Getting to Know: Jason Becker of Golf Life Navigators

American Golfer: What is Golf Life Navigators?
Jason Becker: Golf Life Navigators (GLN) helps people find an ideally suited Florida golf club, home or community. Our expert team of PGA professionals and real estate experts identify the best fit for our clients based on their criteria, including financial parameters, golf and lifestyle preferences, and other considerations. There is no cost to or obligation from our clients. It’s a no-lose proposition. We don’t sell people, we only guide them based on their input. We’re trusted advisors who listen well and then find them what they want and need.

AG: How did the company idea materialize?

Jason Becker, Golf Life Navigators

JB: As a PGA professional and golf club leader for many years, I heard many property owners and golf club members voice dissatisfaction with their situation. They felt out of place, like they didn’t fit in. They hadn’t found the right club or place to match their tastes or lifestyle. Extensive research determined that the common denominator among displeased buyers was making choices with limited insight. Lacking detailed information prior to purchase is a crucial mistake, and with more than 1,200 golf clubs and millions of property choices, doing proper diligence is a Herculean endeavor. But it’s our specialty, and our deep Florida golf and real estate knowledge reduces doubt and stress for our clients. They confidently select what’s right for them based on the suggested options that we provide and the subsequent experiential visits that we coordinate.

AG: How often is real estate paired with the search for private clubs?
JB: We found that eight out of every 10 on-boarding clients want to combine finding a golf club and a real estate property or community. This was an unexpected revelation for us. We discovered that they often relied on realtors who didn’t know Florida golf well. Hence, we launched Golf Life Properties in a collaborative effort with our PGA staff at Golf Life Navigators, creating a custom roadmap for clients to reach their destination – a dream home and / or golf club.

AG: How are you able to do this without charging a search fee?
JB: Our revenue comes from advertising programs for local businesses, golf communities and strategic partnerships, as well as real estate commissions.

AG: What’s your favorite thing about being in the golf business?
JB: The people. I have been blessed to work alongside and learn from some of the best and brightest PGA professionals in the country. Learning how to be an entrepreneur is no easy feat, but having a support system of mentors to help pick me up when I’ve fallen and prevent undesired outcomes has been priceless. The golf business has been the most important chapter of my life. I look forward to giving back to the industry and its people, by growing the game and becoming a steward for our clients and PGA of America service values.

AG: On a personal note ... What’s your “dream foursome” (living or dead, golfer or non-golfer)?
JB: Some may take a while to put their "dream foursome" together, but mine is easy because I think about this every night. Literally! The book called Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill taught me to have a board meeting in my mind while I closed my eyes to sleep at night. Typically, a variety of business men and women that I look up to accompany my evening sessions. The conversations always include the creation of opportunity, strategic decisions I have to make with the company and most importantly how to be better the next morning. That said, maybe one day I will experience playing golf with my dream board meeting attendees: Napoleon Hill, Robert Herjavec and Rudy Giuliani.

AG: What course tops your “bucket list” to play?
JB: Augusta National. Without a doubt, I would love to play there and just experience the terrain and ambience of the setting. Since I began golf in 1993, I have watched the Masters every year and I have always hoped I may be good enough one day to get an invite. However, I decided to go in a different direction with a business career instead of a playing career. Where there’s a will there’s a way, though.

AG: What’s the future of Golf Life Navigators?
JB: Bright! We’ll broaden our horizons and expand to other warm golf-living destinations including Scottsdale and Palm Springs in the near future. Our services will be recognized in the next 24 months as one of the game’s top influencers, I believe. One thousand people turn 65 each day – and will for the next 10 years – and we’ll be at the front line with them, helping them make one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their lives as they search for the perfect place. Our staff is keenly aware that the clients we support today leave legacies for their children and grandchildren; those people will remember the rich times spent at their parent’s and grandparent’s home and club. It’s inspirational to be part of that, and we focus daily on that reality.

Learn more about Golf Life Navigators at www.golflifenavigators.com.