Big Game PGA Partners

The Challenge

The explicit ask was to redesign the app. The underlying challenge was scale and credibility.

Big Game Golf was preparing for an investment round, and the success of that raise depended heavily on the strength of the product vision and visual prototype. The branding, UX, and UI needed to clearly communicate confidence, ambition, and differentiation. If the redesign failed to do so, fundraising would become significantly more difficult.

There was also a strategic tension. The founders initially believed they needed an agency deeply specialized in golf. Our perspective was different. If Big Game Golf wanted to appeal not only to experienced players but also to newcomers, the product needed to be designed through the eyes of people who had never played the game before.

That reframing became a critical advantage.

Discovery and Strategy

We began with a combined design sprint and brand sprint. During this phase, the client team walked us through the game of golf in detail. As dedicated amateur players, they brought deep knowledge of the sport’s culture, rituals, and social dynamics. One of the co-founders also had a strong technical background, which allowed for productive discussions around systems, constraints, and feasibility.

Our team focused on understanding golf as it is actually played. Not just the rules, but the social layer around it. The banter between friends, the side wagers, the rivalries, and the informal competitions that happen alongside the score.

It became clear that Big Game Golf was never meant to be a static scorekeeping tool. It was meant to be a live, interactive environment that mirrored real-world play.

During discovery, another opportunity emerged. The mechanics powering Big Game Golf were not exclusive to golf. The underlying framework could be extended to other sports such as football or basketball. This led to early conversations about positioning Big Game as an umbrella platform, with golf as its first expression.

The Breakthrough

The breakthrough came when the team aligned on how to frame the product.

Big Game Golf was not another golf app. It was a social layer added to the game itself. A place where players could interact, chat, wager, settle payouts, and compete in real time. A digital extension of the on-course experience.

This reframing clarified both the brand and the product direction. From that point forward, every decision was guided by a single question.

Does this make the game more fun, more social, and more accessible?

Brand Identity

We conducted an audit of existing golf apps and found a clear pattern. Most relied heavily on traditional greens and conservative visual language tied closely to the sport’s heritage.

We intentionally chose a different direction.

The new identity introduced mint green paired with deep navy. The palette felt fresh and modern while remaining credible within the sport. The logo symbolized a golf ball in motion, ascending toward the hole, capturing the feeling of a winning shot and continuous progression.

The visual system emphasized movement, interaction, and play rather than tradition alone.

Product Experience and UX

The product itself is complex, with over one million possible game combinations. The challenge was not the logic, but how that complexity was presented.

We designed the experience around progressive disclosure. Users begin with familiar actions such as creating a team, inviting players, or selecting a course. As the game progresses, additional layers of the interface reveal themselves naturally.

One of the most challenging aspects was the post-game experience. Players needed to clearly understand scores, settlements, wagers, and statistics at the end of a round. We invested significant effort into designing recap views that made outcomes easy to understand and satisfying to review.

The app mirrors real life. Simple at the start. Richer as play unfolds. Clear at the end.

Execution and Growth Support

Beyond branding and product design, we supported the company’s growth efforts. This included creating a pitch deck, marketing assets, social visuals, a product video, and landing pages used in fundraising conversations.

The sequence was intentional. Design and branding came first. Fundraising followed. Development and launch came next. Marketing efforts scaled after.

The visual prototype and brand system became central tools in investor discussions, helping the founders articulate their vision with confidence.

Results

Following the redesign, Big Game Golf successfully raised over ten million dollars. The app is now used by a growing number of golf professionals and has become a PGA partner.

Internally, the team gained clarity, confidence, and a shared language around what they were building. Externally, the product evolved from a regional app into a platform with global ambition.

Design was not just an aesthetic improvement. It became a catalyst for growth.

Client Feedback

“As a new start-up, BeCurious was the perfect partner to guide us with the development of our branding and product design. Their Design Sprint process and diverse team challenged us to create beyond our original vision. We aligned on our purpose and delivered on outcomes together. We are excited to continue working with the team as we grow our business.”
Ron Wilson, Co-Founder

Why This Project Matters

Big Game Golf pushed us into a new domain with its own culture, language, and social dynamics. Approaching the product as outsiders required listening closely and designing with humility.

It reinforced a core belief that strong branding and UX are not cosmetic layers. They are strategic tools that enable growth, fundraising, and confidence.

This project remains a defining example of how design can shape not just products, but companies.