The Perfect Read
Reading the Breaks in Golf and Business
Golf’s Hidden Divide: Why Some Regions Welcome Everyone and Others Lock the Gates
Imagine you’re flying over New Jersey and spot a pristine golf course below. Your first thought might be, “Wow, I’d love to play that one.” Well, I’ve got some sobering news for you…
Derek Smith
January 15, 2026
10 Companies You Would Never Guess Own Golf Courses in America
The business of golf is far stranger and more diverse than most people realize. Beyond resorts and traditional management companies lies a hidden world of…
Derek Smith
December 8, 2025
Who Really Owns America’s Golf Courses? New Findings From Downgrain Labs
Downgrain Labs has completed the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on golf course ownership in the United States. By combining…
Derek Smith
November 25, 2025
The Muni Myth: Why Public Golf Is Bigger Than We Think
If you ask ChatGPT how many municipal golf facilities there are in America, you’ll get a number around 2,600…
Derek Smith
October 15, 2025
Why We Started Downgrain Labs
As the first employee at the company now called ZoomInfo, I’ve had a front-row seat to the way data has changed how businesses operate…
Derek Smith
September 29, 2025