Ryan Walsh

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Ryan Walsh and I’m the founder of Fairway Finder, a modern tee time aggregator built to give golfers one simple place to find a tee time. We help solve the frustration of bouncing between outdated booking platforms by showing every course in one clean, fee-free search experience. Whether you’re chasing last-minute cancellations or planning a golf trip, Fairway Finder makes it easy to play where you want, when you want.

What did it take/how did you get started?

It started with frustration. I’ve played hundreds (if not thousands) of rounds across San Diego and couldn’t believe how difficult it still was in 2025 to simply search for a tee time. Booking felt like a part-time job: juggling multiple apps, calling pro shops, and endlessly refreshing tee sheets hoping for a cancellation.

At the same time, public courses basically had one legacy platform to rely on if they wanted marketplace visibility. But with all that leverage, those platforms have taken advantage of courses with an outdated, one-sided model that desperately needs disruption. So I built Fairway Finder to fix both sides of the equation: make it easier for golfers to find tee times and give courses more control over how they’re booked.

We started with cancellation alerts and quickly realized the bigger opportunity, to become the modern, comprehensive, no-fee alternative to GolfNow (The 600lb Gorilla in the Golf Industry).

What does the future look like for you and your business?

The future is national. We’re building the go-to destination for public golf, a platform where every course is visible, every tee time is bookable, and golfers never feel stuck or shut out again. We’re expanding fast, rolling out a redesigned mobile and web experience this summer, and already seeing strong organic traction from golfers who are fed up with the current system.

Over the next few years, we see Fairway Finder replacing outdated tee time platforms entirely, giving golfers better access and giving courses the freedom to grow without sacrificing control or revenue. The goal: 10 million monthly active users and a more open, connected golf ecosystem.

What drives / motivates you on a daily basis?

I’m driven by the idea that something as simple as booking a round of golf shouldn’t be this hard, and that the people and courses who love the game deserve better tools. I’ve seen firsthand how broken the current system is, and I’m motivated every day to build something that actually helps both sides: golfers who just want to play, and course operators who deserve more control and transparency. At the end of the day, I’m a lifelong golfer building the product I’ve always wanted, and I won’t stop until we’ve completely reshaped how golf is booked.

What advice would you give someone interested in doing what you do?

Start by solving a problem you personally feel, it’ll keep you going when things get hard (and they will). Then stay close to your users. Talk to them, build with them, and don’t be afraid to pivot when you realize there’s a bigger opportunity than what you started with. Also: don’t wait until everything’s perfect. Ship early, learn fast, and keep momentum. The vision will evolve, just make sure you’re moving.

What has been the hardest part of your business journey?

The hardest part has been pushing forward while the product is still catching up to the vision. We know what golfers want. We know the system is broken. But building a truly modern alternative, with limited resources, a small team, and no major industry partnerships takes time, patience, and a lot of belief.

How have you managed burnout thus far?

Burnout definitely hits different when you’re building something you care deeply about. Working for yourself, on a problem you’re passionate about solving, makes the long hours feel more like an investment than a drain. That said, I’ve learned not to confuse passion with invincibility. You still need rest, perspective, and a life outside the grind.

What are a few resources that you'd recommend?

Two tools I’d highly recommend:

Figma – It’s been a game changer for bringing product ideas to life visually and quickly iterating on designs with our team. Whether you're working with designers or just mapping things out solo, it's super intuitive and collaborative.

ChatGPT – Easily one of the most valuable tools in my stack. I use it daily for everything from brainstorming product copy and investor updates to refining strategy and drafting cold outreach. It’s like having a second brain on demand.