NAPLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continuing its evolution as the leader in assisting golfers to discover, experience and ultimately secure their ideal club membership and golf community home in the Sun Belt, Golf Life Navigators today named Michael Rowe, a 25-year Wall Street executive, to the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer.
Rowe managed capital for hedge funds, structured and priced capital market transactions, and oversaw a research team that focused on credit markets for such major financial entities as BNY Capital Markets, Flemings (purchased by JP Morgan) and Broadpoint Capital/Gleacher & Co.
Rowe joins Golf Life Navigators as the company enhances its portfolio, powered by an automated, online questionnaire called the ProGuide³ that has led Golf Life Navigators to be referred to as “eHarmony® Meets Zillow® for Golf." Founded in the summer of 2014 by PGA Professionals Jason Becker and Lynn Josephson, Golf Life Navigators earlier this year expanded beyond Florida to serve three other golf-rich states - Arizona, North Carolina and South Carolina.
With Golf Life Navigators expected to add more Sun Belt states this year, Becker noted the timeliness of Rowe joining the company.
"Michael brings us extensive experience in financial analysis, deal negotiation, structuring and pricing, and legal knowledge that is imperative as we look to continue identifying ways to grow our core business and add new verticals to our company," said Becker, the CEO of Golf Life Navigators.
Becker points out that Lowe is another highly respected member of an already strong team at Golf Life Navigators, which includes golfing great Peter Jacobsen, who is a Partner in the company and is Golf Life Navigators' Spokesperson, and Joe Steranka, former CEO of the PGA of America, who is also a Partner in the company.
Rowe's key responsibilities will include analyzing cash flows, trends in business metrics, returns on strategic business initiatives/partnerships as well as working with the management team in evaluating, structuring and pricing of strategic and capital market transactions.
"I'm excited to be able to help Jason, Lynn and their team profitably accelerate growth by expanding and improving the client experience while creating value for shareholders and partners," said Rowe. "I am fortunate to be joining Golf Life Navigators at this juncture, when they are starting to reap the benefits of their comprehensive business plan."
The growth of Golf Life Navigators has resulted from the rapid acceptance of the free ProGuide³, which has helped more than 4,200 golfers since the questionnaire was automated in August 2017. Through the ProGuide³, golfers are asked questions - ranging from golfing habits to social expectations to budget to real estate to club culture - that are key to their decision-making process in looking to secure their ideal golf lifestyle in the Sun Belt.
Based on their specific criteria, the ProGuide³ then produces up to six best-matched clubs. In all, golfers who have completed a ProGuide³ have generated more than 13,500 best-matched golf clubs and home communities in the Sun Belt.
"The Golf Life Navigators' business model is being embraced by those who enjoy the golf lifestyle and who want a less-stressful and more-effective means to secure it," said Rowe. "I'm looking forward to implementing strategies to take full advantage of that business model."
For more on Golf Life Navigators, please visit GolfLifeNavigators.com.
