NextLinks Founder, Dave Shultz, Takes the Helm as CEO

Shultz brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for positive growth within the golf industry

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – NextLinks, a new revolution in indoor golf, today announced that Dave Shultz has been named Chief Executive Officer. Shultz will also remain Chairman of the Board for the company. 

“I will always be grateful to our former CEO, Dan Mechem for his support in building a strong foundation of leadership and wish him the best as he moves forward,” said Shultz. “My vision for NextLinks is to bring golf to life in ways for all to enjoy it on their own terms in a social, unintimidating and interactive way. I’m excited to lead the company as it grows and advances the sport of indoor golf to a new level.”

“When I first met Dave Shultz, and listened to him paint the vision for NextLinks, I quickly saw the multiple possibilities for this company and I immediately told him I wanted to help make his vision a reality,” said Pete Walsh, a business technology advisor to NextLinks and NextLinks Interim CIO. “Dave is an action-oriented visionary with the mindset of growing the game of golf and I am thrilled that he has stepped into the CEO position to lead the company.”

Dave Shultz

Shultz, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is an entrepreneur whose experience includes enlistment in the U.S. Navy where he repaired avionics systems; critical product development and supply chain leadership positions at Bently Nevada Corporation; and significant global leadership positions at General Electric (GE). Throughout his career, Shultz created lasting customer relationships through consistent execution, reliable communications, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Recognizing a shift in golf’s historically “stuffy” culture, in 2015 Shultz decided to combine his business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset with his passion for golf to launch NextLinks.

“When Dave first came to me to ask for funding for NextLinks, I told him he had no skin in the game,” said Ed Colson, NextLinks first significant seed investor and current Advisory Board Member. “Several months later, he called to tell me he had resigned from GE to work on NextLinks full time. That’s someone with a passion for his vision and a determination to make it work and it’s the sign of a true leader.” 

“Dave has a big vision to grow the game of golf and he has the ability to take that vision, create a strategy, engage people and build an incredible team to make it happen. His endless positivity and charismatic and collaborative leadership style are keys to taking the NextLinks vision and technology to the next level,” said Shultz’s longtime business advisor, Peter Willis. 

In addition to Shultz and Walsh, the NextLinks board includes world renowned golf course designer Agustín Pizá; one of The Golf Channel’s lead golf analysts Brandel Chamblee; and Founder and CEO of Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation, Kelly McCammon. Continuing on the advisory board will be seed investor Ed Colson, and the iconic trio of former Chairwoman of Fox Broadcasting Company, Lucie Salhany, World Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, and former Commissioner of the LPGA Charlie Mechem.