dylanpedersonblog

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As I build Dialed-In Golf, I looked at three main competitors to better understand how they run their businesses and how I can stand out. These include the Kevin Haime Golf School in Ottawa, local golf pros in Kingston, and popular YouTube coaches like Rick Shiels and Me and My Golf. I reviewed their websites, prices, social media, and how they connect with their audiences.

The Kevin Haime Golf School is well-known and offers full coaching programs, especially for junior golfers. Their website is professional but not very exciting or engaging. Lessons are expensive, starting at over $100, and many reviews say the coaching feels distant or not personal. They also don’t use platforms like TikTok to reach younger players, which limits their online impact.

Local golf pros at courses like Loyalist, Garrison, and Cataraqui offer in-person lessons, but they mostly focus on club members or adults. They aren’t very visible online and rarely use social media. Their lessons also cost a lot, usually $80–$120 AT LEAST, which makes them hard for students or beginners to afford. Their teaching style is more old-school and not as fun or flexible.

YouTube coaches like Rick Shiels and Me and My Golf are very popular and offer tons of free videos. Their websites are modern, and their videos are high quality. But their content is made for a global audience and isn’t personal or local. They also post long videos on YouTube but don’t really use TikTok or short-form content, which is where younger people spend their time.

From this research, I can see that Dialed-In Golf has a great chance to fill a gap. I can offer fun, short, and affordable golf tips on social media that speak directly to beginners and young golfers. While my competitors are either too expensive, too traditional, or not personal enough, I can offer something fresh, local, and easy to follow.

[dylanpedersonblog]

[dylanpedersonblog]

Strengths and Weaknesses

Reflecting on my entrepreneurial skills, I’ve come to recognize both my strengths and areas that need growth. One of my key strengths is sales and negotiation. My roles in hospitality and retail, especially as a bartender at Royal Tavern 2.0 and retail associate at TSC Stores, helped me develop the ability to upsell, read customers, and close sales in real-time. I’ve consistently used emotional intelligence and communication skills to build rapport and guide customer choices, whether it’s a drink suggestion or a product recommendation.

Another strength is people management. My time mentoring with Hockey Canada and coaching at Whitetail Golf Course taught me how to guide others, be patient, and lead by example. These experiences translated well into leadership in the workplace, where I’ve been relied upon for support and conflict resolution. I also have a strong creative edge, shown through my success managing a bar’s social media and generating high engagement with strategic content and SEO techniques.

However, I recognize some weaknesses. Financial planning is an area I haven’t had much hands-on experience with yet. While I’ve managed time and resources well in other jobs, I want to better understand budgeting, forecasting, and cost control which all essential for running a business. To improve, I plan to take online courses and seek mentorship from small business owners. By strengthening this area, I’ll build my entrepreneurial profile and be better prepared to one day run my own golf apparel brand one day. 

Dylan Pederson

[dylanpedersonblog]

Testing , Testing.