Pro Links Sports

What Pro Links Sports does

Pro Links Sports is a privately held, U.S.-based sports marketing firm founded in 1993 by Hollis Cavner, headquartered in Tequesta, Florida (Palm Beach area), with 11–50 employees. The company operates a three-pillar service model built around professional golf: (1) Event Management — full-service tournament operations for PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events, including the 3M Open, Valspar Championship, James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Insperity Invitational, Sanford International, and Simmons Bank Championship; (2) Corporate Hospitality — custom VIP packages at golf majors, PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, LPGA, and Ryder Cup events worldwide; and (3) Corporate Consulting / Agency of Record services — contract negotiation with professional golf tours, sponsorship activation, and consulting for Fortune 500 brands.

The underlying product is human-driven, not technology-driven: there is no proprietary software platform, no API, no AI system, and no patents disclosed. Value is created through deep relationships — founder Hollis Cavner's three-decade network across PGA TOUR players, Hall of Fame professionals (Arnold Palmer, Nick Price, Jay Haas), and tour organizations — and through operational execution of multi-stakeholder tournament logistics. Pro Links Sports acts as the connective tissue between title sponsors (3M, General Mills/Nature Valley, Sherwin-Williams/Valspar, James Hardie, Simmons Bank, Sanford Health, Insperity), host venues, players, volunteers, and tour bodies. International hospitality reach extends to Singapore and Mexico.

The business model is professional services on a quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing structure. Revenue streams include tournament management fees, corporate hospitality package sales, sponsorship activation commissions, and agency-of-record consulting retainers. GTM is enterprise-direct: relationship-led selling to Fortune 500 brand marketers, with no third-party reseller channel and no self-serve product. Customer concentration is structurally high — a handful of named title-sponsor contracts underpin each managed event — though the diversified sponsor roster across manufacturing, food, paints, banking, healthcare, and HR spreads individual-contract risk across multiple Fortune 500 counterparties.

Name

Pro Links Sports

Legal name

Pro Links Sports

Website

https://prolinkssports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pro Links Sports is a privately held U.S. sports marketing firm founded in 1993 that manages PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions tournaments, sells corporate hospitality packages at major golf events, and serves as agency of record for Fortune 500 brand sponsors (3M, General Mills, Valspar).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Marketing Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Clubs & Tournament-Host Clubs (Professional/Elite Golf Clubs) (MPAKABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA)

Keywords

• Sports marketing services
• Golf tournament management
• Corporate hospitality packages
• PGA TOUR event management
• Sports sponsorship consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event Management Services: Pro Links Sports earns fees for managing and operating professional golf tournaments on behalf of sponsors and tournament organizations. This includes full-service tournament operations, sales and marketing, course operations, and player/volunteer coordination.
2. Corporate Hospitality Packages: The company delivers custom corporate hospitality event packages at PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, LPGA TOUR events, majors, and Ryder Cup. Packages include transportation, accommodations, meals, entertainment, and VIP experiences at premium prices for corporate clients.
3. Corporate Consulting and Agency of Record Services: As agency of record for Fortune 500 companies (3M, General Mills, Sherwin Williams/Valspar), Pro Links Sports handles contract negotiations with professional tours, sponsorship deals, and consulting on sport interests. Revenue derives from consulting fees and negotiated sponsorship terms.
4. Sponsorship Activation: The company facilitates sponsorship relationships between brands and professional golf tours, earning fees for activating sponsor commitments and managing sponsor-tournament relationships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pro Links Sports is a sports marketing firm that provides event management for PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions golf tournaments, corporate hospitality packages for VIP guests, and corporate consulting serving as an agency of record for Fortune 500 brand sponsors. The company manages tournament operations end-to-end and connects corporate clients with premium golf sponsorship opportunities.

Product overview

Pro Links Sports is a sports marketing firm founded in 1993 that provides event management, corporate hospitality, and corporate consulting services centered on professional golf. The company's core offerings consist of three service lines: Event Management (handling tournament operations for PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events), Corporate Hospitality (VIP event packages at golf tournaments worldwide), and Corporate Consulting (agency of record services for Fortune 500 companies). The company manages six named tournaments including the 3M Open, Valspar Championship, James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Insperity Invitational, Sanford International, and Simmons Bank Championship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Event Management End-to-end management of professional golf tournaments for PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, handling operations, logistics, and execution on behalf of title sponsors.
• Corporate Hospitality VIP hospitality packages providing premium experiences for corporate clients and their guests at professional golf tournaments, including access, accommodations, and on-site services.
• Corporate Consulting Agency-of-record consulting services advising corporate sponsors on golf sponsorship strategy, activation, and return on investment across PGA TOUR properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Turned around a near-extinction Valspar Championship event to become 'one of the very best events on the PGA TOUR' according to Valspar leadership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• James Hardie Building Products, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026James Hardie is title sponsor of the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational golf tournament managed by Pro Links Sports. The $2.2 million purse tournament pairs PGA TOUR Champions professionals with Pro Football Hall of Famers. Proceeds benefit local charities including Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation.
• Arkansas Champions TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organizes the Simmons Bank Championship golf tournament in Little Rock, with Pro Links Sports managing the event. Net proceeds benefit local charitable organizations.
• 3McoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPro Links Sports is the official and exclusive partner of the 3M Open tournament. Manages corporate golf outings and Master's programs for 3M. 3M recognizes Pro Links Sports as an essential partner in directing, managing, and running the 3M Open tournament.
• Valspar Corporation/Sherwin-WilliamscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPro Links Sports acts as Valspar's agent of record, negotiating the best financial and operational terms for the Valspar Championship sponsorship with the PGA TOUR. Hollis Cavner is credited as the principal reason Valspar sponsors the championship.
• PGA TOURcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Links Sports serves as liaison with the PGA TOUR for tournament operations and sponsorship agreements. Manages multiple PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events including the 3M Open, Valspar Championship, and others.
• PGA TOUR ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Links Sports manages multiple PGA TOUR Champions events including the Insperity Invitational, Sanford International, and others. Coordinates player relationships and tournament operations for the senior tour.
• General Mills/Nature ValleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPro Links Sports has represented Nature Valley since 2011 in dealings with the PGA TOUR. Took a good sponsorship to an entirely new level, negotiating better assets and significant savings while making the PGA TOUR Champions event one of the best tour events of the year.
• InsperitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the Insperity Invitational tournament managed by Pro Links Sports. Tournament held in The Woodlands, TX.
• Sanford HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the Sanford International tournament managed by Pro Links Sports. Tournament held in Sioux Falls, SD.
• Simmons BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the Simmons Bank Championship tournament managed by Pro Links Sports in partnership with Arkansas Champions Trust. Tournament held in Little Rock, AR.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CAA Sports: Sports division of Creative Artists Agency providing marketing, consulting, and event services to brands and properties — competes with Pro Links Sports for Fortune 500 sports sponsorship consulting mandates.
• IMG (Endeavor): Global sports and entertainment company with deep golf heritage (IMG originally managed many tour players and events); competes with Pro Links Sports in golf event management, hospitality, and athlete/sponsorship representation.
• Lagardère Sports: International sports marketing agency offering sponsorship, hospitality, and event management services — comparable to Pro Links Sports in golf and corporate hospitality sales.
• MKTG: Experiential and sports marketing agency (Dentsu) that designs corporate hospitality, sponsorship activation, and event programs — comparable to Pro Links Sports' corporate hospitality and consulting service lines.
• Infront Sports & Media: Sports marketing company managing media rights, sponsorship, and events across multiple sports including golf-adjacent properties — comparable to Pro Links Sports in sponsorship activation and event operations.
• Wasserman: Large sports marketing and talent management firm offering sponsorship sales, hospitality, and consulting across multiple sports — overlapping with Pro Links Sports in golf sponsorship activation and corporate consulting.

Direct peers

• Excel Sports Management: Sports agency with a strong golf practice representing tour professionals and providing sponsorship/event services; directly comparable to Pro Links Sports in golf-focused agency-of-record work and event marketing.
• Octagon: Global sports marketing agency that manages golf properties (including Ryder Cup) and provides sponsorship consulting, corporate hospitality, and athlete representation — directly competing with Pro Links Sports for golf tournament management and Fortune 500 sponsorship mandates.
• Synergy: Sports sponsorship and event marketing agency focused on activating brand partnerships around live sporting events — directly comparable to Pro Links Sports in sponsorship activation and corporate hospitality execution.

Emerging players

• Republic Sports Group: Sports marketing and event management firm focused on golf and lifestyle properties — comparable to Pro Links Sports as a niche golf-focused competitor pursuing tournament management and corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prolinkssports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pro Links Sports