GBN talks to the co-founder and chief revenue officer of Blue Tees Golf about the rapid growth of the California-based company in the golf technology space with its innovative range of distance measuring devices, GPS units, Bluetooth speakers, and a soon-to-be-released launch monitor.
GBN: Since starting up in 2019, Blue Tees has quickly established itself as a major player in the golf technology space. What have been the key drivers behind that growth?
Drew Koehler: A few things have come together at the right time. First off, golfers have really gravitated toward the brand because we’ve focused on delivering a balance of design, performance and accessibility that wasn’t always present in this category.
Historically, a lot of golf technology has been either highly technical or very expensive — we’ve worked hard to make premium products, intuitive and attainable for a much broader audience.
Secondly, our retail partnerships have played a major role. From green-grass shops to major off-course retailers, our partners have helped introduce the brand to new golfers and have been instrumental in scaling both distribution and awareness.
Ultimately, the growth has come from staying focused on one simple idea: build technology that genuinely enhances how modern golfers play and experience the game.
Your product line spans Bluetooth speakers, handheld GPS devices and laser rangefinders. How would you define Blue Tees’ core identity — audio brand, distance-measurement specialist, or a broader golf tech ecosystem?
In the early years, we were very clearly a distance-measurement brand. That’s where we built our reputation and where many golfers first discovered Blue Tees.
But 2026 really represents an inflection point for the company. With the launch of our connected rangefinders and the introduction of the Rainmaker Portable Launch Monitor, we’re evolving into something much bigger.
Today we think of Blue Tees as a connected golf performance ecosystem. Every product we build — whether it’s a rangefinder, GPS device, speaker or training tool — is designed to work together through our software platform to create a more intelligent and personalized golf experience. That ecosystem approach is what we believe will define the next era of golf technology.
The Ringer marked your entry into the handheld GPS market. What gap did you identify in the category, and what has retailer feedback been since launch?
With the Ringer, we saw an opportunity to simplify and upgrade the handheld GPS experience. Many golfers want instant access to yardages and basic tracking without needing to pull out a phone or navigate a complex interface. The Ringer gives players quick distances and shot tracking in a small, highly portable device that fits comfortably in the pocket.
One of the design choices that resonated strongly with both golfers and retailers was the integrated magnet, which allows players to attach it easily to bags, trolleys and other surfaces.
Retail feedback has been very positive, particularly around the product’s price accessibility and ease of explanation at the point of sale, both of which are important drivers of sell-through.
The Player and Player+ speakers combine entertainment with on-course functionality. How important is lifestyle appeal in attracting younger or more tech-savvy golfers to the brand?
Lifestyle appeal is extremely important. Golf has evolved significantly over the last decade. The game is younger, more social and more expressive than it used to be, and music on the course has become a much more common part of the experience.
Products like the Blue Tees Player+ GPS Speaker were designed around that shift. They combine high-quality audio with integrated GPS functionality so golfers can enjoy music while still getting the performance data they need.
Our philosophy is simple: technology shouldn’t interrupt the round – it should blend naturally into how people already enjoy playing golf.
The Game App ecosystem links products such as the Player+ and Ringer. How central is app integration to your long-term strategy and how does it strengthen customer loyalty for retailers?
Our Blue Tees GAME App is essentially the central engine of the entire Blue Tees ecosystem. It works as a standalone GPS experience, but its real value comes from connecting every device in the system.
When a golfer uses multiple Blue Tees products, the app synchronizes their data into a single evolving player profile. That means practice sessions with tools like the Rainmaker launch monitor can inform on-course decisions, such as club recommendations delivered directly through our connected rangefinders or GPS devices.
For retailers, that ecosystem approach is powerful because customers are no longer buying just one product – they’re investing in a connected experience that grows over time, which naturally increases repeat purchases and long-term brand loyalty.
With DMDs now commonplace, where do you see the next wave of innovation — hardware refinement, software integration, AI-driven data, or something else?
Competitors will continue to iterate on hardware – and we’re seeing many brands expand into similar product categories – but we believe AI-driven data will become the next major battleground for innovation.
The real question isn’t whether AI exists in a product – it’s how effectively it’s implemented. In many cases today, AI features feel more like novelties than meaningful tools golfers rely on.
Our approach is to focus on seamless integration. The goal is to deliver insights that feel natural in the way golfers already use their devices – whether that’s recommending a club, interpreting performance trends or helping players make smarter decisions on the course.
When implemented well, AI becomes something golfers don’t want to play without, rather than something they experiment with once and forget.
The UK market is particularly crowded in both GPS and rangefinder categories. What do you see as the main challenges in building brand presence, and how are you supporting green-grass and off-course retailers?
The biggest challenge in markets like the UK is simply awareness. Golf technology purchases tend to be infrequent, and many golfers are still using legacy products they’ve owned for years. Helping golfers quickly understand why a new brand offers a meaningful upgrade can be difficult without hands-on experience.
That’s why we’ve invested heavily in retail innovation. We’ve developed immersive demo experiences and interactive point-of-sale displays that allow retailers to showcase the products in a much more engaging way. These programs are designed to support retail partners by doing much of the product education and storytelling at the point of sale, ultimately helping drive stronger sell-through.
From a retail perspective, what is your message to buyers deciding whether to allocate shelf space to Blue Tees products?
Retailers today need brands that do more than simply occupy shelf space – they need brands that drive engagement and repeat purchasing. Blue Tees offers retailers a differentiated value proposition because we’re not just selling individual devices at attractive price points; we’re building a connected technology ecosystem that encourages golfers to expand their setup over time.
That ecosystem approach, combined with strong merchandising support, interactive displays and competitive price positioning, helps retailers introduce customers to a brand that feels both innovative and accessible.
Blue Tees is entering the personal launch monitor market this season. What can you tell us about it and how will it differentiate itself from other products currently out there?
Yes – this year marks our entry into the category with the Rainmaker Portable Launch Monitor. Launch monitors have traditionally been powerful but often expensive and complicated to use. Our goal was to make the experience dramatically more accessible without sacrificing the core data golfers care about.
Rainmaker is a radar-based launch monitor priced at £599, featuring an integrated handle, a built-in 11cm display, and multiple standalone training modes that work without requiring Wi-Fi or an app connection. A golfer can simply turn it on, put it on the floor and start hitting shots with real-time metrics in seconds. For players who want deeper analysis or simulation, it can also connect to our LAUNCH app.
Where it becomes particularly interesting is within the ecosystem. Practice data from Rainmaker can inform on-course tools like our connected rangefinders and speakers, enabling features such as club recommendations based on how you actually play. That kind of connected performance experience is what we believe will differentiate the product.
Looking ahead two to five years, what are your strategic priorities in terms of product development, distribution, and international expansion?
Our vision is very clear: to build the most connected and accessible technology ecosystem in golf. From a product perspective, we’ll continue expanding the ecosystem while raising the bar for what accessible performance technology looks like for modern golfers.
On the distribution side, we’re focused on building stronger localized operations and deeper retail partnerships in key international markets. The UK is a great example of that strategy in action.
Long term, our goal is to ensure that wherever golfers play – whether in the US, the UK or beyond — Blue Tees products and services are integrated into the way they practice, play and improve. And while we can’t share everything yet, there are some exciting developments on the horizon that we’re looking forward to revealing in the months ahead.
For more information, visit www.blueteesgolf.com