the course by being uncomfortably paired with people they don’t want to play with.
• to help people like Kat's boyfriend find other golfers to play golf with so they can play more golf with fun, likeminded people.
• to help golf facilities get more people paired up to play at their course with the type of people they want to play with.

Click on the image below to watch our extended conversation with Kat on our Youtube Channel!

"It was a summer weekend in Midwest Milwaukee and fabulous outside, but I had to get a project done I couldn't get out and play. My boyfriend wanted to get out and play so badly. He called all of his buddies but no one could get out to join him for a round. He was pouting and moping around the house and I felt really bad for him so I said, "hey wouldn’t it be awesome if we had an app or website where you could find a golfing buddy?" And BING BING BING Golfing Buddy was born!"

You can also connect with Kat on her bio page, along with checking out the Golfing Buddy website.

Special Guest: Kat Ramirez, Founder of Golfing Buddy.

Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned on The Trading Floor - Eileen Jurczak, Founder and CEO of Xonic Golf

ModSport Media Inc. — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:30:00 -0700

"At that point in my life I was working on the trading floor for many years with BMO and had been introduced to artificial intelligence in the financial realm. Not in sports but AI nonetheless. The two came together and I said "wait a second, I wonder if there's a product here? I wonder if we can bring together AI and this passion for golf? That would be a dream come true if I could start a golf related business!". That's where the seed of the idea came. There has been a lot of work and learning since then, but that was the AHA moment for Xonic Golf." - Eileen Jurczak, Founder and CEO of Xonic Golf
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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

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Click on the image below to watch our extended conversation with Eileen on our Youtube Channel!

"A lot of people don't know this about the scock exchange trading floor. While it's in a large financial institution, it's a very entrepreneurial atmosphere with dozens of small businesses being run by a handful of people. We're responsible for wearing multiple hats in each of these businesses to market it, to grow it, to manage the finances. You're doing everything and you're working hard! The idea of "Hey, we want your ideas, bring them to the table" fosters that innovative entrepreneurial mindset. I'm using all the skills and experience that I've built up my entire life and career. It's incredible."

You can also connect with Eileen on her bio page, along with checking out the Xonic Golf website.

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Eileen is passionate about giving back to the community and has founded and built a successful not-for-profit company that addresses the need for youth financial services education. Established in 2015, the Bay Street Deconstructed workshops have now reached over 10,000 Grade 10 students across Canada, with a priority of reaching students with diverse cultural backgrounds in less affluent areas, helping all students to be better prepared for their futures.

Special Guest: Eileen Jurczak - Founder and CEO of Xonic Golf.

Building a Women-Led Company That Positively Disrupts The Golf Industry - Jess McAlister, Founder of Digital Golf Collective

ModSport Media Inc. — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 22:15:00 -0700

"When we say positively disrupt, we want to show that there are alternative ways of doing things when it comes to being creative and marketing to today's consumer, fan, as well as the industry. And with both of us being experts in our space, we knew that our brains coming together could ultimately do that."
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Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

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"Especially coming into a space that is truly based on tradition, we wanted to respect that. So we use positively disrupt because we're both severe crazy golf fans, love what is there and what it's based on. But with where technology and society are going, it's kind of an adapt or die situation as we are currently seeing in the industry today. And we felt we can positively disrupt while loving and respecting the sport we love so much and fighting to ensure women athletes get what they truly deserve."

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Jess on our Youtube Channel!

Want to learn more about Jess and Digital Golf Collective? Visit their website to learn how they are creating effective developmental programs and technology to introduce and guide anyone in playing the game of golf.

You can also connect with Jess on her bio page.

Special Guest: Jess McAlister - Founder of Digital Golf Collective.

Sharing Stories From Her Journey As A New Golfer - Alissa Kacar @newladygolfer

ModSport Media Inc. — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0800

“Whether you can hit the ball a mile or if you can barely hit it off the tee, you need to create an environment for newcomers to the game that is relaxed and fun. Otherwise it’s not going to keep people coming back. New golfer and social media host Alissa Kacar @newladygolfer joins us to share her journey and thoughts on how to make the game more welcoming for everyone.

“If someone is spending their day off on the golf course, they’re not going to dedicate their time doing something that isn’t enjoyable and fun. When I’m there playing with someone that’s new to the game, I always remember back to me being brand new and I always conduct myself the way that I was treated because it way very helped and built my confidence the way people were encouraging and patient with me. Golf is so humbling that you can duff one off the tee - she’s brand new to the game so she could miss the ball - I’m just as capable of doing the same thing two and a half years in! Golf is very humbling that way, just when you think you’ve got it figured out it will remind you that you do not.”

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Alissa on our Youtube Channel!

To learn more about Alissa check out her bio page and her @newladygolf Instagram.

Are you a golf course owner or operator struggling with the complexities of running tournaments? Do you want to spend less more running them while increasing revenue and profit margins? Check out our friends at Golf Genius to learn how they can help make the magic happen. >> https://www.golfgenius.com/

Special Guest: Alissa Kacar - Instagram Golf Influencer @newladygolfer and beginner golfer.

Transforming Latina Women's Lives Through Golf - Azucena Maldonado / Latina Golfers (070)

ModSport Media Inc. — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0700

"We teach women how to leverage golf as a business tool so they can shatter the glass ceiling with a golf ball”. On our latest episode, Azucena Maldonado, Founder of The Latina Golfers Association joins us to share how she has built a nationally scalable business that empowers women in the Greater Los Angeles area both on and off the golf course.

Azucena Maldonado is a trailblazer on a mission to transform women’s lives through golf. She founded the Latina Golfers Association (LGA) in 2008. Introducing women of all ages to golf for their professional development, personal enjoyment, and to promote a healthy lifestyle. With over 1,200 members in Los Angeles County, Azucena has received numerous awards and recognition for making an impact on growing the game of golf in the Latino community including being inducted in the Latino Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

To learn more about The Latina Golfers Association, visit their website.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Azucena Maldonado, Founder of The Latina Golfers Association.