The Playbook | Issue No. 4

Choosing a digital marketing tool can be overwhelming, much like getting lost in the cereal aisle. Overwhelmed, over-researched, and unsure if “advanced segmentation” is genius or just jargon. You started with simple email sends, but now you’re three hours in, overwhelmed by promises that all seem like the perfect solution.

The Playbook | Editor’s Note

Let’s be real, trying to pick the right digital marketing tool is like standing in the cereal aisle for way too long.

You came in looking for something simple to send your emails. Still, now you’re three hours deep into comparison charts, wondering if you need “advanced segmentation” or if that’s just marketing speak for “we made it complicated.”

Every platform you look at sounds like it’ll solve all your problems.

But here’s the thing that keeps nagging at you: Do you need all these bells and whistles to tell people about your latest blog post?

You start questioning everything. Maybe that simple newsletter tool isn’t enough? What if you’re missing out on some game-changing feature?

Before you know it, you’ve got 15 browser tabs open, a spreadsheet comparing digital marketing tool pricing plans, and that familiar feeling that you’re overthinking this whole thing.

Sound familiar?

I’ve been in the marketing game for over a decade now, and trust me, I know the struggle all too well. From late nights spent debugging automation workflows to A/B testing subject lines until my eyes felt like they were going to pop, I’ve seen it all.

Whether working on client projects or my marketing efforts, I’ve poured time and energy into finding the tools that truly make a difference.

After testing a slew of digital marketing automation tools and online reporting platforms, I’ve finally narrowed it down to my top ten favorites. These are not just typical recommendations; these are the platforms that have consistently delivered results, even when the pressure was at its highest.

What I’ve learned is that the best tools aren’t always the flashiest or most costly. Sometimes the real game-changer is a platform that works seamlessly and intuitively.

Let’s dive into the tools that will help you cut through the noise and get results that matter, especially if you’re running a golf business in 2025.

I’ve been burned too many times by demos that fall apart the moment you try them with actual data.

One example: I spent months testing a CRM with marketing automation for a former company. We built workflows, sandbox-tested everything, and then pushed live, but it couldn’t handle more than 500 contacts without timing out.

Despite its polished website and Fortune 500 client list, it failed to deliver in real-world use.

Now imagine you’re a head pro or marketing director trying to launch a member tournament campaign. You upload your 2,000-member list, design your email in the builder, hit “send,”… and boom, nothing goes out. Your tee sheet stays empty, and your GM wants answers.

Lesson: Glossy interfaces don’t guarantee solid infrastructure.

Here’s how I evaluate tools now:

This method takes more time upfront, but it’s saved me (and my clients) from dumpster fires more times than I can count.

1. The 30-Minute Test

2. Stress Test Everything

3. Integration Reality Check

4. True Pricing Discovery

5. Measure Real Impact

Keep it if:

Ditch it if:

Top 10 Digital Marketing Tools I Trust (2025 Edition)

1. Beehiiv: Newsletter + audience growth platform built by ex-Morning Brew team. Clean, scalable, and ideal for niche media brands.

2. Impact Golf Studios: My CX-focused consulting studio built for golf operators and brands. From onboarding systems to data storytelling, this is where strategy meets execution. (Powers The Playbook)

3. Canva: The design tool for non-designers. Social graphics, signage, and promos, no headaches.

4. Zapier: Connect your POS, CRM, and email in seconds. My go-to automations: new member signs up → added to welcome email → tags in CRM → Slack alert.

5. Hyperfury: A game-changer for social media scheduling and thread writing. Especially useful for repurposing content from your newsletter or blog into high-engagement posts.

6. CoachNow: Perfect for golf coaches and academies. Track player progress, share video lessons, and keep everything organized in one mobile-first platform.

7. Grammarly: Because nothing kills credibility faster than a typo in your member newsletter.

8. Google Analytics: Still the best at showing you what’s working and where traffic drops.

9. ChatGPT: Whether it’s content ideation, email subject lines, or summarizing member feedback, this is your virtual marketing assistant.

10. Notion: My operating system. From content calendars to onboarding docs, it’s all in one place.

I run two brands: The Cactus Club (B2C media) and Impact Golf Studios (B2B consulting). beehiiv powers both. I started simple — one list, one welcome email. Now I use:

If you’re a golf coach, course, or content creator, I recommend this stack to build your owned audience.

Final Thoughts

If you work in golf and tech is stressing you out, you’re not alone. The best operators I know keep things simple, they move fast, test often, and measure what matters.

So next time you’re stuck between 15 tabs and 5 pricing plans, don’t ask “what’s the most powerful?” Ask this:

Because if the answer isn’t “yes,” you’re better off spending that money on tee times.

Want help building your marketing stack? Just reply to this email. I’ll send you my personal tool scorecard and my top 3 recommendations based on your club size, tech stack, and goals.

The Playbook | Editor’s Note

Let’s be real, trying to pick the right digital marketing tool is like standing in the cereal aisle for way too long.

You came in looking for something simple to send your emails. Still, now you’re three hours deep into comparison charts, wondering if you need “advanced segmentation” or if that’s just marketing speak for “we made it complicated.”

Every platform you look at sounds like it’ll solve all your problems.

But here’s the thing that keeps nagging at you: Do you need all these bells and whistles to tell people about your latest blog post?

You start questioning everything. Maybe that simple newsletter tool isn’t enough? What if you’re missing out on some game-changing feature?

Before you know it, you’ve got 15 browser tabs open, a spreadsheet comparing digital marketing tool pricing plans, and that familiar feeling that you’re overthinking this whole thing.

Sound familiar?

I’ve been in the marketing game for over a decade now, and trust me, I know the struggle all too well. From late nights spent debugging automation workflows to A/B testing subject lines until my eyes felt like they were going to pop, I’ve seen it all.

Whether working on client projects or my marketing efforts, I’ve poured time and energy into finding the tools that truly make a difference.

After testing a slew of digital marketing automation tools and online reporting platforms, I’ve finally narrowed it down to my top ten favorites. These are not just typical recommendations; these are the platforms that have consistently delivered results, even when the pressure was at its highest.

What I’ve learned is that the best tools aren’t always the flashiest or most costly. Sometimes the real game-changer is a platform that works seamlessly and intuitively.

Let’s dive into the tools that will help you cut through the noise and get results that matter, especially if you’re running a golf business in 2025.

I’ve been burned too many times by demos that fall apart the moment you try them with actual data.

One example: I spent months testing a CRM with marketing automation for a former company. We built workflows, sandboxed everything and then pushed live, but it couldn’t handle more than 500 contacts before timing out.

Despite its polished website and Fortune 500 client list, it failed to deliver in real-world use.

Now imagine you’re a head pro or marketing director trying to launch a member tournament campaign. You upload your 2,000-member list, design your email in the builder, hit “send,”… and boom, nothing goes out. Your tee sheet stays empty, and your GM wants answers.

Lesson: Glossy interfaces don’t guarantee solid infrastructure.

Here’s how I evaluate tools now:

This method takes more time upfront, but it’s saved me (and my clients) from dumpster fires more times than I can count.

1. The 30-Minute Test

2. Stress Test Everything

3. Integration Reality Check

4. True Pricing Discovery

5. Measure Real Impact

Keep it if:

Ditch it if:

Top 10 Digital Marketing Tools I Trust (2025 Edition)

1. Beehiiv: Newsletter + audience growth platform built by ex-Morning Brew team. Clean, scalable, and ideal for niche media brands.

2. Impact Golf Studios: My CX-focused consulting studio built for golf operators and brands. From onboarding systems to data storytelling, this is where strategy meets execution. (Powers The Playbook)

3. Canva: The design tool for non-designers. Social graphics, signage, and promos, no headaches.

4. Zapier: Connect your POS, CRM, and email in seconds. My go-to automations: new member signs up → added to welcome email → tags in CRM → Slack alert.

5. Hyperfury: A game-changer for social media scheduling and thread writing. Especially useful for repurposing content from your newsletter or blog into high-engagement posts.

6. CoachNow: Perfect for golf coaches and academies. Track player progress, share video lessons, and keep everything organized in one mobile-first platform.

7. Grammarly: Because nothing kills credibility faster than a typo in your member newsletter.

8. Google Analytics: Still the best at showing you what’s working and where traffic drops.

9. ChatGPT: Whether it’s content ideation, email subject lines, or summarizing member feedback, this is your virtual marketing assistant.

10. Notion: My operating system. From content calendars to onboarding docs, it’s all in one place.

I run two brands: The Cactus Club (B2C media) and Impact Golf Studios (B2B consulting). beehiiv powers both. I started simple — one list, one welcome email. Now I use:

If you’re a golf coach, course, or content creator, I recommend this stack to build your owned audience.

Final Thoughts

If you work in golf and tech is stressing you out, you’re not alone. The best operators I know keep things simple, they move fast, test often, and measure what matters.

So next time you’re stuck between 15 tabs and 5 pricing plans, don’t ask “what’s the most powerful?” Ask this:

Because if the answer isn’t “yes,” you’re better off spending that money on tee times.

Want help building your marketing stack? Just reply to this email. I’ll send you my personal tool scorecard and my top 3 recommendations based on your club size, tech stack, and goals.

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