Seeing greens: a day on the golf course inspires one entrepreneur to score a winningand profitableadvertising business
Author: Entrepreneur

WHAT: A company that prints advertising used in and around golf courses nationwide

WHO: Andy Yocom of Invision Golf Group Inc.

WHERE: Peachtree City, Georgia

WHEN: Started in June 2003

WHILE GOLFING WITH HIS BROTHER one day, Andy Yocom saw prime advertising space on the flags on the course. He and his brother Timmy reasoned that any marketing messages would get prominent attention if they were placed on the flags, since golfers focus on them when they take their shots.

Convinced the idea would work, Yocom set out to persuade golf course owners to warm up to the concept of brand advertising on their greens. "With golf as traditional as it is, finding people in the industry that can think [outside] of the box [was a challenge] because they're so protective of the golf course image," Yocom, 37, explains. "I get the comment a lot that they don't want to 'NASCAR' their courses."

Yocom fought the skepticism by persistently visiting golf courses in the Atlanta area. Finally, he was able to hook up with some golf course management companies--they had several courses under their umbrella and could see the benefits of the idea. Once some well-established courses signed on, Yocom presented the concept to corporations that might be eager to market to the golf crowd. "[The fact] that we [advertise] 365 days a year and are a one-stop shop on and off the course--it's a very unique situation," says Yocom.