Fraser Marriott leads Lightspeed’s golf business, driving strategy, growth, and customer experience.
With over fifteen years of experience in sales, operations, and customer success, Fraser has held senior roles at Lightspeed including Senior Director of Sales and Director of Customer Management.
Before joining Lightspeed, he led operations at Brixton Canada and Tiger Distribution, and began his career in the golf industry at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.
Fraser’s Story
It’s hard to pinpoint one exact moment that sparked my passion, it was more of a chain reaction that started years ago.
It all began with my godfather, Mowat, who was like a second father to me. In the spring of 2005, when I was 15, he put a golf club in my hand and told me that golf teaches patience, perseverance, and a strong work ethic. I laughed it off at first but after 18 holes, I was hooked. The next week, he drove me to my first job interview at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, where I started working in the back shop.
That’s where I met Paul Carrothers, my first boss and a true mentor. Over the next seven years, Paul took me under his wing, he believed in me, taught me how a golf course truly operates, and showed me what it means to lead. He supported me through the PGM program and helped me realize this was where I was meant to be.
Years later, another defining moment came when JD St. Martin, now our President, recognized that same spark Mowat and Paul had seen and asked me to join the Lightspeed Golf team. The rest, as they say, is history.
Each of these people, Mowat, Paul, and JD, have had a profound impact on where I am today. Paul remains a mentor, JD and I work side by side, and though Mowat passed away years ago, I still walk every round of golf with him. His passion for golf continues to drive mine.
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You wake up in the morning – what’s your driving passion?
For me, it’s the people I work with and the golf courses we support. I wake up every morning excited to come to work, surrounded by a team driven by one shared goal: golf course success, a relentless drive to win and improve.
Positivity breeds positivity, and I’m lucky to experience that every day here at Lightspeed Golf. Thank you to my amazing co-workers & friends.
What was the genesis for Lightspeed Golf?
Lightspeed Golf started as Chronogolf, founded by JD Saint-Martin, President of Lightspeed, and his team in 2013 to give golf operators modern, cloud-based tools that solved the frustrations of outdated, on-premise systems.
The goal was simple: make it easier for operators to run their courses and deliver a better golfer experience. In 2019, Chronogolf became Lightspeed Golf following its acquisition by Lightspeed, combining deep golf expertise with Lightspeed’s global retail and restaurant technology.
Since then, the focus has stayed the same: empowering operators with innovative, data-driven solutions that help them grow their business and strengthen the game for the long term.
How does Lightspeed Golf differ from what others are doing in the same category?
Lightspeed is unique because it’s a true unified platform; connecting golf, retail, and restaurant operations. Our best-in-class reporting, combined with integrated payments, gives operators complete visibility across every part of their business.
The recent Business Intelligence tool makes insights even more actionable, helping operators make smarter, faster decisions. With deep functionality across golf, retail, and F&B, we’re empowering operators to deliver a seamless multichannel experience that today’s golfers expect.
Our strong partner ecosystem, from integrations like Whoosh and Noteefy to in-built tools like Lightspeed Restaurant’s Order Anywhere, ensures we remain nimble, innovative, and purpose-built for the golf industry.
The biggest mistake that many facilities make and that Lightspeed is able to resolve is what?
Too many facilities try to do everything through a single vendor, which can limit flexibility. A partner-first approach, that Lightspeed takes, allows each company to focus on what they do best and gives operators the freedom to choose the right solutions for their business.
Our goal is clear: make it easier and faster for golf course operators to run their business and deliver the best possible experience.
Who is your customer?
Our customers are golf course operators who care deeply about the experience they deliver, from public and municipal facilities to resorts and private clubs.
Plenty of companies talk about customer service and how important it is. Define the term and the approach you follow.
Our dedicated Account Management and Customer Success teams work proactively to ensure every operator gets full value from the platform, backed by 24/7 live support and a company-wide focus on retention and success.
Customer service at Lightspeed isn’t a department, it’s a mindset embedded across the organization.
What role does customer feedback and operations play and how do you solicit such comments in order to stay current?
Customer feedback drives everything we do. We work closely with operators through direct feedback channels and beta programs to ensure our roadmap reflects real-world needs.
Every major product enhancement, from Business Intelligence to Digital Marketing Services, has been shaped by customer input through our Product Advisory Council and field insights.
What future innovations do you see taking place in the next 2-3 years?
The next few years will bring a major focus on digital convenience and personalization. Golfers today want experiences that fit their lifestyle, we see it with technologies like Toptracer and simulator golf that let people play how and where they want.
Courses are rethinking programming, marketing, and technology to meet that demand. Lightspeed is helping operators adapt by making data more actionable and decisions faster through tools like Lightspeed’s Business Intelligence.
The future of golf tech is all about connected, data-driven, and personalized experiences that keep players engaged and operators thriving.
If you could change one thing in golf unilaterally – what would it be and why?
Accessibility.
Golf needs to remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of background or skill level. Growing the game means lowering barriers to entry and making every golfer feel like they belong.
Technology can play a big role in that by simplifying how people engage with the sport, making it easier to book, play, and stay connected. The more accessible and inclusive golf becomes, the healthier and more sustainable the game will be for future generations.
Best advice you ever received – what was it and who was it from?
“Leaders lead from the front, get in the trenches and set the tone through action.”
That quote comes from John Pugliese, CEO of Landscapes, who has been pivotal in my leadership growth.
He believes in truly understanding every part of the business and never being afraid to get your hands dirty. It’s about staying connected to your team, the work, your clients and the mission.
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For more info go to:
Golf Course Management Software and POS | Lightspeed Golf
