From Family Legacy to Tech Innovation in Golf
Jeff Smith, a New Orleans native, has launched a golf-tech startup that honors his family’s remarkable history in the sport. He is the great-grandson of Joseph Bartholomew, one of the first Black golf course architects in the United States. Bartholomew, born in 1888, began learning golf while working as a caddy at Audubon Park Golf Course, a whites-only club near his home.
Bartholomew later became a greenskeeper and assistant to Fred McLeod, a professional golfer, who taught him both golf and club-making during the Jim Crow era. Over his career, he designed more than 15 golf courses across Louisiana, including Metairie Country Club and City Park in New Orleans. Smith recalls that his great-grandfather “was the first entrepreneur I ever knew of,” highlighting his ingenuity and vision despite segregation.
Bartholomew’s Impact on Black Golf
Many of the courses Bartholomew designed were ones he could not play on because of segregation laws. The Pontchartrain Golf Course, later renamed Joseph M. Bartholomew Municipal Golf Course, is a notable example. He also built a nine-hole course on his private property in Harahan, which the city later turned into a park.
Smith says the story of that course is almost legendary. “After he passed, the course went away, and nobody knew it even existed,” he explained. Bartholomew’s determination laid the foundation for generations of Black golfers and entrepreneurs, and his influence continues through Smith’s work today.
Let’s Geaux Golf Brings Innovation to Communities
In April 2024, Jeff Smith launched Let’s Geaux Golf, a mobile clubhouse and community startup designed to make golf more accessible. With the help of his brother Errol, the startup uses portable AI and VR simulators at schools, community centers, festivals, and corporate events. Its flagship cities are New Orleans and Los Angeles.
The startup’s technology includes AI swing analysis, putting simulators with real-time feedback, and VR headsets that let players experience Topgolf and PGA courses. Smith emphasizes the universal appeal of golf through technology. “This game can connect with people, whether you speak English or Korean,” he said. “The goal is to give people their first swing.”
Community Engagement and Scholarships
Let’s Geaux Golf recently partnered with Xavier University for a sold-out golf tournament held at the Joseph M. Bartholomew Municipal Golf Course. The event celebrated Xavier’s 100th anniversary and raised $35,000 for scholarships. Smith hopes to replicate this model at other HBCUs and expand it into a full-scale tour.
“This is about more than golf. It’s about inspiring the next generation, introducing them to the sport, and providing opportunities they might not have otherwise,” Smith said.
Vision for the Future of Golf Tech
Looking ahead, Smith plans to launch a mobile app featuring golf training, a pro shop, esports challenges, and digital connectivity. He also aims to create a VR version of his great-grandfather’s golf course, highlighting Black trailblazers in the sport.
Smith seeks $200,000 to fund two mobile clubhouse units with full simulator inventories, featuring Black-owned golf apparel brands. As an IDEAinstitute fellow and Black Ambition Prize HBCU Pre-Accelerator Program graduate, Smith is combining family legacy, technology, and community impact.
