1968 - 2026

Serving Golf for 58 Years!

Handicomp, Inc.: A Golf Technology Original

From Missiles to Handicaps

Handicomp began with an engineer who loved golf. As a teenager, Jim Healey caddied at the Country Club of Lansing. After earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1953, he spent 16 years designing guidance computers for POLARIS, GEMINI, and APOLLO. Away from the office, Jim was a regular at the course and saw the same thing every month: handicap committees buried in calculations.

In 1960 he imagined something different—computer-automated handicapping. Seven years later, he decided to build it.

The First Handicomp—and a First in Golf

In 1967–68 Jim designed and built the original Handicomp computer. In 1968 it went live at Clearbrook Country Club in Saugatuck, Michigan, thanks to PGA professional Charlie Feeley. It’s believed to be the first microcomputer placed in a golf shop used solely for instant handicap calculation.

Marketing dollars were lean, so only one unit was installed. In 1969 Jim repurposed that prototype and launched the Handicomp handicap computing service.

A Kitchen-Table Start-Up (with an IBM Selectric)

Early systems paired custom electronics with an IBM Selectric for printing and a Friden paper-tape punch/reader for storage. There was no persistent internal memory—just enough “scratch pad” to compute and go. Jim built three more machines for service operations. He was the technical engine; his wife, Pat, was the data-processing force, entering scores as the company earned its first customers.

Growth in the ’70s

Partnerships accelerated momentum:

  • 1972: Toledo District Golf Association
  • 1974: Golf Association of Michigan
  • 1977: Louisiana Golf Association; Gulf States Section PGA
  • 1978: St. Louis District Golf Association; Gateway Section PGA

By 1978 Handicomp served about 800 clubs with a team nearing a dozen. As affordable microcomputers arrived, the original hand-built units were retired and the company leaned further into software and service.

On-Site Computing Returns—at Scale

Jim never let go of instant, on-site handicapping. In 1981, at real risk and cost, Handicomp placed nine Tandy Model II systems in Golf Association of Michigan member clubs around Detroit—among the first on-site installs provided through Amateur Association membership.

That same year Handicomp broadened its vision to club management software—membership, inventory, point-of-sale, accounting, and tournament tools. Early champions Frank Gumpert (Sherwood Forest CC), John Celestino (Cascade Hills CC), Mark Darnell (Westlake CC), and Kent Cayce (Congressional CC) helped shape products that worked for the golf shop, not just the back office.

A Family Company

  • 1983: Lisa Healey Postma joined full-time in the Handicap Service Department (after summers since 1979). In 1990 she succeeded Pat as department manager, a role she continues today.
  • 1985: Stewart (Stu) Healey joined with a Computer Science degree from Central Michigan University (later adding an MBA from Western Michigan University). He programmed, installed, and supported systems; led Support; became General Manager; and in 1993 became President, a position he still holds.

Multi-User Systems—and a Michigan Lead

The 1980s brought rapid advances:

  • 1983: Tandy/Radio Shack Xenix-based Tandy 6000 enabled cost-effective multi-workstation setups.
  • 1985: SCO-Xenix and the IBM PC-AT accelerated multi-user deployments.

By 1990, Michigan is believed to have had more multi-user handicap systems than the rest of the country combined.

Windows, Graphics—and Early Touch Experiences

With the rise of Windows, expectations shifted to graphics and usability. Handicomp evolved its handicapping products and introduced several golfer-entry keyboards. In the late ’90s came a bigger leap: a golfer-interactive touchscreen to post scores and review scoring history—an early UX milestone for golf shops everywhere.

The Internet Era

As networking matured, Handicomp centralized handicap data so clubs and golfers could access the Internet and search and verify handicaps across the network. Compared to 1968, it was light-years ahead—faster, more connected, and far easier to manage.

A Full Club Suite

In the early 2000s Handicomp rounded out membership applications with a touchscreen F&B POS from Micro$ale, integrated with Club Receivables and Pro Shop Management—a practical, all-in-one stack for many facilities.

The Golf Network Era

Beginning in 2005, Handicomp moved decisively to the web with a suite that continues to evolve to this day:

Together, these platforms deliver modern, connected functionality for leagues, clubs, associations, and golfers—designed to stay cutting-edge and unmatched in usability and depth.

The Golf League Championship

As we expanded the Golf Network platforms, we partnered with several golf course owners’ associations to create state golf league championships—bringing league winners from across each region into season-ending finals. In partnership with the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA), we built a championship that served 500+ leagues and nearly 30,000 golfers. In 2013, the MGCA recognized Handicomp with its Award of Merit, the association’s most prestigious honor.

Everyone Has a Smartphone

By the mid-2010s, Handicomp introduced the Golf Mobile Network smartphone app, bringing Golf Network functionality directly to golfers. League pairings, score posting, tournament standings—the information that matters in the moment—became instant and on-demand.

Next Up: AI-Powered Prediction

Handicomp didn’t stop at digital transformation. Leveraging decades of golfer, score, and course data, the company applied machine learning to build the industry’s first AI-driven Golf Score Prediction and Handicap service—detailed at GolfHandicap.ai. It’s a new way to understand performance and potential, and another example of Handicomp leading from the front.


What’s Endured

From a hand-built computer in a Saugatuck golf shop to cloud platforms powering leagues and clubs nationwide, Handicomp’s through-line is clear: engineering rigor, practical shop know-how, and golfer-first design. The idea Jim saw in 1960 still guides us today—make handicapping, and the work around it, simpler, faster, and more accurate.

It’s a golf technology story. It’s a family story. And it’s still being written every time a golfer posts a score.

(Click Here) to learn more about Jim & Pat Healey and their amazing 2005 CanAmAthon!