Jack, Jonathan and Dervla are PwC alumni who went on to found BOLD GOLF, a Dublin-based golf brand that fuses golf, streetwear and art. Learn how they first connected, how BOLD GOLF’s unique style was born and how PwC prepared them for success.
Tell us about how both golf and PwC brought you together.
Jack: Jonathan, my brother (and fourth BOLD GOLF founder) Robbie and I grew up playing golf together at our local golf club.
I joined PwC’s Assurance practice in 2010, with Jonathan joining Advisory in 2011. Dervla met Jonathan when she joined Advisory in 2011 as part of the graduate programme.
Dervla: Unlike the others I am new to golf - last year’s PwC Alumni golf day was one of my first golf outings! But my lack of experience in the game can be an advantage at BOLD GOLF – I often spot gaps in the processes and market quicker than a seasoned golfer.
What inspired you to recently launch BOLD GOLF?
Jonathan: A new era of golf is dawning that’s more casual, more accessible and more audacious than ever before. The sport is changing, and surging in popularity among younger people.
Jack: Major brands focus on performance wear – clothing that follows golf’s traditional etiquette, despite its changing trends and demographics. BOLD GOLF was born from our desire to design clothing we actually want to wear.
Dervla: Working with so many different entrepreneurs at my previous role in Wayflyer certainly gave me the drive and confidence to start BOLD GOLF. However, my time at PwC also helped to lead me to this as I saw the importance of building a strong, scalable business model.
How did your experience at PwC prepare you for launching a new business?
Jonathan: All of us joined the graduate programme and completed the ACA exams, which served as a strong foundation for our roles at PwC and beyond.
Dervla: My time at PwC allowed me to work on multiple projects, including secondments to the audit department and finance roles at a global multinational technology company. I also worked on two-person projects and projects with a team of over 15, giving me great exposure to managing projects of different magnitudes.
One of the biggest advantages of this varied experience is that no problem seems too difficult to solve. Using logic, unearthing the root of the problem and applying structure to solve the problem are all integral to my work at BOLD GOLF.
“My time at PwC exposed me to many different clients, industries and projects, giving me confidence in adapting my skills throughout my career. Starting BOLD GOLF has been no exception.”
What’s the story behind BOLD GOLF’s unique style?
Jonathan: We focus on bridging the gap between old and new, merging traditional golf with fashionable streetwear and urban culture. Our hero product – our premium leather golf bag – is based on the golf bags used since the early 1900s.
Dervla: Collaboration is key to our style and our ethos. We have a waitlist of artists, in Ireland and abroad, ready to draw/paint/spray/tattoo a BOLD GOLF bag – transforming it to a one-of-a-kind art piece. Our most recent collaboration with Canadian artist, Kathy Ager, was a great success.
How important has your professional network been along this path?
Jack: Connecting and growing your professional network is one of the most important elements of entrepreneurship. People are willing to help and support – and it’s great being able to help others in turn.
My PwC colleagues have been with me every step of the way, from starting my entrepreneurial journey with Wayflyer, on to BOLD GOLF and now HappyStack – a start-up platform that connects e-commerce brands with software solutions to help them scale.
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