Satisfies the Soul, Frustrates the Intellect
Some businesses are built around billion-dollar market gaps. Others begin with something far smaller, a recurring frustration that quietly affects thousands of people.
For David Wong, that frustration was golf.
Stories where passion intersects with community have always fascinated me, and Deemples felt like one of those stories.
David shared that most golfers he met are often shy and prefer staying within familiar social circles. Yet after a few conversations and shared rounds, many realised that playing with someone new was far less intimidating than expected.
What started as a way to find golf partners gradually became a platform connecting people across generations and professions. On Deemples, users range from teenagers to retirees, meaning a single game could pair you with a business owner, a university student, or someone simply looking to enjoy the sport and meet new people.
Like any other sport, golf has a quiet way of bringing people together in unexpected ways.
"Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. Yet, it is simultaneously rewarding and maddening, and undoubtedly the greatest game mankind has ever invented," said Arnold Palmer, a well-known American professional golfer who won various events on the PGA TOUR and PGA Tour Champion.
Golf's growing popularity over the years is especially evident in Korea, where screen golf cafes can be found across major cities. Screen golf has become deeply embedded in local culture, contributing to the country becoming one of the world's largest golf markets.
Night golfing, commonly known as "white night" golf, has also become increasingly popular, as many players look to avoid daytime heat and packed schedules. As a result, South Korea has emerged as the world's third-largest golf market, behind only the United States and Japan.
This growing demand is also driving more Korean golfers to Malaysia, partly due to the comparatively higher green fees in Korea. The app has also begun attracting international golfers from markets such as China, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
While there is a significant potential for regional expansion, Deemples is currently focused on strengthening its presence across local golf courses. The company is also looking to expand into Singapore and Batam golf courses within the next several months.
"We're looking to work with more golf courses across Malaysia to help improve utilisation of unused inventory, while making it easier for golfers to connect and book tee times conveniently," said David. Beyond expansion, Deemples is also focusing on loyalty programmes designed to keep golfers engaged and returning to the sport.
During the interview with Chatterbox Lounge, David shared that several hotels now offer stay-and-golf packages bundled with tee time access from participating golf courses.
The platform has also collaborated with hospitality partners across Malaysia, including hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, and Melaka, allowing golfers to bundle travel stays with golf experiences. These include EQ Kuala Lumpur, Amari SPICE Penang, Four Points by Sheraton Desaru, Ramada by Wyndham Meridin Johor Bahru, AMES Hotel Melaka, and Forest City Golf Hotel.
Through Deemples's combo package, golfers can turn golfing into a travel experience. The bundled offerings have also created opportunities for seasonal promotions and destination-style golf travel packages.
At its core, Demples isn't just about finding a golf buddy. It's about lowering the barrier to connection, one game at a time.
And perhaps that's what Chatterbox Lounge hopes to spotlight in which people building communities in ways we often overlook.